Switching and moving home
Switching to Octopus with two electricity MPANs
Why some homes have two electricity supply numbers, usually for off-peak heating, and what to check when you switch to Octopus.
Edited by Rob Gibbs. Published: . Guidance reviewed: .
Short answer
Two MPANs usually means a meter that supplies two separate circuits: one for everyday power and one, often on a timed supply, for storage heaters or hot water. Octopus says some meters, such as 7-terminal models, work this way. When you switch, make sure the quote includes both supplies and their standing charges, and check how the heating circuit is controlled.
Why a home has two
Older off-peak heating systems were wired on their own circuit with its own supply number, so the heaters could only draw power at night. The meter records each circuit separately.
What to check when switching
Before you accept a quote:
- Both MPANs are listed.
- You know the standing charge on each, since some setups pay two.
- The heating circuit keeps its switching times after the switch.
Is there a better setup?
Homes with storage heaters and a suitable SMETS2 meter may be able to use Snug Octopus. It manages charging times to cheaper periods. Compare it with Economy 7 using your own readings.
Questions people ask
Do I pay two standing charges with two MPANs?
It depends on the setup and tariff. Check the quote line by line.
Can two MPANs be merged?
Sometimes, with rewiring and a meter change. Ask Octopus and an electrician before changing the heating circuit.
Tariffs in this guide
Related guides
- Can you refuse a smart meter?Whether you can say no to a smart meter, what changes when an old meter must be replaced, and what you give up without one.
- Understanding your Octopus Energy billWhat each part of an Octopus bill means: unit rates, standing charges, estimated and actual readings, VAT and your account balance.
- How to submit a meter reading to Octopus EnergyWhere to send an Octopus meter reading, how often to do it, how to read each type of meter and what to do when a reading looks wrong.
- The Octopus app: what it does and where to find thingsWhat you can do in the Octopus Energy app: readings, usage, payments, tariff changes, Octoplus and smart device control.
- What is Octopus Energy? Tariffs and how it differsA plain-English introduction to Octopus Energy: who it is, the kinds of tariff it offers, and how to find the right one for your home and region.
- Octopus can’t find your address: what to doWhy an Octopus quote sometimes cannot find your address, how your MPAN helps, and the form Octopus provides for missing addresses.
Primary sources
- The ultimate guide to reading your meter — Octopus Energy; checked 2026-10-30. Meter types, including 7-terminal meters that supply two circuits with separate MPANs.
- What is an MPAN? — Octopus Energy; checked 2026-10-30. Where to find the 13-digit MPAN on a bill or in the Octopus account.