Phone Mast Advice
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Phone Mast Electricity Costs Recovery for UK Landlords

A mast runs 24 hours a day, and if it runs on your supply you are paying for it. We establish what the operator owes, recover backdated costs where the agreement allows, and put the arrangement on a proper metered footing so it never happens again.

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This is our electricity costs recovery service page. Electricity is one of several sums you can recover on top of the rent; our phone mast rent guide lists the others. Reviewed by the Phone Mast Advice team.

Why phone mast electricity costs are so often unpaid

When a mast was first installed, the simplest way to power it was often to connect to the building’s or farm’s existing supply, sometimes with a sub-meter and sometimes without one. Years later the equipment has been upgraded several times, consumption has risen with 4G and 5G, the original arrangement has been forgotten, and the landlord’s bill quietly includes the cost of running a telecoms site. It is one of the most common and most overlooked losses we find when reviewing a lease.

What can I recover?

  • ✓The operator's share of electricity consumed through your supply, in full
  • ✓Backdated costs for past consumption, subject to the terms of your agreement and the usual limitation period for contractual claims
  • ✓A proper mechanism going forward: a separate supply, a sub-meter with annual reconciliation, or a fixed index-linked charge
  • ✓Related costs where the agreement provides for them, such as standing charges apportioned to the operator's use

Electricity is recoverable in addition to the consideration assessed under Paragraph 24 of the Electronic Communications Code. It is not part of the rent, and it should not be traded away against it at renewal.

How is the operator’s share calculated?

Where a sub-meter exists, the readings settle the matter. Where it does not, we estimate consumption from the rated load of the cabinets and radio equipment, the hours of operation, and your tariff over the period, and apportion that against your actual bills. The calculation is presented in a form the operator’s agents recognise, with the supporting evidence they will ask for.

How our electricity costs recovery service works

1. Lease and supply review

We check what your agreement says about power, whether a sub-meter exists, and how the equipment is connected.

2. Quantifying the claim

We calculate the operator’s consumption and cost for the recoverable period, using meter data where available and a defensible estimate where not.

3. Recovery from the operator

We submit the claim to the operator or its agents and negotiate payment of the backdated sum.

4. A permanent fix

We agree a separate supply, a sub-meter, or a fixed indexed charge so the cost is dealt with automatically in future, and we write it into the lease at the next renewal or rent review.

Our fees

The initial consultation and lease review are free and without obligation. Fees for recovery work are structured on an incentivised basis linked to the sums recovered, agreed with you in writing before we start. We act exclusively for landlords.

Electricity costs: frequently asked questions

Yes. Where the operator draws power from your supply, the cost of that electricity is recoverable from the operator in full. It sits alongside the rent rather than within it, and most agreements either provide for a sub-meter or oblige the operator to reimburse a fair apportionment of your bills.
It depends on the wording of your agreement, but claims for sums due under a contract can typically be pursued for up to six years. Many landlords discover that a mast has been running on their supply, unmetered and unpaid, for far longer than that, so the first step is to establish what the agreement says and what the meter records show.
Ideally from a dedicated sub-meter on the operator's equipment. Where there is no sub-meter, consumption is estimated from the rated load of the apparatus, the hours it runs, and your tariff, then apportioned against your actual bills. We prepare the calculation in a form the operator's agents accept.
For a permanent fix, yes. A separate metered supply in the operator's name removes the landlord from the arrangement entirely. Where that is impractical, a sub-meter with an agreed reconciliation each year, or a fixed index-linked charge, is the next best solution and can be built into a renewal or rent review.
No. Electricity is an additional recoverable cost under the Electronic Communications Code, separate from the consideration (rent) assessed under Paragraph 24. Operators sometimes try to bundle the two together at renewal; we keep them apart so the rent is not reduced to offset the power costs.

You may also need

Free Lease Check

We check what your agreement says about power

Phone Mast Rent Guide

Everything recoverable on top of rent

Rent Reviews

Fix the rent at the same time

Lease Renewals

Write the fix into the new lease

Other Services

Wayleaves, breaches, site audits

Contact Our Team

Speak to a specialist today

This page was last updated on 3 September 2026. It is general guidance for landlords and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Please contact us for advice on your circumstances.

Is a Phone Mast Running on Your Electricity?

Most landlords we review are owed money. Find out what your agreement says and what you can claim back. Free initial consultation.

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