Which electricity profile class is my business?
Most small businesses are profile class 3 (non-domestic unrestricted) or 4 (Economy 7 style day/night meters). Larger sites with maximum-demand metering sit in classes 5 to 8. Your class is the first two digits on the top line of your MPAN.
A profile class is a label the electricity industry uses to group customers with similar usage patterns. It matters because it decides how your usage is allocated in settlement and which charges apply.
The classes
| Class | Who |
|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Domestic (unrestricted, Economy 7) |
| 3 | Non-domestic unrestricted: a typical shop, office or café with a single-rate meter |
| 4 | Non-domestic Economy 7: separate day and night rates |
| 5 to 8 | Maximum-demand customers, split by load factor: below 20%, 20-30%, 30-40%, over 40% |
The load factor in classes 5 to 8 compares your actual consumption with what you would use if you ran flat out at your peak. A high percentage means steady, round-the-clock use.
How to check yours
- Find your 21-digit MPAN (see where to find it).
- Take the first two digits of the top line.
- Match them to the table. For example, 03 means class 3.
If your bill only shows the 13-digit core, ask your supplier for the top line.
Why it matters
- Classes 5 to 8 must be settled half-hourly, a rule in force since April 2017, so they need an HH meter.
- Classes 3 and 4 are typically on standard meters, though smart and half-hourly settlement is spreading; see MHHS.
- A wrong class can mean wrong charges. If you think yours is wrong, ask for evidence of your meter type and check the day/night split.
Quick example
A hairdresser with one single-rate meter and an MPAN starting 03 is class 3. A factory with maximum-demand metering and a peak load factor of 35% would fall in class 7.
Moved to half-hourly? See why that happens. More in profile classes explained.
Is the class ever wrong?
It can be. Common causes are a meter change that wasn't reflected in settlement systems, a change of use, or an Economy 7 meter recorded as unrestricted. Symptoms are charges that don't match your meter or day/night split.
How to challenge
- Photograph the meter, including any day/night registers.
- Ask your supplier to confirm your MPAN top line and meter type.
- If they disagree with the evidence, put the problem in writing and use the complaints route in disputing a high bill.
What market-wide half-hourly settlement means for profile classes
Profile classes exist because older meters only record totals, so the industry estimates when you used the energy. Under market-wide half-hourly settlement (MHHS), which began migrating meters in October 2025 and is due to be fully in place by May 2027, settlement uses actual half-hourly readings from smart and advanced meters. Elexon says this removes the need for profiling. We have not found a clear official statement on exactly how the top line of the MPAN will be shown for migrated small sites, so if your bill or MPAN changes, ask your supplier what the new details mean for your charges.
In practice: keep a copy of your current MPAN top line, note any change after a meter exchange or migration, and compare your first few bills afterwards with the same months last year.
Does it affect your contract price?
The profile class feeds into how network charges and costs are allocated, and sometimes quotes depend on it. Give the correct MPAN to brokers and suppliers so the quote is for the right site.
Sources
General information only. Energy prices, rules and supplier terms change; check the latest position with your supplier, Ofgem or the Energy Ombudsman before you act.