What is my MPAN Number and Where Can I Find it?

Moving home or trying to switch electricity suppliers? Chances are you’ll be asked to provide your MPAN number at some point. The good news is that it’s easy to find once you know where to look. Read on to discover exactly what an MPAN number is, how it works and where to locate it.

What is an MPAN number?

The MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is a unique 21 digit reference number assigned to your electricity supply point to help energy companies identify your home or business and where to send the power to. You may be asked for this number when moving home, switching energy provider or taking a meter reading.

Although its name can cause some confusion, MPAN doesn’t always just refer to one particular electricity meter. Instead, you can have several meters on your property or even none, if the electricity supply is unmetered - your MPAN number will stay the same.

The gas equivalent of an MPAN is the Meter Reference Point Number (MPRN).

Why do I need to know my MPAN?

You’ll need to know your MPAN number in order to do any of the following:

• Switching energy suppliers: We recommend switching electricity suppliers as often as once every year in order to get the best deals available on the market. Your new provider will usually ask for your MPAN number as part of the process.
• Moving home: If you're moving house and taking your energy deal with you, your supplier may ask for the MPAN of both your new and former properties.
• Submitting a meter reading: You may be asked for your MPAN number when giving a meter reading over the phone or online.

Will my MPAN change if I switch supplier?

Your MPAN number is linked to your property and does not change if you switch supplier. The only reason your MPAN number will ever change is if you move home.

What does an MPAN number look like?

Below is an example of how your MPAN number should look:

How to read MPAN number

The majority of people are only ever concerned about their MPAN number either when moving house or switching suppliers to get a better energy deal. For these customers, it’s enough to know the last 12 or 13 digits, as that is all your energy provider or price comparison service will require.

Though it may be unlikely you’ll need to use all of these numbers, we’ve broken down what they stand for below. If you simply want to know where your MPAN is located, scroll down to the section titled ‘Where can I find my MPAN number?’.

1. Profile Class

Each property has its own profile class. This number denotes how much electricity you are likely to use within a 24 hour period. If you’re a domestic customer, you’ll usually see ‘01’ or ‘02’ here, while the numbers ‘03’ to ‘08’ are used for non-domestic or business energy. ‘00’ refers to properties using half-hourly meters - typically large businesses with high energy usage.

2. Meter Time Switch Code (MTC)

The Meter Time Switch Code refers to the number of registers that your meter has. This signifies whether your meter is on a multi-rate tariff (such as Economy 7) or not.

3. Line Loss Factor Class (LLFC)

The Line Loss Factor identifies the expected cost that the distribution company will charge for your energy supplier's usage of the distribution network in your area. This is added to your standing charge by your electricity provider but does not affect your electricity usage costs per kWh.

What is a kWh? Electricity units are measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) - that’s one kilowatt of electricity being used over an hour. You can usually find how much energy an electrical household appliance uses in watts on its packaging or in the user instruction manual.

4. Distribution Identifier ID

This is the number associated with your local electricity distribution network operator or DNO.

5. Meter Point ID Number

This unique number is used to identify your specific metering point.

6. Check Digit

The Check Digit is a number used by other systems to verify the above ID and reference information.

Where can I find my MPAN number?

The quickest ways to find your MPAN number are by taking a look at your electricity bill or speaking to an energy expert. You will not find the MPAN number on your physical meter or box.

Where is my MPAN number on bill?

You will usually find your MPAN number in the top left or bottom right corner of your electricity or dual fuel energy bill. Look for a group of seven small boxes with a large letter ‘S’ in front.

Sometimes the MPAN may also be referred to as an Electricity Supply Number or S-Number on your bill, though keep in mind that this is not the same as your energy account number.

How do I find my MPAN number without a bill?

Alternatively, if you know who your electricity company is, you can contact them directly or get in touch with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

Unsure who your energy provider is? Find out who supplies your gas and electricity by visiting Who is My Electricity Supplier? and Who Supplies My Gas?

Why do I have 2 MPAN numbers?

If you have two different MPAN numbers, it means that either your property is supplied by two separate electricity meters or just the one meter that is supplied by two MPANs. These are known as ‘related MPANs’.

Each of these MPAN numbers will be covered by their own individual standing charge, even if they both supply the same meter.