Supply point (EAN, EIC)

Under the Czech Energy Act, a supply point (odběrné místo) is a place connected to the distribution system where one customer's installation is located and to which electricity is delivered; for gas, it is the place with one customer's gas installation where delivery is metered. Each supply point has a unique identification code used in contracts, when switching supplier and in complaints.

EAN and EIC

• EAN is the 18-digit code of an electricity supply point. It is assigned by the operator of the distribution system the point is connected to and registered with the market operator. Czech codes start with 859.
• EIC is the 16-character code of a gas supply point. Codes for gas supply points start with 27ZG.
• For district heating, the supply point is the place of delivery agreed in the heat supply contract, where heat passes from the supplier to the customer.

The code is on the bill: under Decree No. 207/2021 Coll., a household electricity bill must show the address and EAN code, the distribution tariff and the rating of the main breaker; a gas bill shows the address and EIC code. The EAN is also needed when applying to connect a generating plant such as solar panels.

What happens when a property is sold

The code stays with the place, not the person: it does not change with a new owner, and the new customer takes over the same EAN or EIC. The new owner signs their own contract with a supplier (the so-called přepis, transfer) and the seller's contract is ended. The supplier usually asks for proof of the relationship to the property, such as the purchase contract, and the meter reading on the transfer date, which is used for the seller's final bill. It is therefore worth recording the electricity and gas meter readings at handover.

Frequently asked questions

Why ask the seller for the EAN and EIC?

They make the transfer of energy contracts easier and show which distribution system the house is connected to. In some complexes this may be a local distribution system, run not by the regional distributor but by another company, which also assigns codes to its supply points.

Can one property have several supply points?

Yes. A house with two flats, each with its own electricity meter, has two electricity supply points, each with its own EAN. EAN and EIC codes apply only to electricity and gas; water consumption is measured by the water meter on the service connection under the Water Supply and Sewerage Act.