MPRN numbers: how to find your gas supply number

If you are switching your business gas, moving premises or chasing a billing problem, sooner or later someone will ask for your MPRN. It is the one number that pins down exactly which gas supply you are talking about.

This guide explains what an MPRN is, where to find it, what to do if you have lost it, and how it connects to your annual quantity (AQ).

What is an MPRN?

An MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) is the unique number that identifies the gas supply point at your premises. Xoserve, which runs Britain’s central gas data systems, describes it as a six to 10 digit number that appears on every gas bill in Britain. Citizens Advice gives the range as 6 to 11 digits.

You may also see it called an M number or meter number. Cadent, one of the gas networks, explains that every gas service in every building has its own MPRN.

The key point is that the MPRN belongs to the supply, not the meter. The Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo) says it will not change if your meter changes. That is why it is the reference suppliers use when you switch.

The electricity equivalent is the MPAN, which you can check with our MPAN checker.

Where is the MPRN on a gas bill?

Your MPRN is printed on your gas bill. Exactly where depends on the supplier’s layout. British Gas Business, for example, shows it under the “Details of charges” heading on page 2 of its business gas bills.

For a walk through the rest of the bill, see how to read a business energy bill.

Is the MPRN number on the gas meter?

Normally not. The number you can see on the meter itself is the meter serial number, which RECCo describes as the number assigned to the meter and often a mix of letters and numbers. British Gas Business also says the MPRN is not printed on the meter.

So if you are standing at the meter and cannot find an MPRN, that is expected. Use your bill or one of the lookup routes below. Our guide to meter serial numbers explains what the number on the meter is for.

How do I find my MPRN if I’ve lost it?

You have several official routes.

1. Find My Supplier. Xoserve’s Find My Supplier service lets you search by postcode and shows the MPRN, the current gas supplier and the gas transporter for the address. It is available to the occupier, someone about to occupy the property, or an agent with their express permission.
2. The Meter Number Helpline. Call 0870 608 1524. Ofgem and Xoserve say calls cost 7p a minute plus your phone company’s access charge, and Citizens Advice lists the hours as Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.
3. Your current supplier. They hold the MPRN on your account.
4. Your landlord or property manager, if you have recently moved in.

What if there’s no MPRN at all?

Occasionally a gas supply exists but cannot be found in the central records. Cadent’s advice is:

• If there is a meter on site but no MPRN, contact a supplier and ask to register the supply. They will start the M number creation process.
• If there is a gas supply but no meter, the network needs to carry out a “live/dead” check first. If the service is confirmed live, it will create an MPRN.

For a brand new supply, the network issues the MPRN. Cadent, for example, provides it once you accept its connection quote. See our guide to new business energy connections.

What if the details are wrong?

Xoserve cannot update records at the request of consumers or suppliers. Corrections have to come through the industry process, so contact your supplier. RECCo says that if your supplier does not resolve a data complaint within 8 weeks, you can take it to the Energy Ombudsman.

MPRN vs MPAN: what is the difference?

An MPRN identifies a gas supply point. An MPAN identifies an electricity supply point. A business with both fuels has one of each, and they look nothing alike.

	MPRN (gas)	MPAN (electricity)
Also called	Gas supply number, M number	Supply number, S number
Length	6 to 10 digits	13-digit core, 21 digits in full
On the bill	A plain number, often labelled MPRN	In a box with a large “S” on the left
What it tells you	Nothing about your meter or region on its own	Region, network operator, meter profile and time-switch code
Who holds the record	Xoserve, for the gas transporters	The distribution network operator for your region
Stays with	The premises, not the supplier	The premises, not the supplier

Neither changes when you switch supplier, and neither is the same as your meter serial number, which belongs to the physical meter and changes when the meter does.

If you are getting quotes for both fuels, have both numbers to hand: they let a supplier price your actual supply rather than an estimate. You can decode an electricity one with our MPAN checker.

MPRN vs meter serial number: what’s the difference?

People mix these up all the time, especially at the meter.

	MPRN	Meter serial number
Identifies	The gas supply point	The physical meter
Changes when the meter is replaced?	No	Yes
Format	Digits only	Often letters and numbers
Where to find it	Gas bill, Find My Supplier, your supplier	On the meter and usually on your bill

When will you need your MPRN?

• Getting quotes and switching. Cadent notes that your gas supplier will always ask for the MPRN when setting up a new account.
• Moving premises. Ofgem’s change of tenancy guidance asks you to tell the current supplier as soon as you can, with a meter reading. Having the MPRN makes sure the right supply is updated.
• Checking a bill is for your meter. Citizens Advice suggests comparing the MPRN on your bill with the one Find My Supplier holds for your address. If they don’t match, contact your supplier.
• Checking a smart meter. Citizens Advice’s smart meter checker uses your MPRN and postcode, which it shares with the Data Communications Company (DCC) to check your meter’s status.
• Network work. Cadent says it may ask for your MPRN for services such as moving your gas meter.

What is AQ (annual quantity)?

Your AQ is the industry’s estimate, in kWh, of how much gas your meter point will use in a year under seasonal normal weather conditions. Xoserve calculates it and it sits alongside your MPRN in the central records.

For sites that are not read daily, Xoserve works out a “rolling AQ” from the consumption between meter readings 9 to 36 months apart, adjusted for the weather actually experienced. A valid reading received by the 10th calendar day of the month triggers a new AQ, which applies from the following month. Separately, a “formula year AQ” is set every 1 April using the rolling AQ from the previous 1 December.

Why does AQ matter to my business?

Xoserve uses AQ to:

• share out gas between suppliers each day
• check new meter readings look sensible
• place your site in an end user category
• set the supply offtake quantity (SOQ) for Class 3 and 4 sites

The SOQ is the most gas a site is expected to use in a single day in 1-in-20 peak conditions. Xoserve says it determines transportation charge rates and the amount of system capacity your site needs.

Because AQ is an estimate that feeds into charges, it is worth checking it looks realistic against your own recent use.

Thresholds you may come across are based on annual consumption:

• Microbusiness: under 293,000 kWh of gas a year, or fewer than 10 employees and turnover or balance sheet up to £2 million (see microbusiness energy).
• Small business: up to 500,000 kWh of gas a year, or fewer than 50 employees with turnover up to £6.5 million or balance sheet up to £5 million.
• 732 MWh (732,000 kWh) a year: above this, government guidance says licence conditions require an advanced meter rather than a standard smart meter.

Can my AQ be corrected?

Yes, but only through the industry. Xoserve accepts AQ correction requests only from the current shipper, the company that arranges transport of the gas for your supply, so start with your supplier. Valid reasons include:

• a change in the equipment on site that affects how much gas you use
• a new business at the premises whose use differs from the old AQ
• premises becoming vacant, or no longer vacant
• an AQ that is wrong because of errors in the meter reading history

The simplest way to keep your AQ accurate is to make sure actual readings are submitted regularly. Xoserve encourages shippers to submit a reading at least once a month where possible.

Who is my gas transporter?

Your gas transporter owns the pipes that bring gas to your premises. It is not your supplier, and Find My Supplier will show which one serves your address.

Ofgem’s RIIO-3 price control confirms that four gas distribution networks run the eight regional networks in Great Britain:

• Cadent, covering the East of England, North London, the North West and the West Midlands
• Northern Gas Networks
• SGN, covering Scotland and South East England
• Wales and West Utilities

Some premises are connected to an independent gas transporter (IGT) instead. Xoserve describes IGTs as companies that develop, operate and maintain a local network of pipes.

If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 at any time. For the electricity equivalent of your network company, see what is a DNO.

Frequently asked questions