MPAN
What is an MPAN?
If you’ve ever needed to switch supplier, sort out a meter problem, or set up electricity at a new site, someone has probably asked you for your MPAN. It’s the unique number that identifies your electricity supply point in the UK system. Every grid-connected site has one, every half-hourly and non-half-hourly meter is mapped to one, and every supplier needs it to send you a quote.
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The MPAN sits at the heart of UK business electricity billing, switching, and settlement. It’s been around since the market opened to competition in the late 1990s and has had the same 21-digit format for decades. From 22 September 2025 that’s changing as part of the Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) programme, and you’ll start seeing a new 22-digit topline appear on bills and contracts.
What an MPAN actually is
The MPAN, sometimes called the Supply Number or S-number, is the unique identifier for an electricity supply point in Great Britain. Every meter that draws power from the grid is tied to one. It’s how suppliers, network operators, the Distribution Use of System (DUoS) tariff system, and the settlement bodies all know which site they’re talking about.
An MPAN refers to the supply point, not the meter itself. If your meter gets swapped, the MPAN stays the same. If you change supplier, the MPAN stays the same. If the site changes hands through a change of tenancy, the MPAN still stays the same. It’s tied to the physical connection at the property.
That permanence is what makes it useful. It’s also why your supplier of last resort appointment after a supplier failure can happen overnight without your meter physically changing.
The MPAN structure
The traditional MPAN format is 21 digits, split into two lines. You’ll often see it on a bill written as two stacked rows of numbers.
The top line (the smaller numbers) is the technical descriptor. It tells anyone reading it the profile class, the meter timeswitch code, and the line loss factor class.
The core (the bigger 13-digit row, sometimes called the bottom line) is the unique identifier. Two digits identify the distributor, eight digits identify the meter point, and three digits are a check value.
So the format reads, top to bottom:
- Top line (8 digits): 2-digit Profile Class, 3-digit Meter Time Switch Code, 3-digit Line Loss Factor Class
- Core (13 digits): 2-digit Distributor ID, 8-digit Unique Meter Point ID, 3-digit Check Digit
The check digit on the core is calculated from the rest of the number, which means typos get caught before they reach a supplier’s system.
The September 2025 topline change
From 22 September 2025 the topline has been formally changed as part of the Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) reform programme run by Elexon. The new format is 22 digits, and the meaning of some of the codes has shifted.
Three changes matter:
- The Meter Time Switch Code (MTC) is being replaced by a 4-digit Standard Settlement Configuration ID. If it doesn’t apply to your site it’ll show as ‘0000’.
- The Line Loss Factor Class (LLFC) ID is being replaced by a DUoS Tariff ID, which ties more directly to the distribution charges on your bill.
- The Profile Class field is being phased out as meters migrate to half-hourly settlement. Migrated meters will show ’00’ or appear blank. Profile classes 02 and 04 are being retained because the BSC’s Load Shaping Service still needs them to identify Non-Smart Switched Load.
The core 13-digit line is unchanged. The MPAN itself still uniquely identifies your site.
Elexon’s migration starts on 22 October 2025 and is expected to cover roughly 80% of meters by October 2026, with full completion in May 2027. If you’re on a traditional non-half-hourly profile class, your topline will change at some point in that window.
Where to find your MPAN
The most reliable spot is your electricity bill. It’s usually printed in a box labelled ‘Supply Number’ or ‘MPAN’, laid out as a two-row grid.
If you don’t have a recent bill to hand, the ECOES database holds the MPAN for every supply point in Great Britain and any licensed supplier can look it up. Brokers often do this when preparing a quote. Most suppliers can also pull the MPAN if you give them the full site address.
The MPAN is sometimes confused with the Meter Serial Number (MSN), which is stamped on the meter hardware itself. The two are different. The MSN identifies the physical meter; the MPAN identifies the supply point that meter sits on.
Core line vs top line
Treat the two lines as serving different purposes.
The core is the bit you need for almost everything practical. Quotes, switches, opening an account, dealing with a billing query. Suppliers and brokers will ask for the 13-digit core because that’s what identifies your site uniquely.
The top line is technical metadata. It matters for settlement and network charging but isn’t usually needed in customer conversations. The exception is when a quote depends on your profile class, which is the first two digits of the top line.
The 22-digit topline coming under MHHS doesn’t change which 13-digit core you’d quote on a contract. The core stays as it always was.
Profile class and settlement
The profile class within the MPAN topline tells the settlement system what shape your electricity demand follows across a day. A small office might be PC 03; a domestic-style microbusiness PC 01; a continuous shift operation PC 04.
