TL;DR: Key Takeaways
- UrbanChain is the UK’s first Ofgem-approved Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy exchange, and Meet George now offers their quotes directly - letting eligible SMEs buy renewable power from named generators instead of anonymous “grid” supply.
- Who it’s for: Businesses using over 100,000 kWh annually with Half-Hourly metering capability.
- The savings: Some case studies show bill reductions of up to 90% vs standard grid rates (situational - depends on generator matching and your load shape).
- Our fee: A transparent 1p/kWh, capped by UrbanChain at 2p/kWh maximum. We charge half the limit.
- Why it matters: You can now prove exactly where your power comes from - no more “greenwashing” with cheap REGO certificates.
For decades, the energy market has worked in one way: generators sell power to a massive supplier, the supplier adds a hefty markup, and you buy it back at a higher price. It’s an inefficient, opaque system where you never really know where your electrons - or your money - are going.
Meet George is proud to announce a partnership with UrbanChain (opens in new tab), the Manchester-based tech company that is dismantling this model brick by brick.
What is Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy trading?
Traditional energy supply works like this:
- Generators (wind farms, solar parks) sell power to a large supplier
- The supplier adds markup to cover risk, trading floors, and overheads
- You buy it back at a higher price, with no visibility of the source
P2P energy trading removes the wholesale middleman. UrbanChain’s AI-driven platform connects energy users directly with independent generators - a local hydro plant, wind turbine, or solar farm.
Instead of buying from “The Grid,” you’re buying from a specific, named source.
In short: Think of UrbanChain as the “Airbnb of Energy” - connecting you directly with the producer, cutting out the hotel chain (traditional supplier) in the middle.
Why Meet George and UrbanChain are partnering
This partnership is a natural fit because we’re both fighting the same enemy: the expensive middleman.
- UrbanChain lets you fire the wholesale middleman (the traditional supplier) to buy directly from generators
- Meet George lets you fire the broker middleman (the expensive sales agent) to access the market directly
By combining our platforms, we’re creating the most efficient energy supply chain possible - removing margin from both the commodity cost and the service cost.
As Charlie Parry (opens in new tab), Chief Growth Officer at UrbanChain, puts it:
Whether you’re a small, medium or large business, renewable energy should be easily available and affordable. Meet George shares that vision and we’re happy to work with them to build an alternative energy market where transparency and honesty are guarantees.
How UrbanChain’s P2P exchange works
UrbanChain isn’t just another supplier - they’re the UK’s first and only Ofgem (opens in new tab)-approved Peer-to-Peer Exchange.
Their platform uses AI to:
- Match your consumption with available renewable generation in real-time
- Balance supply and demand with remarkable precision (0.5% average imbalance)
- Provide full traceability so you know exactly which generator supplied your power
This efficiency means generators get paid more (no supplier taking a cut), and you pay less (no wholesale markup).
The matching process
When you’re on UrbanChain, your half-hourly consumption data is matched against available generation from their network of independent renewable producers. Their AI optimises this matching to minimise imbalance costs - the expensive penalty suppliers pay when their customers use more or less than predicted.
Most suppliers budget 5-10% for imbalance. UrbanChain achieves 0.5%. That efficiency translates directly into lower prices.
Eligibility and transparency: how it works on our platform
This is a premium product for larger SMEs, and we want to be completely transparent about how it works.
The eligibility threshold
Because P2P matching requires precise data and volume, UrbanChain is available exclusively to businesses with:
| Requirement | Threshold | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Annual consumption | Over 100,000 kWh | P2P matching needs volume to work efficiently |
| Meter type | Half-Hourly (HH) or smart meter with HH data | Real-time matching requires granular consumption data |
| Credit standing | Pass commercial credit check | UrbanChain maintains strict risk criteria to keep rates low |
| Industry type | Accepted categories | Some high-risk categories (nightclubs, nursing homes, certain restaurants) may be excluded |
If you meet this profile, our engine pulls live pricing directly from their exchange.
The cost (and the cap)
We believe transparency builds trust. Here’s exactly how our fee works:
- Our fee: We add a transparent 1p/kWh to UrbanChain’s base price. This is never hidden.
- The payment: UrbanChain pays us this fee over the life of your contract, based on actual usage. When you pay your bill, they pay us.
- The ethical cap: UrbanChain contractually caps broker commissions at 2p/kWh. Many suppliers allow brokers to add 3p, 4p, or even uncapped uplifts. We don’t work with those suppliers.
- Our promise: By charging 1p/kWh, we’re 50% cheaper than their own allowed limit.
The key point is: You always see exactly what you’re paying - UrbanChain’s base rate plus our 1p/kWh, clearly separated.
How the “George Check” works
When you upload your bill to Meet George, our system runs a real-time eligibility check. We don’t just look at price - we look at “Supplier Fit.”
Suppliers like UrbanChain have strict criteria to maintain their low rates. We automatically check:
- Usage profile: Do you meet the 100k kWh threshold?
