British (Scottish) Gas Smart Meter MPRN for Switching Energy Suppliers

RayzaBlade

Signed up to MSE Club energy switch and found a good deal, but signing up requires the MPRN number of the gas meter.  This was changed in Oct 2020 to a Smart Meter, and the Scottish Gas Statements showed the previous Meter number and the new one.  However the new one is a huge code that wasn’t recognised by the form.  I tried the old meter number and this was rejected too.  I ended a never answered call to British Gas, and found no info for my Meter Number logged into my account online.  There was no 'Chat' button online either.  Unfortunately trying to look up the MPRN at the 'findmysupplier' website didn’t work - although our house is over 20 years old, the database showed Plot Numbers, not house numbers, but not ours.  Eventually I got the MPRN number by downloading the British Gas App, logging in, then selecting the drop down menu 'Message' function.  I requested the MPRN, which was replied to a couple of hours later asking for more details, full name, full address and Email.  About 30 minutes later the MPRN was supplied.  A number not seen anywhere on bills, nor physically on the new meter.  I could then progress completing the switch form.  I’ve only just submitted changing from Eon and Scottish Gas to So Energy, So Carrot Essential v3 – Green 
This has cheaper Standing Charges and Tariffs than both Eon and SG.  Estimate to save £200 in a year, plus £25 cash back.  Not sure how the cash back works though.
Hope this helps anyone having similar problems.

[Deleted User]

The MPRN is allocated to your property and it doesn’t change when a meter is changed. The MPRN is never printed on the actual meter: each meter has its own individual serial number. By the sound of it, there is an issue with the National Database listing so I would be making sure that this is updated. If it is not, then you could have switch problems in the future.

Looking back through my old E.ON; Scottish Power; Ovo; Iresa and now Octopus bills everyone of them has the 10 number MPRN printed on each statement

mac.d

As Dolor says, the gas Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) & also your electric Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN), which is sometimes called a Supply Number, are unique numbers listed for the supply at your property and never change. They should appear on your gas/electric bill, and I looking at a British Gas bill I can see them both listed on the very last page of it. 

RayzaBlade

My Switch to SoEnergy failed in the end, because British Gas had never updated the National Database with the correct address.  Our house is 20 years old, but the address for it on the National Database refers to a Plot number with a different postcode to our real one.  I have contacted British Gas via their App Chat facility, and they referred my issue to their Tech Team to update the database.  I’ve missed the April energy hike switch deadline though!  Not sure how I can confirm the change has happened though...except the App Chat again.
frustrating.

[Deleted User]

I am not trying to defend your supplier but new build registration mistakes sit with the Developer; the DNO and gas transporter. Often meters are installed at an early stage of a build when the postal address and postcode are not known. I have been there and got the tee shirt. It is worth remembering that these types of mistake have a cascade effect. For example, I lived in plot 6 (no 14) and plot 5 was No 14 et seq. It follows that you can end up paying someone else’s bill unless all the meter registration errors are corrected.

spiro

[Deleted User] said:

I am not trying to defend your supplier but new build registration mistakes sit with the Developer; the DNO and gas transporter. Often meters are installed at an early stage of a build when the postal address and postcode are not known. I have been there and got the tee shirt. It is worth remembering that these types of mistake have a cascade effect. For example, I lived in plot 6 (no 14) and plot 5 was No 14 et seq. It follows that you can end up paying someone else’s bill unless all the meter registration errors are corrected.

Agree, currently the industry are undertaking a cleansing of plot addresses in readiness for faster switching which goes live next year. In my opinion the issue is caused by local councils not issuing full addresses when theyn approve planning for a new property. If they did that this type of issue would not occur. A friend from Norway says when a property is build a unique number is attached to the front door frame and that is used instead of the address for numerous things like competing government forms.