A Meter Point Administration Number, also known as MPAN, Supply Number or S-Number, is a 21-digit reference used in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
Mains is the general-purpose alternating current electric power supply. In the US, electric power is referred to by several names including household power, household electricity, powerline, domestic power, wall power, line power, AC power, city power, street power, and grid power...
such as individual domestic residences. The gas equivalent is the Meter Point Reference Number. The system was introduced in 1998 in order to provide a competitive environment for the electricity companies, and allows consumers to switch their supplier easily as well as simplifying administration. Although the name suggests that an MPAN refers to a particular meter, an MPAN can have several meters associated with it, or indeed none where it is an unmetered supply. A supply receiving power from the network operator (DNO
Distribution Network Operator
Distribution network operators are companies licensed to distribute electricity in Great Britain by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets....
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday...
Microgeneration is the small-scale generation of heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs, as alternatives or supplements to traditional centralized grid-connected power...
projects feeding back into the DNO network are given Export MPANs.
Structure
An MPAN is commonly separated into two sections: the core and the supplementary data. The core is the final 13 digits and is the unique identifier. The supplementary data gives information about the characteristics of the supply and is the responsibility of the supplier.
The full MPAN is required to be depicted on electricity bills (the boxes on the top and bottom line are generally unaligned):
The core data is on the second line, the supplementary data on the first.
Profile Class (PC)
The first two digits of a full MPAN reflect its profile class.
Economy 7 is the name of a differential tariff provided by United Kingdom electricity suppliers that uses base load generation to provide cheap off-peak electricity during the night....
03
Non-Domestic Unrestricted
04
Non-Domestic Economy 7
05
Non-domestic, with MD recording capability and with LF less than or
equal to 20%
06
Non-domestic, with MD recording capability and with LF less than or equal to 30% and greater than 20%
07
Non-domestic, with MD recording capability and with LF less than or
equal to 40% and greater than 30%
08
Non-domestic, with MD recording capability and with LF greater than
40% (also all NHH export MSIDs)
Profile class 00 supplies are half-hourly (HH) metered, i.e. they record electricity consumption for every half hour of every day, and supplies of the other profile classes are non-half-hourly (NHH) metered. A NHH supply must be upgraded to HH for:
HH data is recorded by the meter and will be collected usually be either an onsite download, or via a GSM, SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
line.
Domestic NHH import MPANs will always have a profile class of 01 or 02. Domestic NHH export MPANs are allocated a profile class of 08.
Meter Time Switch Class (MTC)
The MTC is a 3 digit code that reflects the various registers a meter may have, whether it be a Single Rate, Day Night split, or even a Seasonal Time of Day.
Distribution network operators are companies licensed to distribute electricity in Great Britain by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets....
specific
400 - 499
Reserved
500 - 509
Codes for related Metering Systems - common across the Industry
510 - 799
Codes for related Metering Systems - DNO specific
800 - 999
Codes common across the Industry
Line Loss Factor Class (LLFC)
The Line Loss Factor class is used to calculate the related Distribution Use of System (DUoS) charges for the MPAN. The figure reflects both the amount of distribution infrastructure used to supply the exit point and the amount of energy lost through heating of cables, transformers, etc.
Core
The MPAN core is the final 13 digits of the MPAN, and uniquely identifies an exit point. It consists of the two-digit Distributor ID, followed by an eight-digit unique identifier, then by two digits and a single check digit.
Distributor ID
Great Britain is divided into 14 distribution areas. For each area a single company, the distribution network operator
Distribution Network Operator
Distribution network operators are companies licensed to distribute electricity in Great Britain by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets....
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
. They effectively carry electricity from the National Grid to the exit point (each has a unique MPAN and a possibility of several meters) where the customers are. The owner of the distribution network charges electricity suppliers for carrying the electricity in their network. Their DNO
Distribution Network Operator
Distribution network operators are companies licensed to distribute electricity in Great Britain by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets....
licensed regions are the same geographic areas as the old nationalised electricity boards.
UK Power Networks is a distribution network operator for electricity covering South East England, the East of England and London.The area previously comprised three networks known as the London Electricity Board, Eastern Electricity, and South Eastern Electricity board, before being brought...
