In short
An MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is the unique number for an electricity supply point. The full MPAN has 21 digits: a top line showing the profile class, meter timeswitch code and line loss factor class, and a 13-digit MPAN core made of a distributor ID, a unique reference and a check digit. It is printed on your electricity bill.
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What an MPAN number is
MPAN stands for Meter Point Administration Number. Ofgem describes it as the number that identifies your electricity supply. Elexon, which administers the electricity settlement code, explains that every point where electricity enters or leaves a distribution network has a metering point, and each metering point has its own MPAN. The settlement code calls the same thing a Metering System Identifier (MSID), and the two terms mean the same supply point.
In practice, the MPAN is how suppliers, network operators and the industry's settlement systems know which supply is yours. It is used to register your supply with a supplier, to price network charges, to settle your consumption and, when you change supplier, to move the right supply point. A business with several electricity meters on separate supplies has an MPAN for each one.
A site that exports electricity, for example from solar panels, has a separate export metering point with its own MPAN, alongside the import MPAN for the electricity it uses.
Where to find your MPAN
The quickest place to look is a recent electricity bill. Electricity North West, one of the distribution network operators, says the MPAN is usually in a box marked 'Supply Number' and begins with 'S', with the top line above and the 13-digit MPAN core below. Some bills show only the core.
If you cannot find it:
- Ask your current supplier. It holds the MPAN for every supply point it bills.
- Ask your local network operator. Ofgem's guidance is that you can contact your local network operator to find out your MPAN if it is not on your bill.
- Check old contracts or welcome letters, which usually quote the MPAN.
- Moving into new premises? The previous occupier's bills or the landlord may have it. See business energy when moving premises.
We can also help you find missing MPANs as part of getting a quote. If you have a gas supply too, you will need the equivalent gas number, the MPRN number.
What each part of the MPAN means
Elexon's MPAN guidance sets out six items in a full MPAN. The top line holds the first three, and the bottom line, the MPAN core, holds the last three.
| Part | Where it sits | What it tells the industry |
|---|---|---|
| Profile class | Top line, first two digits | How the supply is settled. 00 means half-hourly; 01 to 08 are non-half-hourly profile classes |
| Meter timeswitch code (MTC) | Top line | The meter's capability and the time pattern for a multi-rate tariff, such as Economy 7, and the number of registers |
| Line loss factor class (LLFC) | Top line | Which distribution use of system (DUoS) tariff applies and what electrical losses are allowed for, so it drives part of your network charges |
| Distributor ID | MPAN core, first two digits | Which distribution network the supply point is connected to |
| Unique reference number | MPAN core, next ten digits | The specific supply point on that network |
| Check digit | MPAN core, last digit | A number calculated from the distributor ID and reference so systems can validate the core |
The network operator issues the 13-digit core, and once a supplier registers the supply the top line is added, making 21 digits in all. The core is the permanent identifier for the supply point. The top line describes how that supply is currently metered and charged, so it can change, for example when a meter is replaced or a site becomes half-hourly.
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Profile classes on a business MPAN
The profile class tells you a lot about a business supply at a glance. Elexon defines eight non-half-hourly classes and uses 00 for half-hourly supplies:
| Profile class | Meaning (Elexon) |
|---|---|
| 00 | Half-hourly metered and settled |
| 01 | Domestic unrestricted |
| 02 | Domestic Economy 7 |
| 03 | Non-domestic unrestricted |
| 04 | Non-domestic Economy 7 |
| 05 to 08 | Non-domestic maximum demand, banded by peak load factor |
A smaller business supply that is not half-hourly settled will normally show 03 or 04. A 04 profile class indicates a non-domestic Economy 7 supply, where a day and night tariff structure applies; see Economy 7 for business. Since April 2017, Elexon's P272 change has required profile classes 05 to 08 to be settled half-hourly, and sites that have moved show 00. Our half-hourly meters page explains what that means.
If a business premises shows 01 or 02, the supply is registered as domestic. That can happen where a business runs from a home or a mixed-use building. Ask your supplier, or us, to check which type of contract applies.
Why you need your MPAN for a quote
A supplier cannot price business electricity without the MPAN. Each part feeds the quote:
- The MPAN core identifies the supply point, so the supplier can register it and check its consumption history.
- The distributor ID tells the supplier which network area you are in, and network costs differ by area.
