MPAN Explained: Plug-In Solar, Export and Electricity Supply Details
- MPAN Meaning and Electricity Supply Identification
- Finding and Checking an MPAN Through Bills, Suppliers and DNOs
- Using MPAN Details for Plug-In Solar, Export and Energy Upgrades
- Home Energy Products Linked to Wider Solar and Storage Planning
- MPAN Checks Before Installing or Upgrading Home Energy Equipment
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Most electricity supplies in the UK have an identifying reference that you may not use, see, or understand day to day, but that becomes important when changing electricity suppliers, checking your electricity connection details, or installing new electricity equipment. This number is the MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number).
An MPAN represents a point of electricity supply and not necessarily a specific electricity meter or account. If a household is considering plug-in solar, battery storage, an EV charger, or solar export, the right MPAN can help ensure applications and supply records link to the correct property connection.
This guide explains what an MPAN is, where to get it, how it differs from other electricity numbers, and why it matters when planning solar generation, SEG export, or broader home-energy projects.
MPAN Meaning and Electricity Supply Identification
Homeowners see a number of numbers on an electricity bill, but they don't all mean the same thing. Knowing what MPAN means can help to differentiate between the electricity supply point and the physical electricity meter, customer account and other property records.
MPAN Records Identifying Individual Electricity Supply Points
MPANs identify an individual electricity supply point within the electricity system. It is not linked to the homeowner, or to a particular electricity meter, per se but rather to the connection.
The basic MPAN reference has 13 digits, though it might be listed in a larger box with other technical details in bills. The number helps suppliers and network organisations ensure the electricity record matches the correct electricity connection.
This becomes relevant for example, if the property has unconventional metering setups, other supplies or new equipment are connected. The MPAN acts as a unique identifier for the electricity supply being referred to.
Meter Serial Numbers, Account Numbers and MPANs Serve Different Roles
It's easy to mistake an MPAN number for the other reference numbers on an electricity bill. For instance, the meter serial number is the unique identifier of the actual electricity meter installed on the property. The meter serial number will generally change if the meter is replaced with another meter.
Another use of an electricity account number is. It can help the supplier identify the customer's billing account and may change if the household switches suppliers or a new customer takes charge of the property.
The MPAN actually identifies the point where electricity is supplied. This distinction matters when checking connection records, as the supply point may not change even if the meter, supplier, or account details do.
The meter and the MPAN are separate, and the homeowner interested in the meter itself can read what a smart meter is.
Supply Information Linked to an MPAN Across the Electricity Network
When organisations manage electricity records and connections, MPAN information helps them identify the correct supplier. An electricity supplier could use it to manage electricity supply details, and network operators can use MPAN details to help identify the relevant electricity connection in their records.
Some of the broader MPAN information can also provide details of attributes related to the supply and its network area. That's why the number is handy when a homeowner wants to determine which supply is connected to a home before taking action on an energy-system change.
During normal electricity use, most households don't need to remember the MPAN. Its significance becomes apparent when there is a change – moving home, checking a supplier record, arranging connections or preparing for solar, battery or other electrical equipment.
Finding and Checking an MPAN Through Bills, Suppliers and DNOs
Once you understand the purpose of an MPAN, the next step is to find the right MPAN number for the property. This is often simple, but it can be less clear if you have a house move, multiple electricity supplies, or have lived in the house for a while. Verify the number against a trusted supply record to avoid using the wrong MPAN in subsequent connection and export activities.
Locating an MPAN on Electricity Bills and Online Account Records
You can typically find an MPAN number on a recent electricity bill. It can be shown as a “supply number” and can be included in a box with other information relating to the electricity supply. The 13 digit supply point reference is the core MPAN.
Paperless billing customers may also access the same information through their supplier's online customer account or downloadable versions. You might want to verify the supply address in addition to the number, especially if someone has electricity accounts for multiple properties.
Homeowners should not assume the supply point has changed when changing suppliers. The same can be viewed by everyone during the tariff move account review process, including a description on how to change energy supplier and maintain the MPAN when viewing the new account details.
Using an MPAN Finder or Checker When the Number Is Not Available
Homeowners can use an MPAN finder or MPAN checker if they don't have a recent bill or an open internet account. Understanding what these services offer is critical: there isn't one public, national 'lookup' service where anyone can type in their address and get every fact about electrical service.
If you don't have a recent electricity bill, Ofgem says your first step is to find out who your local electricity network operator is by using the Energy Networks Association postcode search. The network operator can then help to determine the electricity supplier and to provide information to trace the supply in the relevant network.
This can be especially helpful if you've recently moved into a property where you can't find previous account documents. The complete address, postcode and any details about the meter will help to identify the correct electricity connection.