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UK Power Networks is a distribution network operator for electricity covering South East England, the East of England and London.The area previously comprised three networks known as the London Electricity Board, Eastern Electricity, and South Eastern Electricity board, before being brought...
Northern Powergrid Holdings Company is an electrical distribution company based in Newcastle Upon Tyne in England...
0845 330 0889
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In addition to the Distribution Network Operators noted above who are licensed for a specific geographic area there are also Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNO). IDNOs own and operate electricity distribution networks which are mostly network extensions connected to the existing distribution network, e.g. to serve new housing developments. Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution also provide distribution services in South Scotland as an IDNO and Southern Electric Power Distribution provide IDNO services in all other England and Wales areas. There are five IDNOs with no "base" area and these are detailed in the table below:
IDNOs
ID
Name
Licensee
Market Participant Id
24
Envoy
Independent Power Networks
IPNL
25
ESP Electricity
ESP Electricity
LENG
26
Energetics
Global Utilities Connections (Electric) Ltd
GUCL
27
GTC
The Electricity Network Company Ltd
ETCL
28
EDF IDNO
UK Power Networks (IDNO) Ltd
EDFI
Check Digit
The final digit in the MPAN is the check digit, and validates the previous 12 (the core) using a modulus 11 test. The check digit is calculated thus:
Multiply the first digit by 3
Multiply the second digit by the next prime number (5)
Repeat this for each digit (missing 11 out on the list of prime numbers for the purposes of this algorithm.)
Add up all these products.
The check digit is the sum modulo 11 modulo 10.
Sample MPAN numbers located in discussion, under 'Algorithm verification'
The algorithm in Java is:
int checkDigit(String toCheck) {
int[] primes = {3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43};
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < primes.length; i++) {
sum += Character.getNumericValue(toCheck.charAt(i)) * primes[i];
}
return sum % 11 % 10;
}
In Pascal / Delphi:
function CheckDigit(MPANCore : array of Byte): Integer;
const
Primes : array [0..11] of Byte = (3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43);
var
i : integer;
begin
Result := 0;
for i := 0 to 11 do
Result := Result + (MPANCore[i] * Primes[i]);
For i = 1 To 12
sum = sum + (Mid(mpan, i, 1) * c(i))
Next i
If Right(mpan, 1) = ((sum Mod 11) Mod 10) Then
mpancheck = True
Else
inval:
mpancheck = False
End If
End Function
As a formula in Excel:
'MPAN in Cell A1
IF(TEXT((MOD(MOD(SUM((MID(A1,1,1)*3),(MID(A1,2,1)*5),(MID(A1,3,1)*7),(MID(A1,4,1)*13),
(MID(A1,5,1)*17),(MID(A1,6,1)*19),(MID(A1,7,1)*23),(MID(A1,8,1)*29),(MID(A1,9,1)*31),
(MID(A1,10,1)*37),(MID(A1,11,1)*41),(MID(A1,12,1)*43)),11),10)),0)=TEXT(TRIM(RIGHT(A1,1)),
0),"Correct","Invalid Mpan")
In Python:
def check_digit(mpan):
return sum(prime * int(digit) for prime, digit
in zip([3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43], mpan)) % 11 % 10
In PL/SQL:
create or replace function mpan_check(mpan in varchar2) return boolean is
--CDP ATKINSON
res integer := 0;
TYPE prime_tab IS VARRAY(12) OF integer;
primes prime_tab := prime_tab (3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43);
begin
for i in 1..12 loop
res := res + to_number( substr( mpan, i, 1) ) * primes (i);
end loop;
return to_char(mod(mod(res , 11) , 10)) = substr(mpan,13,1);
end mpan_check;
In Javascript:
//Oliver Grimes
function checkMPAN(mpan) {
var primes = [3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43];
var sum = 0;
var m = mpan.toString;
if ((m.length - 1)
primes.length) {
for (var i = 0; i < primes.length; i++) {
sum += parseInt(m.charAt(i)) * primes[i];
}
return (((sum % 11 % 10)
m.charAt(12)) ? true : false);
}
else {
return false;
}
}
MPAN state
The supply identified by the MPAN can exist in one of three states: disconnected, de-energised, live.
Disconnected: The service cable has been removed and the MPAN will not be reused.
