> Case Study
Glow Lounge: MPAN Registration and Meter Installation for a New Commercial Property
When Maxine opened Glow Lounge, she had a lease, a premises, and a plan, but no electricity. The newly developed commercial property she had taken on had never been registered with a Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN), which meant no energy supplier would touch it. After months of being bounced between organisations with no clear resolution, she turned to Energy Solutions.
Within weeks, we had resolved the registration, secured meter installation at no upfront cost, and put a competitive business energy contract in place, getting Glow Lounge fully operational.
The Challenge
Glow Lounge was based in a newly developed commercial property that had never been assigned an MPAN. An MPAN or Meter Point Administration Number, is the unique identifier that allows energy suppliers to set up an electricity account and arrange meter installation for a premises. Without one, no supplier could help. Maxine had spent several months attempting to resolve the issue independently. Despite her persistence, she was repeatedly misdirected, passed between suppliers, network operators, and third parties, without anyone giving her a clear path forward. The delays were directly preventing her business from becoming fully operational.
The key obstacles she faced were:
- No MPAN registered against the property, the starting point for any electricity connection
- No clear guidance from suppliers on how to resolve a missing MPAN on a new build commercial property
- Months of delays already accumulated, with the business unable to fully open
- The Christmas period approaching, which risked further delays to meter installation
How Energy Solutions Helped
Identifying the Root Cause
After reviewing Maxine’s situation in detail, we identified that the core issue was the absence of an MPAN registration with the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). This is a step that many new commercial tenants and even some energy suppliers are unfamiliar with, it sits outside the standard energy switching process and requires a specific registration procedure.
Guiding the DNO Registration
We guided Maxine through the correct DNO registration process step by step, supporting her in submitting the registration and ensuring all required information was provided accurately. Within 14 working days, the site was successfully registered and a new MPAN was issued, unblocking everything that had been stalled for months.
Securing Meter Installation and Energy Supply
With the MPAN in place, we contacted multiple energy suppliers on Maxine’s behalf to secure the best available terms. We successfully arranged:
- Meter installation with no additional upfront cost to the client
- Competitive business electricity rates appropriate for a small commercial premises
- A reasonable installation timeframe from the appointed supplier
Managing Through the Christmas Delay
Although the standard installation timeframe is approximately 10 working days, the process coincided with the Christmas period, which caused unavoidable delays on the supplier’s side. Rather than leave Maxine without information, we managed expectations clearly from the outset and provided consistent weekly updates throughout.
We continued to follow up and escalate with the supplier proactively, ensuring the installation remained a priority and that Maxine was never left wondering what was happening.
“After months of getting nowhere on my own, Energy Solutions sorted everything. The MPAN was registered, the meter was installed, and I finally had power in my salon. I couldn’t have opened without them.”
Maxine, Owner
Glow Lounge
The Outcome
After three weeks of active coordination and escalation, the meter was successfully installed. Glow Lounge was able to operate fully for the first time since Maxine had taken on the premises.
MPAN registered
MPAN registered within 14 working days of engaging Energy Solutions, after months of failed attempts independently
Meter installation
Meter installed with no upfront cost to the client
Energy contract
Competitive business energy contract secured and live
Business Operation
Business fully operational with no outstanding energy infrastructure issues
Experience
Maxine left a positive review reflecting her experience with the service
Why It Worked: The Energy Solutions Approach
The MPAN issue that blocked Maxine for months is more common than most business owners realise - and it is almost always caused by the same thing: suppliers and tenants not knowing where to start with a new build or unregistered property. Three things resolved it:
Diagnosing the real problem
Rather than attempting to work around the missing MPAN, we identified it as the root cause immediately and focused all effort on resolving it at source through the correct DNO registration channel.
Proactive supplier management
We approached multiple suppliers simultaneously to secure the best installation and supply terms, not just the first available option, and negotiated meter installation at no additional cost.
Honest, consistent communication
When external delays arose over Christmas, we communicated clearly and kept Maxine updated every week rather than going quiet. She always knew what was happening and what we were doing about it.
About Energy Solutions
Energy Solutions is an independent UK business energy broker based in UK. Since 2016, we have helped businesses of all sizes manage their electricity and gas contracts with complete transparency and no hidden fees. Whether you are taking on a new premises, dealing with a missing MPAN, or simply looking for a better energy deal, we are here to help.