Meter Point Administration Number

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A Meter Point Administration Number also known as MPAN, Supply Number or S-Number is a 21 digit reference, used in Great Britain to uniquely identify electricity supply points, such as individual domestic residences; the gas equivalent is the Meter Point Reference Number. ^[1] The system was introduced following privatisation in order to provide a competitive environment for the new private electricity companies; the system means that consumers are able to easily switch their supplier as well as administration being simplified. Although the name suggests that an MPAN refers to a particular meter, an MPAN can have several meters associated with it,^[2] or indeed none. A supply receiving power from the National Grid will have an Import MPAN and microgeneration projects, feeding back into the grid are given Export MPANs.^[2]

[edit] 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 you information about the type of supply, and the power connection - line loss factor etc. ^[1] The supplementary data is the responsibility of the supplier.

It is commonly depicted on electricity bills thus (the boxes on the top and bottom line are generally unaligned):^[3]

The core data is on the second line, the supplementary data on the first. ^[1]

[edit] Profile Types

The first two digits of a full MPAN reflect its profile type. These range from 00 to 08 and are broadly separated into two categories, Half-Hourly (HH) and Non-Half-Hourly (NHH). ^[3] These terms are a reference to the availability capacity of the supply in kVA. An 00 profile is half-hourly ^[3] and this means that in a particular half-hour period it can use 100 kVA or more.^[4] The supply must consume more than 100 kVA for at least half-hour in at least three quarters of a year. If the supply consecutively draws this much energy, the installation of a Half-Hourly meter is mandatory. All of this data is recorded by the meter and will be collected usually be either an onsite download, or via a telephone line. ^[3]

The other profiles are non-half-hourly and generally, though not always, use less than 100 kWh in a half-hour period. Domestic supplies will always be either 01 or 02 profile types. ^[3]

• 00 - Half-hourly supply
• 01 - Domestic, Single rate
• 02 - Domestic, Day / Night split, also referred to as Economy 7.
• 03 - Commercial, Single rate
• 03 - Commercial Day / Evening & Weekend
• 04 - Commercial, Day / Night
• 04 - Commercial, Day / Night / Evening & Weekend
• 05 - Commercial Maximum Demand - Poor Load Factor (0-20% Load)
• 06 - Commercial Maximum Demand - Medium Load Factor (20-30% Load)
• 07 - Commercial Maximum Demand - Good Load Factor (30-40% Load)
• 08 - Commercial Maximum Demand - Excellent Load Factor (>40% Load)

^[5]

Where load factor is (average load) / (peak load).

[edit] Meter Time Switch Code (MTC)

The Meter Time Switch Code is a three digit number 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.

Specific definitions of MTCs can be found on the MRASCo documention page.

[edit] Line Loss Factor (LLF)

Line Loss Factor codes are used to calculate the related DUoS charges for the MPAN. The figure reflects both the amount of transmission infrastructure used to supply the point and the amount of energy lost through heat etc.^[3]

[edit] Distributor ID

Map of DNO licence areas

Great Britain is divided into 14 distribution areas. For each area a single company, the Distribution Network Operator, has a license to distribute electricity. ^[7] 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 regions are based geographically on the old, nationalised electricity board areas. ^[7]

In addition to the Distribution Network Operators noted above who are responsible for a specific geographic area we also have what are known as Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNO). IDNOs will own and operate electricity distribution networks which will predominately be network extensions connected to the existing distribution network, e.g. to serve new housing developments.

^[8]

[edit] Core

The MPAN core is the final 13 digits of the MPAN, and uniquely identifies a supply. It consists of the 2 digit Distributor ID followed by 8 digits followed by 2 digits then a single check digit.^[9]

[edit] Check Digit

The final digit in the MPAN is the check digit 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. ^[9]

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]);
 
  Result := Result mod 11 mod 10;
end;

[edit] 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.
• De-energised: The service cable is in place, but the fuse has been removed. The meter remains connected to the DNO, but no electricity can be used.
• Live: Both the supply 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.

[edit] Export MPANs

The vast majority of MPANs are used where energy is being consumed; Import MPANs are issued for this purpose. However, if a supply exports to the grid, then an export MPAN is issued. If a supply both imports and exports, then both an import MPAN and export MPAN is issued.

[edit] Microgeneration

Formerly, export MPANs required a half-hourly compliant meter to be installed. Since 2003, it has been possible for Microgeneration projects, with a capacity of 50 kVA or below and a non-half-hourly meter, to export back into the grid. The uptake was slow with the first microgeneration export MPAN being issued in June 2005; often microgeneration is not recorded with MPAS and not assigned an MPAN.^[2]

[edit] 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's supply cable terminates, and the customer's wires begin. In order to firmly establish a supply's MSP, the MPAN needs to be associated with a meter serial number.

Although it is common for an MPAN to be associated with one meter id, the two identifiers do exist in 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.

The link between the meter serial number(s) and the MPAN is held in the MPAS system.

[edit] Code of Practice

[edit] Unmetered Supplies

It is possible for a supply to be unassociated with a meter. For a DNO to agree to an unmetered supply, its consumption must be absolutely predictable. To that end, it must have a constant wattage, and must either be continuously consuming, or be equipped with a pre-set time switch. An example of an unmetered supply would be traffic lights or street lights.

Such unmetered supplies are otherwise identical to all other supplies, except for the fact that it is the customer's responsibility to maintain an accurate and up-to-date inventory of unmetered supplies, and to inform the DNO of changes to the consumption.

[edit] Meter Point Administration System

The Meter Point Administration System (MPAS) holds the following information for each MPAN:

• Supplier
• Data Collector for Settlements (DCS)
• Data Collector for Energy Management (DCE)
• Data Aggregator for Settlements (DA)
• Meter Operator (MOP)
• Customer
• Meter serial number(s)
• Address of the supply
• Associated MPANs
• MPAN state

MPRS is the name of a software package that implements the MPAS system for a DNO.^[10] Since MPRS is used by most DNOs it is often used interchangeably with the term MPAS.

[edit] See also

• Mains electricity
• Distribution Network Operator
• Electrical power industry
• Electricity billing in the UK

[edit] References