Free MPAN checker
MPAN number: find it, check it, decode it
Enter the MPAN from your electricity bill to see which distribution region you're in, who runs your local network, what type of meter you have, and whether the number is valid.
What is an MPAN?
An MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is the unique reference for an electricity supply point in Great Britain. Every business and home connected to the grid has one. It's sometimes called an S number or supply number, because on a bill it sits in a box that starts with a large "S".
Suppliers and brokers use it to identify your exact supply. Giving it when you ask for quotes means the prices you get reflect your real meter and region.
Where to find your MPAN on your bill
Look for a box on your electricity bill with a large "S" on the left. That box holds the full 21-digit MPAN, split over two lines. The bottom line is the 13-digit core, which is the part anyone quoting for your supply will ask for.
A few things worth knowing when you go looking:
- It may be labelled differently. Suppliers call it the supply number, S number or meter point reference as well as MPAN.
- It is not on your gas bill. Gas supplies have an MPRN instead.
- It does not change when you switch. The MPAN belongs to the supply point, not the supplier or the meter, so it stays with the premises.
- No bill to hand? Your current supplier will tell you, and the distribution network operator for your area can confirm the MPAN for a property. Our distributor ID table shows who that is.
Once you have it, paste the core into the checker above to confirm the check digit and see your region, network operator and meter profile.
How to read your MPAN
A full MPAN has two lines, 21 digits in all.
- Top line (supplementary data). The first two digits are the profile class, which describes how the supply is used and settled. The next three are the meter time-switch code, which describes the meter's registers (for example single rate, or day and night). The last three are the line loss factor class, used to work out network charges. On supplies that have moved to market-wide half-hourly settlement, the profile class shows 00 and the other two fields hold a settlement configuration ID and a network (DUoS) tariff ID instead.
- Bottom line (MPAN core). The first two digits are the distributor ID, which tells you your region. The next ten digits identify the supply, and the final digit is a check digit that confirms the number is valid.
Distributor IDs and regions
Great Britain has 14 electricity distribution regions. The network operator in your region owns the cables and substations that bring power to your premises, whichever supplier you choose. Network charges differ by region, which is one reason business electricity quotes vary by postcode.
| ID | Region | Network operator |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Eastern | UK Power Networks |
| 11 | East Midlands | National Grid Electricity Distribution |
| 12 | London | UK Power Networks |
| 13 | Merseyside and North Wales | SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb) |
| 14 | West Midlands | National Grid Electricity Distribution |
| 15 | North East | Northern Powergrid |
| 16 | North West | SP Electricity North West |
| 17 | North Scotland | SSEN (Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution) |
| 18 | South Scotland | SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution) |
| 19 | South East | UK Power Networks |
| 20 | Southern | SSEN (Southern Electric Power Distribution) |
| 21 | South Wales | National Grid Electricity Distribution |
| 22 | South West | National Grid Electricity Distribution |
| 23 | Yorkshire | Northern Powergrid |
Profile classes
| Class | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 00 | Half-hourly settled. Consumption is settled every 30 minutes. This used to mean a larger site, but under market-wide half-hourly settlement many smaller supplies that have migrated also show 00. |
| 01 | Domestic unrestricted. A single-rate domestic supply. If this is a business premises, check with your supplier that you are on the right contract. |
| 02 | Domestic Economy 7. A two-rate domestic supply with cheaper night units. |
| 03 | Non-domestic unrestricted. A single-rate business supply. The most common profile for small businesses. |
| 04 | Non-domestic Economy 7. A two-rate business supply, with separate day and night unit rates. |
| 05 | Non-domestic maximum demand (load factor under 20%). A larger business supply billed with a maximum demand element. |
| 06 | Non-domestic maximum demand (load factor 20% to 30%). A larger business supply billed with a maximum demand element. |
| 07 | Non-domestic maximum demand (load factor 30% to 40%). A larger business supply billed with a maximum demand element. |
| 08 | Non-domestic maximum demand (load factor over 40%). A larger business supply billed with a maximum demand element. |
MPAN FAQs
Where do I find my MPAN?
Your MPAN is printed on your electricity bill, usually in a box of numbers starting with an "S". The bottom line of that box is the 13-digit MPAN core. It may also be called your supply number or meter point reference. Your supplier can tell you it if you can't find a bill.
Is an MPAN the same as a meter serial number?
No. The MPAN identifies the supply point (the connection to your premises) and stays the same when you change supplier or meter. The meter serial number identifies the physical meter and changes if the meter is replaced.
What is the gas equivalent of an MPAN?
Gas supplies have an MPRN (meter point reference number), usually 6 to 10 digits long. Unlike an MPAN it does not reveal your region or meter type.
Do I need my MPAN to get business electricity quotes?
It helps. The MPAN lets a supplier identify your exact supply, meter type and region, so quotes are accurate first time. You can still get indicative quotes with your postcode and an estimate of your usage.
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