- The line loss factor class sets which DUoS tariff applies, which feeds the network part of your price and your business energy standing charges.
- The profile class and meter timeswitch code tell the supplier how you are metered and which tariff structures your meter can support.
That is also why two sites with similar consumption can be quoted differently. The non-commodity costs built into a price depend partly on what the MPAN says about the supply. Give the full MPAN, top line included, when you ask for quotes so each supplier prices the same thing.
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Checking MPANs before you sign
Most MPAN problems come from a number copied wrongly or from the wrong site. Before you agree a contract, it is worth a few minutes' checking:
- List every electricity supply at each site, including any separate supplies for car parks, outbuildings, signage or export from solar panels.
- Match each MPAN core to a meter serial number and a recent bill, so you know which meter each number belongs to.
- Check that the MPANs on the quote and the contract match your list exactly, digit for digit, top line included.
- Keep the list with your contract end dates, so renewals and moves start from the right numbers.
A wrong MPAN can mean a supply point that is not yours being registered to your contract, or one of your supplies being left on out-of-contract rates. We can check your MPANs against your bills when we help with a quote.
MPAN vs MPRN vs meter serial number
These three numbers are easy to mix up:
- MPAN: the electricity supply point. The core stays with the premises when you change supplier.
- MPRN: the gas supply point (Meter Point Reference Number). See MPRN number explained.
- Meter serial number: the physical meter. It changes if the meter is replaced, while the MPAN core stays the same.
A dual fuel for business arrangement still has both an MPAN and an MPRN, because gas and electricity are separate supply points even when one supplier bills both.
How we can help
Forever Communications acts as an agent introducing businesses to Fidelity Energy, an independent business energy consultancy and broker. We help you find and check your MPANs, explain what the top line says about your supply, and gather the bills and consumption figures a quote needs. Fidelity Energy gets quotes from the suppliers it works with and arranges the supply contract you choose. Your supply contract is with the energy supplier. Read how we work with Fidelity Energy for how commission is paid and shown, and how to complain.
Have your MPAN ready and want a business electricity quote? Contact us.
How Forever Communications helps with business gas and electricity
Forever Communications is part of Forever Group, which looks after phone systems, business mobiles and connectivity for UK organisations. For business electricity and gas, we work as an agent of Fidelity Energy, an independent business energy broker that prices your requirements with the suppliers on its panel. We are not an energy supplier, and neither is Fidelity Energy.
- Make sense of your bills: we can help you read unit rates, standing charges, meter details and the other costs on your invoices
- Like-for-like quotes: we help you gather your meter numbers, consumption and contract end dates so suppliers quote on the same basis
- The right tariff type: we can talk you through fixed, flexible and pass-through contracts, green electricity and green gas options before you decide
- Better timing: we help you plan a renewal ahead of your contract end date, or move off deemed and out-of-contract rates when you move premises
- Your choice: you decide which quote, if any, to accept; prices and terms are set by the suppliers and confirmed at quote, including the broker commission
We work with offices, shops, hospitality, landlords, manufacturers and multi-site organisations. Send us a recent bill and we can take it from there.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my MPAN number?
On your electricity bill, usually in a box marked 'Supply Number' that begins with 'S', with the 13-digit MPAN core on the bottom line. If it is not on the bill, ask your current supplier or your local network operator.
What do MPAN numbers mean?
The top line shows the profile class, meter timeswitch code and line loss factor class, which describe how the supply is settled, metered and charged for network use. The 13-digit core is a distributor ID, a unique reference and a check digit that identify the supply point.
How many digits is an MPAN?
A full MPAN has 21 digits: eight on the top line and the 13-digit MPAN core on the bottom line. The network operator issues the core, and the top line is added when a supplier registers the supply. Some bills and forms ask only for the core.
Does my MPAN change if I switch supplier?
No. The MPAN core belongs to the supply point, not the supplier, so it stays the same. The top line can change if the meter is replaced or the way the supply is settled changes.
What is the difference between an MPAN and an MPRN?
An MPAN identifies an electricity supply point and an MPRN identifies a gas supply point. A business with both fuels has at least one of each, even if one supplier provides both.
What does profile class 00 mean on an MPAN?
It means the supply is half-hourly metered and settled, which is usual for larger business electricity supplies.
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