Review your Maximum Import Capacity
What is Maximum Import Capacity?
The Maximum Import Capacity (MIC) of an organisation's electricity connection is a measure of the electricity capacity that the Local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) has agreed to supply. Also known as Agreed Supply/Service Capacity, Agreed kVA or Supply Capacity, the MIC is agreed between the customer the local DNO.
This charge covers investment and maintenance of the electricity network. This is charged at a pence per kVA/day or £ per kVA month through our invoices, according to the DNO charge statement and the MIC for the site.
In simple terms: it’s the upper limit of the total electrical load you can use. Your MIC determines the charge you pay according to the agreed capacity for your site.
How this appears on your bill
The Maximum Demand (MD) is shown on your bill in kVA.
Similar to a mobile phone contract - you pay for an agreed cost whether you use all your capacity or not. And if you go over the agreed amount, you pay additional charges at a higher rate.
You'll see at the same place in your bill if you're exceeding your agreed Maximum Demand, as there will be Excess Capacity or Excess Availability charges.
What is an Excess Availability Charge and how does your Available Capacity work?
Our account manager Sam Taylor talks you through your Maximum Import Capacity, what happens when you exceed this, and how to get this cost under control.
Has your consumption changed?
It's important to know you've set this as the right amount so you aren't overpaying for capacity you're not using (if you aren't likely to increase your consumption), or that your capacity is set too low and you're regularly incurring "Excess Capacity" charges for exceeding it.
If you've improved your energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions, you may be using less electricity than you used to. Equally if you've grown your sites, or have more equipment, your consumption may have increased.
If you'd like to know whether your consumption is over or under your agreed capacity, you can contact us to get this information using the webform on this page.
Request your MIC report today
Maximum Import Capacity charges changed on 1st April 2018
For some organisations, getting the balance wrong could be costly - too low and you could potentially incur penalty charges; too high and you're paying more than you need to.
In this webinar, we talk you through:
- What Maximum Import Capacity is,
- What changes happened to the charges,
- and how EDF Energy can support you to find the right balance.
Want to know more? Check out our handy Excess Capacity Factsheet
Contacting your DNO
If, after reviewing your consumption, your current MIC and thinking about future plans, you decide you would like to change the kVA on your MIC (either increase or decraesed) - you need to contact you DNO.
They'll ask you for:
| MPAN* | Site Address | Current ASC (kVA) | New ASC (kVA) |
| 1023456789012 | 1 Example road | 1200 | 1080 |
*This can be found on your supply bill and is sometimes referred to as an SPAN number.
It may appear like this on your supply bill. The MPAN number is the 13 digit number along the bottom line.
The DNO you contact will vary depending on the MPAN you want to contact them about. You can find the full list below. Use the first 2 digits of your MPAN to establish which DNO.