MPAN – METER POINT ADMINISTRATION NUMBER

This is sometimes referred to as a Supplier Number or S Number, and is the unique number found on a business electricity bill. The first two digits in the number display the meter profile – 03 or 04 for a small business, 05 to 08 for maximum demand users and 00 for Half-Hourly.

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.

MPRN – METER POINT REFERENCE NUMBER

A unique number used to identify a commercial gas supply. These are found on a bill and are usually ten digits long.

STANDING CHARGE

If you have a standing charge on your bills, this means you pay a fixed amount for the amount of energy you use and the supply. If you have NSC (no standing charge) on your bill, this means that you don’t have a standing charge, you pay for the energy that you actually use, but the supply cost is factored into the cost of each unit.

TRANSPORTATION CHARGE

A charge made by National Grid for the national transport of the shippers’ gas through the gas network (National and Regional Transmission system and the low and medium pressure distribution system) to the customer. The transportation charge consists of three elements, which are dependent on the locations of the particular terminal and offtake site: capacity charge; commodity charge; and site charge.

KWH

A kilowatt-hour ( kWh) is a unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt (1 kW) of power used for one hour. It is the unit of measurement most commonly seen on energy bills and appliances. A 100 watt light bulb used for 10 hours will consume 1kWh. An appliance such as a kettle that uses 3 kilowatts of power would consume 1kWh in 20 minutes.

CONSUMPTION

Your consumption is the amount of energy you use. In the energy world, this is represented by the number of kilowatt hours (kWh).

EAC – ESTIMATED ANNUAL CONSUMPTION

Like an AQ but related to the consumption of commercial electricity, based on previous billing information. Occasionally referred to as Calculated Annual Consumption (CAC).

MD – MAXIMUM DEMAND

These meter profiles begin with either 05, 06, 07 or 08 and are usually on their own tariff. The term relates to the highest expected load drawn from the network by intensive commercial electricity users.

KVA

A volt-ampere (VA) is the voltage times the current feeding an electrical load. A kilovolt-ampere (kVA) is 1000 volt-amperes.

Electrical power is measured in watts (W): The voltage times the current measured each instant. In a direct current system or for resistive loads, the wattage and VA measurements will be identical. But for reactive loads, the voltage and current are out of phase and the volt-ampere spec will be greater than the wattage.

For determining power, watts are appropriate. For determining capacity for the driving circuits (circuit breakers, wiring, and uninterruptible power supplies, for instance), VA is appropriate.

AQ OR AAQ

Stands for Annual Quotient or Annual Agreed Quantity and is an estimate of future commercial gas consumption, as calculated by Transco, the distribution network.

ASC – AUTHORISED SUPPLY CAPACITY

Only Maximum Demand customers need to be concerned with this term, which refers to the amount of commercial electricity allowed for running industrial equipment.

ESTIMATED READING (E)

An estimated reading on your bill is used if your supplier has been unable to obtain an actual meter reading. The estimate could be under or over your actual usage, which is why it’s very important to read your meter regularly.

HH – HALF-HOURLY

The name used for meters with a ’00’ profile number that are used by energy-intensive businesses. These firms’ average peak electricity demand will have been greater than 100kW in any three months of the preceding year.

METER OPERATOR

A Meter Operator (MOP) is responsible for installing and maintaining metering and communications equipment, and provides the technical meter details to the Data Collector to enable consumption data collection. As your supplier, E.ON can also act as your MOP and will pass these costs on to you through the supply contract. Alternatively you can make an agreement with the MOP of your choice which is suitably qualified under the Balancing and Settlement Code and DCUSA. Simply let us know who you have appointed.

DATA COLLECTOR

A Data Collector (DC) is an organisation appointed by the supplier and accredited to carry out Data Collection for Half-Hourly Metering Systems. Metering data is collected and validated by the DC and forwarded to the Data Aggregator, who applies additional factors before sending it to the supplier. The supplier is responisble for maintaining the level of service up to or above 99% of actual data. This is an industry requirement.

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 equipment begins. 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 serial number, 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.

PROFILE CLASS (PC)

The first two digits of a full MPAN reflect its profile class.

• 00Half-hourly supply (import and export)
• 01Domestic Unrestricted
• 02Domestic Economy 7
• 03Non-Domestic Unrestricted
• 04Non-Domestic Economy 7
• 05Non-domestic, with MD recording capability and with LF less than or equal to 20%
• 06Non-domestic, with MD recording capability and with LF less than or equal to 30% and greater than 20%
• 07Non-domestic, with MD recording capability and with LF less than or equal to 40% and greater than 30%
• 08Non-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:

“Any Metering System where the average of the maximum monthly electrical demands in the three months of highest demand, either in:

• a. the previous twelve months; or
• b. the period since the most recent Significant Change of Demand (whichever is the shorter)exceeds 100kW.”

