Case Study: Weobley High School

Background

Weobley High School, a small rural secondary school in Herefordshire had been consistently exceeding their electricity capacity, causing their supply to burn out.

The Distribution Network Operator, National Grid confirmed that an upgrade was essential to support both current demand and any future development plans for the school and proposed to increase the capacity from 86 kVA to 276 kVA. This would have delivered a significant increase in load requirements, but at a considerable increase in non-commodity charges.

Our Brief

WME were asked to engage with National Grid in partnership with the school to identify a solution that secured the supply resilience required while minimising the increase in costs.

Supporting customers to make smart, strategic decisions about their energy infrastructure is a key role for WME’s siteworks team.

Considering capacity for your electricity supply requirements

Selecting an appropriate agreed capacity for any new electricity connection or supply upgrade makes a substantial difference to long-term costs and operational resilience.

WME quickly recognised a disconnect between National Grid’s capacity proposal and the associated the financial implications, and the realistic capacity requirements for the school.

While the DNO rightly focused on the physical requirements of the supply, the legacy costs of the increased capacity on the school had not been considered.

WME stepped in to bridge that gap.

• We presented clear, evidence-based insights to both the school and National Grid, highlighting how capacity changes directly impact non-commodity charges.
• Using our experience, expertise and strong relationships within the sector, we negotiated an alternative capacity level, 218 kVA, that met technical and future requirements of the school.
• We provided a cost analysis, comparing the financial impact of the proposed increase to 276 kVA versus the revised 218 kVA. Although the school will face an unavoidable increase in non-commodity charges, our proposal lessened this impact.

The Outcome

WME secured a revised agreed capacity of 218 kVA, a balanced and cost-effective solution that satisfied National Grid’s engineering needs while providing the school with over £7,000 savings per year.

National Grid issued an amended connection agreement, and our Siteworks Team facilitated the upgraded meter installation. The new supply went live in November 2025.

The Result for the School

✔ A secure, upgraded electricity supply
✔ Future capacity for growth
✔ Reduced impact on the increase in non-commodity and standing charges with over a £7,000 per year saving.
✔ End-to-end support from WME, ensuring a seamless process