- Meter capability: Do you have HH metering or smart meter data?
- Credit score: Do you pass their commercial credit check?
- Business type: Are you in an accepted industry category?
If you pass these checks, we present you with a live, executable UrbanChain quote instantly.
If UrbanChain isn’t a match, we automatically route you to a partner who is. You’ll still get competitive quotes - just from a supplier whose criteria you meet.
Worked example: P2P vs traditional supply
This is an illustrative example to show the mechanism (not a promise of savings - outcomes depend on your specific load shape and generator matching).
Assumptions:
- Business consuming 150,000 kWh annually
- Current traditional supplier rate: 24p/kWh
- UrbanChain P2P rate: 20p/kWh (base) + 1p/kWh (Meet George fee) = 21p/kWh total
- Standing charge: £1.20/day (unchanged)
| Item | Traditional supply | UrbanChain via Meet George | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual consumption | 150,000 kWh | 150,000 kWh | — |
| Unit rate | 24p/kWh | 21p/kWh | -3p/kWh |
| Annual energy cost | £36,000 | £31,500 | -£4,500 |
| Standing charge | £438 | £438 | £0 |
| Total annual cost | £36,438 | £31,938 | -£4,500 |
In this scenario, the business saves £4,500 per year (approximately 12.3%) by switching to P2P supply.
Note: This is illustrative. Actual savings depend on your consumption pattern, the generators available in UrbanChain’s network, and wholesale market conditions. Some case studies in Suffolk (opens in new tab) have shown savings of up to 90% for sites with optimal matching - but this is situational, not typical.
The benefits for SMEs
This isn’t just about feeling good. It’s about structural efficiency.
1. True traceability (no “greenwashing”)
Most “green” tariffs work by buying “brown” power from the grid and matching it with cheap REGO certificates. It’s an accounting trick.
With UrbanChain, you’re matched with specific, named generators. You can prove exactly where your power came from - essential for businesses with Net Zero targets or ESG reporting requirements.
2. Cutting the cost
By using AI to balance supply and demand (maintaining that 0.5% average imbalance), UrbanChain eliminates the wholesale intermediaries. This efficiency means:
- Generators get paid more (no supplier margin)
- You pay less (no wholesale markup)
- The grid benefits (better balancing reduces system costs)
3. Local resilience
Your spend stays in the local economy, supporting independent British renewable infrastructure rather than multinational utility profits. For businesses with local sourcing commitments, this matters.
Common mistakes to avoid
Before jumping into P2P energy, watch out for these pitfalls:
- Assuming you’re eligible without checking. The 100k kWh threshold and HH metering requirements are strict. Upload your bill and let our system check automatically.
- Comparing P2P rates to deemed rates. Deemed rates are emergency pricing. Compare P2P to your best available fixed-term contract quote.
- Ignoring the credit check. UrbanChain maintains strict credit criteria. If your business has credit issues, you may not qualify.
- Expecting guaranteed savings. P2P works best for certain load shapes and when good generator matches are available. It’s not magic - it’s market efficiency.
Who is this right for?
UrbanChain is a sophisticated product. Our platform recommends them specifically if:
- You meet the volume threshold: Using over 100,000 kWh annually
- You have Half-Hourly metering: The P2P matching engine requires precise data
- You value provenance: If you’re a B Corp, a manufacturer with a sustainable supply chain, or a brand built on transparency
- You want to cut out middlemen: If you’re frustrated with opaque pricing and hidden broker commissions
For many businesses, the “standard market” is broken. UrbanChain offers an escape route.
How Meet George makes this accessible
By integrating UrbanChain’s P2P quotes into our platform, we’re giving SMEs access to a level of energy sophistication that used to be reserved for corporate giants.
You don’t need to:
- Negotiate directly with generators
- Understand wholesale market mechanics
- Build relationships with multiple renewable producers
When we launch, you’ll simply upload your bill. We’ll check eligibility, pull live quotes, and let you switch online - all with transparent pricing.
Ready to explore P2P energy?
We’re currently in pre-launch, building the UK’s most transparent business energy switching platform. UrbanChain is one of our launch partners.
If you’re using over 100,000 kWh annually and want early access to P2P energy quotes:
Join the waitlist to be first in line when we go live. We’ll notify you as soon as UrbanChain quotes are available on our platform.
If you’re wondering how Meet George will make money across all our supplier partnerships, we explain everything in How We’re Paid.
If you only do one thing
Check your annual consumption. If you’re using over 100,000 kWh with Half-Hourly metering, you may be eligible for P2P energy pricing that cuts out the wholesale middleman entirely. Join the Meet George waitlist to get early access when we launch - we’ll check your eligibility for UrbanChain and other suppliers automatically.
New to business energy switching? Start with our guide on how to switch business energy step-by-step.
Concerned about broker fees? Read our breakdown of hidden broker commissions and uplifts - and why UrbanChain’s 2p/kWh cap matters.
Interested in energy flexibility? Learn how to turn your energy bill into income through Demand Side Response.