De-energised: The service cable is in place, but the fuse has been removed. The meter remains connected to the distribution network, but no electricity can be used.
Live: Both the service cable and the fuse are in place. The supply is fully operational.
These terms are by no means standardised. For example, a disconnected supply might be referred to as a 'dead' supply.
Export MPANs
The vast majority of MPANs are import MPANs, used where energy is being consumed. However, if a supply exports to the distribution network, then an export MPAN is issued. If a supply both imports and exports, then both an import MPAN and export MPAN are issued.
Microgeneration
Formerly, export MPANs required a half-hourly compliant meter to be installed. Since 2003, it has been possible for microgeneration
Microgeneration
Microgeneration is the small-scale generation of heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs, as alternatives or supplements to traditional centralized grid-connected power...
projects, with a capacity of 50 kVA or below and a non-half-hourly meter, to export back into the distribution network. The uptake was slow with the first microgeneration export MPAN being issued in June 2005. Some suppliers may not bother to register the export MPAN in MPAS as the revenue is so small.
Metered Supply Point
The Metered Supply Point (MSP) is the point at which the meter measuring a customer's consumption is located. It is thus also the point at which the Distribution Network Operator
Distribution Network Operator
Distribution network operators are companies licensed to distribute electricity in Great Britain by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets....
's supply cable terminates, and the customer's equipment begins. In order to firmly establish a supply's MSP, the MPAN needs to be associated with a meter serial number
Meter serial number
A meter serial number is an alphanumeric reference used in Great Britain to identify an electricity meter. Although meter serial numbers are intended to be unique, this can not be assured and duplicate serial numbers do exist. There are a variety of formats used over many years, but many meter...
.
Although it is common for an MPAN to be associated with one meter serial number
Meter serial number
A meter serial number is an alphanumeric reference used in Great Britain to identify an electricity meter. Although meter serial numbers are intended to be unique, this can not be assured and duplicate serial numbers do exist. There are a variety of formats used over many years, but many meter...
, in some cases there is a many-to-many relationship. For example, one meter could be associated with both an import and an export MPAN, or one MPAN could be measured by three separate meters.
Metering Code of Practice
Code of Practice
Code
Range
Configuration
COP10
less than 72kW
One HH whole current meter installed. Introduced for Feb 2009
COP5
less than 1MW
One HH meter installed
COP3
1MW to 10MW
Two meters installed, main and check, both recording the same load. The main meter being used for billing.
COP2
10MW to 50MW
Two meters installed as in COP3, but higher accuracy class meters.
COP1
> 50MW
Very few sites in the UK at this level, generally power stations and connections with the National Grid.
Unmetered supplies
It is possible for small predictable supplies to be Unmetered. Typical Unmetered Supplies are Street Lights, Traffic Signals, Signs & Bollards. But can also include Telephone Kiosks, CCTV & Advertising Displays.
For a piece of equipment to be connected to the Distribution Networks via an Unmetered Connection it should not exceed 500watts and operate in a predictable nature and cannot be manually turned on at the end users request, typically the equipment would either be in operation and taking a supply of electricity 24hrs a day or be controlled by a Photocell. A Photocell is most commonly used with Street Lights and is the small dome unit which can be seen on the very top of the lighting column
It is the customer's responsibility to maintain an accurate and up-to-date inventory of Unmetered Supplies, and to inform the UMSO (UnMetered Supplies Operator) of all changes to the connected equipment.
Larger local authorities tend to trade their Unmetered energy on a Half Hourly basis. To do so, they employ a Meter Administrator who will use daily data from a Pecu Array which is then used to calculate the energy consumptions.
A Pecu Array is a device what holds a representative account of the Photocells that Authority uses on their Street Lights or Traffic Signals they operate, there are many different types of Photocell (Electronic Photocell, Timeswitch & Thermal for example) that can be used. By trading energy as Unmetered Half Hourly the Authority will accurately pay for the energy consumed by their declared Unmetered Equipment, and because the data is downloaded daily the Authorities will see their energy invoices change throughout the year to represent the changes in season and daily lighting levels.
Once the daily calculations have been performed by the Meter Administrator the new revised energy consumption are sent to the appointed Data Collector who will in turn provided them to the appoint Electricity Supplier who invoices the Customer for the electricity used.