Confirming Supply Details With an Electricity Supplier or Local DNO
In cases of doubt, the existing electricity supplier or DNO (local Distribution Network Operator) will be able to assist in verifying the records relating to the electricity supply. Billing and account enquiries usually start with the supplier, and network operators operate the local electricity network, especially for connections.
It's particularly valuable if there are flats in a property, converted spaces, outbuildings and/or multiple electricity supplies. Caution should be taken when copying an MPAN from an old document without verifying the supply address, as this may result in an application being coupled to the wrong connection.
This means determining an MPAN is not just about finding a number, but about identifying the correct number for the electricity supply point under review. This becomes even more important when the number is used for plug-in solar registration, export arrangements, or other home-energy improvement works.
Using MPAN Details for Plug-In Solar, Export and Energy Upgrades
An MPAN becomes more meaningful when a household starts producing energy, or exports or consumes energy beyond its normal electricity supply. Depending on the type of work, and its extent, there can be a number of solar installations, export arrangements and some more demanding electrical upgrades that may involve the supplier or even the local network operator, so it is important to identify what supply point the work is being done on.
MPAN Information Used During Plug-In Solar and DNO Registration
If solar generation is linked to a domestic electrical network, the domestic electrical network process must include identification of the correct premises and connection. MPAN information is a reliable reference to associate the installation with that electricity point.
MPAN information is now included in the G98 documentation and can be included in ENA's Connect Direct system when the installation address is unknown.
This is especially important for plug-in solar DNO registration or any other microgeneration connection procedure. Installers and homeowners should therefore verify the MPAN against the property before providing supply information, rather than using the postal address.
Homeowners can also learn about how generation applies to a home electrical system by reading about connecting solar panels to home electricity.
Export MPAN Details Supporting Solar Export and SEG Registration
Another MPAN distinction is due to solar export. A household's electricity import has a MPAN, and for the electricity export to be eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee, the electricity meter recording the electricity export needs to have an export MPAN.
According to Ofgem, a SEG installation must be eligible and require an export meter that can record electricity at half-hourly intervals and an export MPAN. The export reference enables the electricity that is fed back to the grid to be distinguished from electricity used for domestic consumption.
Therefore, keep these references separate when applying for an SEG solar tariff. Under the household's import MPAN, an export MPAN may be required, which can cause confusion between electricity supply and export records.
MPAN Records for EV Chargers, Batteries and Other Home Upgrades
MPAN information can also be useful as households add equipment that alters demand or power flows. Depending on the installation, EV chargers, battery systems and other low carbon technologies may require a network check or notification.
As part of ENA guidance, network operators must be notified of the installation of charge points, and an MPAN can be used to determine the appropriate local network operator. Network connection requirements also apply to battery storage, when it is deployed as electricity storage and generation equipment.
MPAN does not assess the potential to install an upgrade. Instead, it ensures the technical information is linked to the right electricity supply point.
From that point, homeowners can now ask themselves a more pragmatic question: What solar and storage system is right for this home and how it will be used in the future?
Home Energy Products Linked to Wider Solar and Storage Planning
An MPAN only serves to identify the electricity supply that is relevant to the connection or upgrade and will not identify a suitable energy system for a home. Once homeowners have the right supply documents and know any network requirements, they can consider the size of solar generation and storage they need. This depends on whether the property is starting with solar or installing solar and storage at the same time, and whether the solar system already exists and needs to be upgraded with solar storage.
EcoFlow Plug-In Solar Kit for Simple Home Solar Generation Needs
If you are just starting with solar generation, an EcoFlow Plug-In Solar Kit offers a relatively easy way to use solar power during the day. When solar electricity is produced, it can be used for delivering active loads in the house, thus decreasing the loads that have to be imported from the grid.
This could be ideal for homeowners who want to start with a smaller generation system before moving on to a larger solar-and-storage installation. But equipment installation and supply is different. Where it is necessary to check the installation or connection process, the relevant MPAN and any relevant DNO requirements should be checked.
EcoFlow STREAM 5000 for New Solar and Battery Storage Systems
In households with both solar generation and storage, both the generation and storage capacities can be sized to meet expected household needs. EcoFlow STREAM 5000 features a battery in the region of 5kWh and can take direct solar power input, making it a better fit for users just beginning to install solar and storage systems than for those who already have a solar system in place and want to add storage.
It can handle up to 5,000W of solar power input and up to 3,000W of system output in supported configurations with future expansion via storage if energy needs to grow later on. This allows households to be more flexible in consuming daytime solar electricity, and store excess solar electricity and decrease subsequent grid imports.
