Finding and using your MPAN
Your MPAN is a 13-digit number printed on your electricity bill, sometimes called the supply number. It identifies your specific meter and supply point, which is what suppliers use to generate an accurate quote rather than a regional estimate. If you cannot locate it, your current supplier or the meter itself can usually confirm it.
Single rate versus time-of-use metering
Smaller businesses on standard meters typically pay one unit rate for all consumption. Larger sites, or those with smart or half-hourly meters, may be billed on day, night and evening/weekend bands, or on true half-hourly settlement. Comparing electricity prices for these sites requires a breakdown of usage by time period, not just a single annual total.
Getting this wrong on a comparison can understate or overstate the likely cost, since a business that consumes heavily at peak times will be priced differently to one that runs mostly overnight.
Capacity charges and half-hourly sites
- Capacity charge covers the maximum demand a site is agreed to draw
- Exceeding agreed capacity can trigger separate excess charges
- Half-hourly settlement applies automatically above certain consumption thresholds
- Comparisons for these sites should include capacity as a separate line item
Compare business energy prices
Enter your postcode and business details to compare available commercial energy prices.
Comparing fixed and variable electricity deals
| Feature | Fixed | Variable |
|---|---|---|
| Unit rate | Locked for term | Tracks wholesale market |
| Budget certainty | High | Lower |
| Typical term | 1 to 5 years | Rolling or short term |
| Best suited to | Predictable usage | Flexible, risk-tolerant buyers |
What affects your electricity comparison result
Region affects distribution costs, since electricity network charges differ across the 14 UK distribution regions. Consumption volume affects which suppliers are willing to quote, as some focus on micro-businesses while others prefer larger commercial loads. Contract length also changes the rate, since longer terms often carry a premium for price certainty.
Switching electricity supplier without disruption
Switching supplier does not involve any physical change to your electricity connection. The same wires, meter and network operator remain in place; only the billing relationship changes. Most switches complete within about three to five weeks, and by law your supply cannot be interrupted during the process.