If however the Unmetered Supplies are being traded as Non Half Hourly the UMSO undertakes the responsibility to calculate an EAC (Estimated Annual Consumption), this is done using a simple formula which takes into account the Circuit Watts of the Equipment and the Annual Hours of Operations.
For example, a piece of equipment that is in use 24hrs per day will have annual hours of 8766. If we say a CCTV Camera is rated at 24 Circuit Watts and operating 24/7 the EAC would be 210.384kWh, the calculation is Circuit Watts x Annual Hours Divided by 1000 = Kilowatt Hours (kWh).
Example 24 x 8766 / 1000 = 210.384kWh, 1kWh is a Unit of Electricity.
If the equipment if Street Lighting the same process is used however the Annual Hours will change as each Photocell is assigned a set number of Annual Hours which indicate how and when the lights turn on & off. These Annual Hours have been set by Elexon and are not locally agreed with the UMSO by the customer.
Once an EAC calculation has taken place an EAC Certificate is provided to the customer's appointed Electricity Supplier for billing, with an electronic copy of the EAC being sent to the appointed Data Collector.
The UMSO does not make a charge to the Unmetered Customer which is why an appointed Supplier invoices for the electricity consumptions, however the DNO (for whom the UMSO is part of) do levy a charge to the electricity supplier for the delivery of the electricity to the customer's Unmetered equipment. These are known as DUoS charges (Distribution Use of System).
The electricity supplier pays a DUoS Charge based on the information held by the Data Collector for settlement purposes.
Public electricity suppliers were the fourteen companies created when the electricity market in the United Kingdom was privatised. In England and Wales the Central Electricity Generating Board was responsible for the generation and transmission of electricity, with the 12 area electricity boards ,...
In the UK electricity system, a Data Collector is responsible for determining the electricity consumption of supplies.- Half-hourly Data Collector :...
A Meter Operator in the UK energy industry is an organization responsible for installing and maintaining electricity and gas meters. Since 1998 there has been full competition for Meter Operators, allowing the Meter Operator for a particular supply to be contracted with the energy supplier by...
(MOP)
Customer
Address of the exit point
Associated MPANs
MPAN state
Profile Class (PC)
Line Loss Factor Class (LLFC)
Meter Time Switch Class (MTC)
GSP Group
MPRS is the name of the software package that implements the MPAS system for all DNOs. Since MPRS is used by most DNOs it is often used interchangeably with the term MPAS.
ECOES
ECOES is a website that allows authorised parties to search for supply details (past and present) using such things as the 13-digit MPAN bottom line number, the meter serial number
Meter serial number
A meter serial number is an alphanumeric reference used in Great Britain to identify an electricity meter. Although meter serial numbers are intended to be unique, this can not be assured and duplicate serial numbers do exist. There are a variety of formats used over many years, but many meter...
or the postcode. The user can determine a wide range of data relating to the supply including the full address, meter details, the current energisation status and also the appointed parties (i.e. the supplier, distributor, MOP, DC and DA). The site is populated by MPAS.
Chellow is open source Energy accounting software for checking the correctness of UK electricity bills.Energy accounting software is a class of software products used for tracking, managing, processing, reporting and analyzing for accuracy of utility bills and energy information...
A Meter Operator in the UK energy industry is an organization responsible for installing and maintaining electricity and gas meters. Since 1998 there has been full competition for Meter Operators, allowing the Meter Operator for a particular supply to be contracted with the energy supplier by...
Mains is the general-purpose alternating current electric power supply. In the US, electric power is referred to by several names including household power, household electricity, powerline, domestic power, wall power, line power, AC power, city power, street power, and grid power...
The electric power industry provides the production and delivery of electric energy, often known as power, or electricity, in sufficient quantities to areas that need electricity through a grid connection. The grid distributes electrical energy to customers...
In the UK, an electricity supplier is a retailer of electricity. For each supply point the supplier has to pay the various costs of transmission, distribution, meter operation, data collection, tax etc. The supplier then adds in energy costs and the supplier's own charge.- The bill :The end...
External links
Specific definitions of meter timeswitch codes can be found on the MRASCo documentation page.
Great Britain is divided into 14 distribution areas. For each area a single company, the distribution network operator