Who is my DNO? Postcode lookup

What is a DNO?

A Distribution Network Operator (DNO) is the company that owns and maintains the physical electricity cables, poles and substations that deliver power to your home. They are separate from your energy supplier — the company you pay each month, such as Octopus, British Gas or EDF.

When there's a power cut, your energy supplier cannot help. Your DNO is the company that restores power. Knowing who yours is — and having their number saved — saves critical minutes when the lights go out.

Great Britain has 14 DNO licence areas operated by six companies. Northern Ireland has a single operator, NIE Networks.

The UK's six DNO companies

What to do in a power cut (first 10 minutes)

1. Check if it's just you. Look at your neighbours — are their lights on? Check your trip switches (consumer unit).
2. If it's a wider cut, call 105. Free from any UK mobile or landline. You'll be routed to your DNO automatically.
3. Unplug sensitive electronics (TVs, computers) to protect them from surge when power returns.
4. Leave one light switch on so you'll know when power is back.
5. Keep the fridge closed — it'll stay cold for about 4 hours untouched.
6. Check on vulnerable neighbours, especially those on the Priority Services Register or using medical equipment.

For the full list see our Power Cut Checklist (UK) with free PDF download.

Priority Services Register (PSR)

The Priority Services Register is a free UK-wide scheme for people who need extra support during a power cut. You qualify if you (or someone in your household):

• Rely on medical equipment that needs electricity (dialysis, oxygen, CPAP, stairlifts)
• Have a serious or chronic illness
• Are over 60
• Have children aged 5 or under
• Have a disability, including mental health conditions
• Don't speak English as a first language

PSR members get priority contact during outages, advance notice of planned works, alternative arrangements during extended cuts (hot food, accommodation, bottled water), and the option to nominate someone else to be contacted on their behalf. Each DNO runs its own PSR — the lookup tool links directly to yours.

Supplier vs DNO: who does what

How this tool works

This lookup uses official NESO (National Energy System Operator) DNO licence area boundaries (CC BY 4.0), reprojected from British National Grid to WGS84, simplified to ~1km resolution for fast browser loading. When you enter a postcode, we query the free postcodes.io API for its coordinates, then run a client-side point-in-polygon check against the boundary data.

Everything runs in your browser after first load. No server, no data logged. That means the tool also works if our server is unreachable during a major outage.

A handful of properties near DNO boundaries may sit on different networks to their neighbours. If in doubt, call 105 — it routes automatically.

All 14 GB DNO regions: MPAN IDs and region letters

Installers, solar and EV applications and heat-pump paperwork often ask for your region as a letter (A–P) or as the two-digit distributor ID that starts the core of your MPAN, the 13-digit number on your electricity bill. The lookup above shows both; here’s the full list.

105 is free from any phone in England, Scotland and Wales and connects you to your local operator. If your home is on a newer development, it may be served by an independent network operator (IDNO); the first two digits of the MPAN core on your bill will then be outside 10–23.

Frequently asked

Is the DNO the same as my energy supplier?

No. Your supplier (Octopus, British Gas, EDF etc) sells you electricity and sends the bills. Your DNO owns the wires that deliver it and handles power cuts.

What's the free UK power cut number?

Call 105 free from any UK landline or mobile in England, Scotland and Wales. It routes to your local DNO automatically. In Northern Ireland, call 03457 643 643 (NIE Networks).

Do I get compensation for a long power cut?

Yes, from your DNO. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards, UK households typically get £95 for the first 24 hours without power (after 12 hours on high-voltage faults, or 24 hours in severe weather), plus £40 for each additional 12 hours, up to £460. Rules vary slightly between DNOs. Check with your DNO for current rates and claim process.

What's an MPAN and do I need it?

The MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is a 21-digit number on your electricity bill. The first two digits of the bottom row identify your DNO. You don't need it to use this tool — the postcode lookup is enough.

Why is my postcode showing a different DNO to a nearby one?

DNO boundaries run through rural areas and can change when new connections are made. A handful of postcodes near boundaries may sit on different networks to their neighbours. The boundary data used here is accurate to approximately 1km. If the tool result looks wrong, call 105 — it uses your actual line to route you.

What is my MPAN distributor ID?

It’s the two-digit number (10–23) that identifies your local network region. It’s the first two digits of the 13-digit MPAN core on your electricity bill. Enter your postcode above to see yours, or check the table of all 14 regions on this page.

What does my DNO region letter mean?

Each of the 14 GB distribution regions has a letter from A to P (there’s no I or O). Some tariffs, installers and energy tools use the letter instead of the operator’s name. The lookup shows your letter alongside your operator.

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Data sources: DNO boundaries © NESO (link), CC BY 4.0. Postcode coordinates via postcodes.io. Emergency phone numbers and PSR links verified against each DNO's official website. Last updated September 2026.

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