MPAN Explained

The Meter Point Administration Number or MPAN can be found on your electricity meter. Also known a 'M Number' or 'Supply Number', this is a unique reference for your electricity supply and should also be shown on your electricity bill.

Your MPAN should be used in any correspondence with your electricity supplier or other body to ensure there is no confusion as to the premises being supplied and especially when sending a Termination Notice so that the correct energy supply contract is referred to.

So what do the different MPAN numbers mean?

Starting on the top row from the left-hand side we have the Profile Class, which tells you what type of service you have. In this example the Profile Class = 01 which is probably the most common seen in residential premises.

01 - Domestic Unrestricted 
02 - Domestic Economy 7 
03 - Non-domestic Unrestricted
04 - Non-domestic Economy 7 
05 - Non-domestic Maximum Demand 0-20%
06 - Non-domestic Maximum Demand 20-30% 
07 - Non-domestic Maximum Demand 30-40% 
08 - Non-domestic Maximum Demand >40%

The next field is the MTC or Meter Time Switch Code, which indicates to your energy supplier how many dials you have, and at whether they operate during the day or night. In this example we see the number 112.

The next number indicates the Line Loss Factor and has a bearing on the amount the distribution company will charge an energy supplier for using their cables. In this example we see the number 333.

Moving to the bottom row, we can find the Distributor ID which tells you which Electricity Distribution Company is responsible for your meter. In this example the Distributor ID = 20 which means the meter is connected to the network operated by Southern Electricity. But remember that your electricity can be supplied by any electricity supplier you choose, and who who simply buy electricity and sell it on to you. This simply indicates that Southern Electricity are responsible for the physical cabling that delivers electricity to your premises.

10 - Eastern Electricity
11 - East Midlands Electricity
12 - London Electricity
13 - MANWEB
14 - Midlands Electricity
15 - Northern Electricity
16 - NORWEB
17 - Scottish Hydro-Electric
18 - Scottish Power
19 - Seeboard
20 - Southern Electricity
21 - SWALEC
22 - SWEB
23 - Yorkshire Electricity

The last field is the Check Digit which in this example is 140. This value is based on an algorithm that is calculated using both the Distributor ID and Meter Point ID Number, and acts as a way of checking that these two values are correct. This is especially important as the Distributor ID and Meter Point ID Number are effectively the two fields which identify the location of the meter.