What Is An MPRN And Why Do I Need It?
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All you have to do is give us a call. So what are you waiting for?
Monday to Friday - 9 am to 7pm
Your MPRN is a unique number thatโs assigned to your gas supply, and itโs a six to ten-digit number that can normally be found on your gas meter. It generally also appears on your gas bills – although it might also be referred to as a โMeter Point Referenceโ. If youโre moving out from your home, moving into a new home or youโve been asked to provide one when switching suppliers, an Meter Point Reference Number, or commonly referenced as MPRN, will be needed to identify your energy meter to determine your individual gas supply point.
Your MPRN isnโt the same as your MPAN, and it will change if you move house, as your gas meter will be different; all gas and electricity supply points have their own numbers which are unique to them. So, your MPRN wonโt change if you change gas supplier while you stay in the same house – as itโs assigned to the gas supply to your household – and itโs different to your meterโs serial number, which we will come on to later.
Although the acronyms are very similar, there are some key differences between your MPRN and MPAN numbers!
What is your MPRN?
Your MPRNโฆ
- Stands for Meter Point Reference Number
- Only applies to gas energy, you donโt have to worry about it if you only use electricity
- Is a six to ten digit number which appears as one long number, without spaces
- Starts with an M before the number
- Appears on your gas meter and/or gas bill
While your MPANโฆ
- Stands for Meter Point Administration Number
- Only applies to electricity, not gas meters
- Is a 21-digit number, broken into several segments
- Starts with an S
- Appears on your electric meter and (normally) on your electricity or dual fuel bills.
Where is the MPRN number on a gas meter?
If youโve had a new gas meter fitted recently, then your MPRN might be displayed on your gas meter. However, many older UK households wonโt have this on their gas meter, but this is a good place to start when searching for your MPRN.
If itโs not there, you can often find it on your gas bill – for most of the โbig sixโ energy suppliers, youโll see a section on the bill that says either โGas Meter Point Referenceโ or โMeter Point Referenceโ with a six to ten-digit number underneath – displayed as one number, with no spaces. As the big six generally lead the way in best practice and standardised billing styles, this has been replicated across most UK energy supplier bills now, so refer to your latest gas bill if youโre not sure.
When you might need your MPAN or MPRN
Most of the time, your MPAN and MPRN arenโt important! However, when you move into a new house, switch energy suppliers or move out from your current home, you might be asked for your meter supply numbers – this applies to your gas and electricity meters individually, if you have a dual fuel tariff.
How do I find my MPAN and MPRN?
If you need your MPAN or MPRN, there are a few places you can look.
Your MPAN is for your electricity supply, and is also known as:
- Meter Point Administration Number
- Electricity Supply Number
- Supply Number or โSโ Number.
Itโs usually found either on your electricity meter, or on your electricity or dual tariff energy bills. Itโs a twenty-one digit number which is separated into several sections and starts with an S. So search for one of the three above sections on your bill to find your MPAN.
If you need your MPRN for your gas supply, itโll either be known as your:
- Gas Meter Point Reference
- Meter Point Reference
- โMโ Number.
Remember, if youโre using your bills to find your MPRN or MPAN, donโt confuse this with your customer reference number, which will be separate, but will also appear on each of your bills.
If you havenโt got a bill to hand or canโt find the right numbers, you can give your energy supplier a call to ask for your MPRN, or for some help to find it. However, if youโre not sure who your supplier is, call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524. Theyโll ask for your postcode and the first line of your address, and theyโll be able to give you your MPRN and let you know who your current gas supplier is if youโre still unsure.
COVID-19
More than ever, our team of experts remain on deck to help you make savings on your energy. We understand how deeply the lives of many are affected by these trying times and we want to support you the best we can. More on your energy supply during COVID-19 in our article.
Is MPRN the same as a meter number?
There are lots of numbers on gas and electricity meters, and it can be confusing to differentiate between them all. Here are a few that will commonly appear – so be mindful of this when searching for your MPRN or MPAN, and read carefully to find out which numbers are for what!
These include:
- Your meter reading
- Your MPRN or MPAN
- Your meterโs serial number
Often, it will also contain information about the type of meter it is and its model number, including bar codes.
However, your MPRN (although sometimes known as an โMโ number) isnโt the same as your meter number. Your meter number will also be known as your meter serial number – or MSN for short – and will appear as a combination of letters and numbers to identify the meter itself.
What does a meter number look like?
On standard household meters, your meter number (or MSN) will be printed above or below one of the barcodes on your meter and will be between nine and twelve digits in length – often starting with an โFโ or โLโ.
For homes with smart meters installed, the MSN can be found at the front of the meter box, starting with 14P or 15P for electricity meters, and G4P for gas meters.
What do the numbers on a digital electric meter mean?
As mentioned above, there are quite a few numbers on a digital electric meter! With barcodes, seemingly random numbers and seals of approval, it can seem very confusing at first glance.
However, your main meter reading will be available in its own small screen, and you find your meter reading on a digital electric meter by reading the five digits from left to right. If there are any numbers in red, you can ignore these.
For example, if six digits are displayed and the final digit is in red, note down the first five digits from left to right, and that will be your electric meter reading.
If you have a two-rate meter, the same rules apply, except you must send readings for both meters. Instead of one reading, youโll see two five-or-six-digit figures at the top and bottom, and you can note these down from left to right, ignoring any numbers in red.
If you would like additional information, feel free to give Switch Plan a call:
Call us to switch your energy supplier for free!
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Read More
- What is a MPAN?
- What is an Economy 7 Meter?
- Top up your electrical meter.
- how to read an energy meter
- What is a Smart Energy Reader?
- Everything you need to know about a gas meter.
Updated on 31 Mar, 2021
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