HH data is recorded by the meter and will be collected usually be either an onsite download, or via a GSM, SMS, GPRS ortelephone 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.

MTC Ranges

• 001 – 399DNO specific
• 400 – 499Reserved
• 500 – 509Codes for related Metering Systems – common across the Industry
• 510 – 799Codes for related Metering Systems – DNO specific
• 800 – 999Codes common across the Industry

LINE LOSS FACTOR CLASS (LLFC)

The Line Loss Factor Class or LLFC 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.

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.

CARBON TRUST

An organisation dedicated to helping businesses, the public sector and governments to deliver a low-carbon economy. It provides ways for businesses to reduce carbon emissions, by developing low-carbon technologies and solutions.

CCL – CLIMATE CHANGE LEVY

A government charge on commercial electricity and gas designed to encourage lower consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

ECOES

ECOES is a website that allows authorised industry parties to search for supply details (past and present) using such things as the 13-digit MPAN bottom line number, the meter serial number or the postcode. There is no public access. 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 each DNO from their MPAS and Meter Operators.

CRC – CARBON REDUCTION COMMITMENT

The scheme designed to improve the energy efficiency credentials of large organisation. IKT’s a mandatory requirement for the UK’s 5,000 biggest commercial electricity users.

LEC – LEVY EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE

A certificates that is issued by Ofgem and exempts the holder from the Climate Change Levy, meaning they will not have to pay the charge on top of standard business electricity costs.

OFGEM

Ofgem is the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. It has the authority to determine strategy, set policy priorities and take decisions on a range of matters, including price controls and enforcement. It also promotes competition between energy suppliers and helps administer grant schemes including ECO.

ECO

The Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) is an obligation placed on large energy suppliers to reduce the UK’s energy consumption and support people living in fuel poverty by providing grants to households for measures including insulation and heating. It was introduced in January 2013 .

DECC

The Department of Energy and Climate Change is the government department that deals all matters of policy regarding energy supply and delivery, energy efficiency, energy security, and climate change issues. It is currently led by the Edward Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change

GAS SAFE REGISTER:

The national watchdog for gas safety in the UK, replacing the role formerly played by Corgi. All gas installers and maintenance engineers should be registered with the scheme.

PP10

This is the HM Revenue and Customs form that enables users to claim exemption or discount on the Climate Change Levy.

FITS

The tariffs are payments to anyone who owns a renewable electricity system, for every kilowatt hour they generate. They are applicable to households, businesses and, indeed, virtually any property owner.

HOW MUCH IS PAID

Up to 41.3p/kWhr, depending on the type and size of the system used to generate renewable energy Plus an additional 3p/kWh when you export any surplus back to the grid.

Also, you reduce costs on your electricity bill when you use your own energy.

FOR HOW LONG

Tariffs are paid for 20 years, except solar systems installed before 1st August 2012, which qualify for 25 years. Tariffs are index-linked to RPI.

RENEWABLES OBLIGATION (RO)

The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the main support mechanism for renewable electricity projects in the UK. Smaller scale generation is mainly supported through the Feed-In Tariff scheme (FITs).

The RO came into effect in 2002 in England and Wales, and Scotland, followed by Northern Ireland in 2005. It places an obligation on UK electricity suppliers to source an increasing proportion of the electricity they supply from renewable sources.

For information on how the obligation level is set each year please see the Department of Energy and Climate Change website.

Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) are green certificates issued to operators of accredited renewable generating stations for the eligible renewable electricity they generate. Operators can trade ROCs with other parties. ROCs are ultimately used by suppliers to demonstrate that they have met their obligation.

Where suppliers do not present a sufficient number of ROCs to meet their obligation, they must pay an equivalent amount into a buy-out fund. The administration cost of the scheme is recovered from the fund and the rest is distributed back to suppliers in proportion to the number of ROCs they produced in respect of their individual obligation.

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 licence to distribute electricity.[10] 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 licensed regions are the same geographic areas as the old nationalised electricity boards.

DNOs

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

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 projects, with a capacity of 30kW or below to have 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. Export capacity over 30kW is required to be half hourly metered.

METERING CODE OF PRACTICE

Code of Practice

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.

METER POINT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM

Each DNO operates a Meter Point Administration System (MPAS) which holds the following information for each MPAN:

• Supplier
• Data Collector (DC)
• Data Aggregator (DA)
• Meter Operator (MOP) or Meter Administraor for HH unmetered
• 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.