Settlement uses your profile class alongside metered consumption to estimate when you used the power. That mattered enormously under non-half-hourly settlement, because it shaped how generators got paid for matching your demand. Under MHHS that whole estimation step goes away, which is why the profile class field is being retired for migrated meters.
Profile classes 02 and 04 are sticking around to flag specific load patterns that the Load Shaping Service still needs to identify, but for most sites the PC slot in the topline will eventually read ’00’.
Why the MPAN matters for switching
A supplier can’t quote you accurately without your MPAN. The first two digits of the top line identify your profile class, the next three identify your line loss factor (or DUoS Tariff ID under the new format), and the core identifies which distribution area you’re in. All of that feeds the price.
If you’re switching from a fixed rate deal or rolling off into out-of-contract rates, having your MPAN ready cuts the quote-to-contract time down significantly. Without it your broker has to look it up via ECOES, which adds a step.
For new connections, the meter installation process generates the MPAN before the supply goes live, and your first supplier will issue a ‘Welcome’ notification once it’s allocated.
Common MPAN problems
A handful of things catch people out:
- Two MPANs at one site. Some sites have a second MPAN for things like a separately-metered car park or EV charging. Each MPAN gets its own bill, so check you’ve got contracts on both.
- Wrong profile class. If your business has changed shape. Say, expanded from 9-to-5 office to a 24/7 operation. Your profile class might no longer reflect reality. That can push you onto a profile that costs more than necessary. A broker or your supplier can request a change.
- Transcription errors. A wrongly-typed digit might fail the core’s check value, but a swapped digit pair can pass and end up on the wrong contract. Always confirm the MPAN matches what’s on a recent bill.
- Profile class showing ’00’ or blank. If you see this on a recent bill, it just means your meter has migrated to half-hourly settlement under MHHS. That’s not an error.
If anything is genuinely wrong. Duplicate MPANs, missing MPANs, wrong distributor code. The route to fix it goes through your supplier first, then the distributor, then the Energy Ombudsman if it stalls.
Frequently asked questions
What does MPAN stand for?
Meter Point Administration Number. It is sometimes called the Supply Number or S-number. It is the unique identifier for an electricity supply point in Great Britain.
Where do I find my MPAN?
On your electricity bill, usually in a box labelled Supply Number or MPAN, laid out as a two-row grid. A supplier or broker can also look it up via the ECOES database using your site address.
What is the difference between an MPAN and an MPRN?
The MPAN identifies an electricity supply point. The MPRN identifies a gas supply point. They follow different formats and are managed by different industry bodies.
Why does the MPAN start with S on my bill?
Some bills add an S prefix to the core line to make clear it is a Supply Number. The S is not part of the 13-digit unique identifier itself.
What changed about the MPAN topline in September 2025?
From 22 September 2025 the topline expanded from 21 digits to 22 digits as part of the Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement programme. The Meter Time Switch Code has become a 4-digit Standard Settlement Configuration ID, and the Line Loss Factor Class has become a DUoS Tariff ID. The Profile Class field is being phased out for meters that migrate to half-hourly settlement.
What is the difference between the top line and the core?
The top line is technical metadata for settlement and network charging. The core is the 13-digit unique identifier for the supply point, made up of the distributor ID, meter point ID, and a check digit.
Is the MPAN the same as the meter serial number?
No. The Meter Serial Number is stamped on the physical meter hardware. The MPAN identifies the supply point that the meter sits on. If the meter is replaced, the MSN changes but the MPAN stays the same.
What is the profile class in my MPAN?
It is a code that tells the settlement system roughly when across the day your site uses electricity. PC 01 is a domestic-style profile, PC 03 a small commercial, PC 04 a continuous operation. As MHHS rolls out, most sites will see their profile class field set to 00.
Why does my supplier need my MPAN to give me a quote?
The MPAN tells the supplier your profile class, your line loss factor or DUoS tariff, and your distribution area. All three feed directly into the rates a supplier can offer.
What is the new Standard Settlement Configuration ID?
It is a 4-digit code replacing the old Meter Time Switch Code in the MPAN topline from 22 September 2025. It shows as 0000 for sites where it does not apply.
What is the new DUoS Tariff ID?
It is the code that replaces the old Line Loss Factor Class in the MPAN topline. It links directly to the Distribution Use of System charges that show on your bill.
Does the MPAN change if my meter is replaced?
No. The MPAN identifies the supply point, not the meter. A meter swap leaves the MPAN unchanged. The Meter Serial Number changes, but everything else stays the same.
Retail Energy Code data standards · Elexon Balancing and Settlement Code guidance (elexon.co.uk) · Ofgem (ofgem.gov.uk)