EcoFlow STREAM AC 5000 for Existing Solar Homes Adding Storage
The issue is different for householders already equipped with solar panels. If you're looking to retrofit an existing PV system with storage, an AC-coupled battery may be a more viable path, since replacing an established PV system may not be necessary.
EcoFlow STREAM AC 5000 offers 5,024Wh of capacity and is ideal for solar households looking to keep more excess power on hand for future use. It is thus able to be used as an enhancement to existing PV system without the battery being used as the solar-input.
Homeowners considering this option can also get a refresher on what a plug-in solar battery is and how storage shifts the timing of household solar use.
MPAN Checks Before Installing or Upgrading Home Energy Equipment
Selecting the right solar, battery, or EV equipment is just one part of an upgrade. Households should also ensure that the electricity-supply records used are correct before installation work starts. A simple MPAN check can prevent attaching applications, notifications, or export arrangements to the wrong connection.
Locate the correct MPAN Check the MPAN number on a recent electricity bill or via the installation network pathway or route from the supplier online account before providing installation information. Do not trust an old document unless you have verified the supply information.
Confirm that it matches the intended electricity supply point. Cross-check MPAN with property address and relevant meter data, particularly for properties with multiple flats, multiple meters and/or separate electrical supplies. This ensures the upgrade is linked to the correct electricity source.
Keep import and export MPAN details separate Homes participating in solar export arrangements may have separate import and export MPAN references. Keeping these records clearly labelled can reduce confusion when dealing with electricity suppliers or SEG applications.
Provide the correct MPAN for relevant DNO If a solar, battery, or other low-carbon installation needs to be supplied with network information, then use the MPAN of the specific connection being used. Homeowners who are considering a solar panel installation can also check out DNO solar applications to learn more about the network approval process and how it relates to the installation process.
Retain MPAN records for later tariff changes. Keeping the MPAN as part of the property's long-term electricity records simplifies future energy changes and helps maintain the integrity of its electricity supply, network, and export details.
Conclusion
MPAN isn't just a number on an electricity bill. It can help when switching energy providers, reviewing your network consumption history, or researching solar power, battery storage, or other home-energy upgrades, and it identifies the energy supplier connected to a property.
If you are thinking about plug-in solar or export, ensure you have the correct import/export MPAN (where applicable) so DNO/SEG records align with the correct connection. With these details in hand, a homeowner can select equipment that meets their storage and generation requirements.
Whether a plug-in solar installation is simple or as complex as STREAM 5000 or STREAM AC 5000, correct supply information provides a cleaner foundation for future energy changes.
FAQs
Does an MPAN Change When You Switch Electricity Supplier in the UK?
No, when you change electricity suppliers, your MPAN will typically remain unchanged because it refers to an electricity supply point, not the company that bills you. Your MPAN will typically stay the same when you switch suppliers, although your account number will change.
Even if, it is important to verify that the meter is correctly noted by the new supplier as the MPAN (Meter Point Address), especially if the property has multiple meters or electricity supplies.
Can One Property Have Separate MPAN Numbers for Import and Export?
Yes, an electricity site with solar generation might have an import MPAN for electricity from the grid and an export MPAN for electricity to the grid.
Keeping the two references separate helps with:
identifying imported and exported electricity correctly;
setting up SEG export payments with the relevant supplier;
resolving metering or account queries more easily.
The export MPAN should not therefore be confused with the existing import MPAN listed on the household electricity account.
Does Replacing an Electricity Meter Change the Property MPAN Number?
No, replacing an electricity meter generally changes the meter serial number, not the MPAN, because the MPAN denotes the point of electricity supply, not the meter itself.
This can help if you're upgrading to a smart meter or replacing existing metering equipment. However, homeowners should verify updated account records after installation, particularly if the meter replacement is part of a larger solar, battery, or tariff change.
Can a Single Address Have More Than One MPAN Electricity Supply?
Yes, more than one MPAN may be associated with a postal address, as some properties may have multiple electricity supply points.
This can happen in situations such as:
converted properties with separate electricity supplies;
buildings containing several flats or units;
sites with additional independently metered connections.
Before using an MPAN checker or submitting energy-upgrade information, verify that the MPAN is the one for the specific meter and supply undergoing changes.
Is an MPAN Considered Personal Information on Electricity Records?
An MPAN number is not an individual's identifier, it identifies an electricity supply point. But when paired with a customer's name, address, billing information, or account information, it becomes part of larger electricity records that must be handled carefully.
Therefore, homeowners should not publicly disclose full account documents if only giving an MPAN to an electricity supplier, DNO, installer or SEG provider. Organising supply records also simplifies future changes in solar, battery and tariff.