What are MPAN Numbers?

What is an MPAN?

A Meter Point Administration Number, commonly known as an MPAN, is a unique reference number that identifies the specific electricity supply point at your property. You might also see it referred to on your bills or by your supplier as a 'Supply Number' or an 'S-Number'. Its primary job is to tell the energy industry exactly where the local network equipment connects to your home.

The MPAN system was introduced in 1998 to help open up the UK energy market to competition. Before this, households could not choose their electricity supplier. Creating a standard, unique identifier for every electricity supply point in Great Britain meant that suppliers could easily identify a property, take over the supply, and bill the correct household. Because of this system, switching to a new electricity deal today is a straightforward process that is handled almost entirely by your new supplier.

While the full MPAN is a 21-digit number, energy suppliers usually only ask for the final 13 digits. This shorter sequence is known as the 'Core MPAN'. You will need these numbers when you switch suppliers, move into a new home, or if you need to resolve a complex issue with your energy bills. It is important to understand that the MPAN is tied to the physical property, not to you as a customer, and not to the physical meter box on your wall.

Where to find your MPAN

The most common mistake people make when looking for their MPAN is going straight to their electricity meter. Your MPAN is not printed on the meter itself. The numbers stamped on the physical device are the Meter Serial Number (MSN), which identifies the piece of hardware, not the supply point.

Instead, you will find your MPAN on your electricity bill. Whether you receive a paper bill in the post or log in to an online account to download a PDF, the MPAN should be printed on it. It is often located on the first page or under a section labelled 'Electricity Supply Details'. It is easy to spot because it is always displayed in a specific format: a large letter 'S' followed by a grid of 21 numbers split across two lines.^[1]

How to find your MPAN without a bill

If you have just moved into a new property, you might not have a recent electricity bill to hand. Since you cannot read the MPAN from the meter, you will need to find it another way. The official route is to contact your regional Distribution Network Operator (DNO). These are the companies responsible for the physical cables and wires in your area, and they keep a central record of all MPANs.

Great Britain is split into 14 distinct distribution areas, each managed by a specific DNO. You can find your local network operator by using the online search tool provided by the Energy Networks Association (ENA). By entering your postcode into the ENA website, you will be directed to your regional DNO, such as UK Power Networks or National Grid. Many of these DNOs now offer their own online MPAN checker tools, allowing you to type in your address and instantly retrieve your 21-digit supply number. Alternatively, you can call them directly to ask for it.

Do not contact Citizens Advice to find your MPAN, as they do not hold this information or provide a lookup service. Your regional DNO can help you find it if you do not have a bill.

Breaking down the 21 digits

The 21 digits of an MPAN are not random. Each section of the grid provides specific information to your energy supplier and the company that manages your local grid. The grid is split into a top line of eight digits and a bottom line of 13 digits.^[1]

The top line (8 digits)

The top line gives the industry technical details about how your electricity is measured and the physical characteristics of your local network connection. It is broken down into three sections:

The bottom line (13 digits)

The bottom line is the 'Core MPAN'. This is the part that uniquely identifies your specific property and is the only section you usually need to worry about. It is also broken down into three sections:

How the MPAN is changing: Half-Hourly Settlement

The energy industry is currently undergoing a major upgrade known as Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS). This is a regulatory reform mandated by Ofgem to improve grid flexibility and support the transition to Net Zero. By settling electricity usage on a half-hourly basis rather than relying on broad estimates, the grid can run much more efficiently. Ofgem estimates this change will deliver net benefits to consumers of roughly £1.6 billion to £4.5 billion by 2045.

This reform is directly changing the structure of the MPAN, specifically the top line. Because smart meters can now send accurate readings every 30 minutes, the old system of grouping homes into broad 'Profile Classes' (like the old 01 and 02 codes) is becoming obsolete. The central systems for MHHS went live in September 2025, and the industry is currently moving through an 18-month migration window that runs until roughly May 2027.

As your supplier migrates your smart meter to this new settlement process, the traditional Profile Class digits on your MPAN will be phased out. They are being replaced by new technical identifiers that allow suppliers to offer highly dynamic 'Time of Use' tariffs, where the price of electricity changes based on real-time grid demand. Under Ofgem rules, energy suppliers have until late October 2026 to prove their internal systems can handle this new half-hourly data, or they will be blocked from taking on new customers.

When do you actually need your MPAN?

For the most part, your MPAN works quietly in the background. Your supplier uses it to make sure they are billing the correct house and paying the correct network charges. However, there are a few specific times when you will need to find it and provide it.

In the past, customers had to manually provide their MPAN every time they switched. Today, the central switching systems are much better. If you enter your address into a comparison site or a supplier's website, the system can usually look up your MPAN automatically. You only need to type it in manually if the system cannot find a clear match for your address.

MPAN vs MPRN vs MSN: What is the difference?

Energy bills are full of acronyms and long reference numbers. It is easy to mix up your MPAN with other important numbers relating to your energy account. Here is a clear breakdown of what each number does.

The key difference to remember is that the MPAN and MPRN belong to the building, while the Account Number belongs to you. If you move out, your old energy account is normally closed and you set up or are given an account for the new property, while the MPAN and MPRN stay with the old property.

What happens to your MPAN when things change?

A common misconception is that your MPAN changes when you alter your energy setup. Because the MPAN marks the physical point where the local network connects to the wiring in your home, it is a permanent fixture of the property.

If you switch to a cheaper electricity tariff with a new supplier, your MPAN stays exactly the same. The new supplier simply updates the national database to show that they are now the company responsible for that specific MPAN.

The same applies if you upgrade to a smart meter. The engineer will remove your old physical meter and install a new one. This means your Meter Serial Number (MSN) will change, because you have a new piece of hardware on the wall. However, because the supply point itself has not moved, your MPAN remains unchanged. The only time a property might get a new MPAN is if the physical connection to the grid is moved, or if a large property is split into multiple separate flats, requiring new, separate supply points to be created.^[1]