Guide
What is an ICP number, and how do I find mine?
The ICP is the permanent identifier for the point where electricity enters your property. It stays with the address when you leave, and quoting it removes most of the ambiguity from a switch.
by ComparePower. We say where every figure came from, and we leave a gap where we could not confirm one.
If you have ever tried to set up power at a property with a slightly awkward address — a rear unit, a farm with two connections, a flat above a shop — you have probably been asked for an ICP number, and possibly not known what one was.
What it is
ICP stands for Installation Control Point. It is the point at which the local distribution network hands electricity over to a property, and the ICP number is the 15-character code that identifies it in the national electricity registry.
Two things follow from that definition, and they are the two things worth remembering:
- It identifies a place, not a person. When you move out, the ICP stays. The next occupant's account is a new account against the same ICP.
- It is unambiguous. An address can be typed six ways and can describe more than one connection. An ICP cannot.
Where to find it
On your power bill. Look for a 15-character alphanumeric code near the supply address, labelled ICP, ICP number, or sometimes installation number. It is not your account number and it is usually not the largest number on the page.
From your retailer. They hold it against your account and will read it out.
From the lines company for your area. They know every connection on their network. If you do not know who yours is, our lines company guide explains how to work it out from your address, and we publish a page per lines company with contact details.
What it is used for
Switching. The new retailer files the switch against your ICP. Getting the ICP right first time is what stops a switch attaching to the neighbouring unit.
Moving in and out. Final and opening readings are recorded against the ICP.
Faults. When you report an outage, the ICP tells the lines company exactly which connection you are talking about, which is more useful than a street name on a dark night.
Anything to do with your meter. Register configuration — whether you have a controlled circuit, a night rate, interval metering — is recorded against the ICP.
Why we ask for a town instead
Our comparison does not ask for your ICP. It asks which town or suburb you are in, and resolves that to the network region for the area. That is deliberate: the ICP registry is the exact answer, but reaching it live is a different piece of engineering, and asking a 15-character code of someone who just wants to compare power companies is a good way to lose them at the first question.
What we do instead is show you the network we resolved and let you correct it in one tap, because every method short of the registry has some error and an error you can see is not really an error.
If you already know your ICP, keep it handy for the sign-up rather than the comparison, because it is the retailer who needs it. We compare 8 power companies and can show you what each offers at your address.
What is an ICP number? — common questions
What does ICP stand for?
Installation Control Point. It is the point where the distribution network hands electricity over to your property, and the identifier is a 15-character code made up of letters and numbers. Every connection in New Zealand has exactly one.
Where do I find my ICP number?
On your power bill, usually near the address or the supply details, sometimes labelled ICP, ICP number or installation number. It is also recorded in the national electricity registry against your address, and your retailer or lines company can tell you if you ask.
Is an ICP number the same as my account number?
No, and the difference matters. Your account number identifies you with one retailer and changes when you switch. The ICP identifies the physical connection and does not change. It stays with the property when you move out and the next occupant inherits it.
Do I need my ICP number to switch power company?
Not always, but it makes the switch cleaner. An address can be ambiguous, because units, sleepouts, subdivided sections and properties with more than one connection all cause mismatches, and the ICP removes every one of those ambiguities. If you are on a rural property or in a multi-unit building, quote it.
Can I find an ICP number for a property I have not moved into yet?
Yes. The ICP belongs to the address rather than to the occupant, so a retailer setting up a new account can look it up from the address before you move in. If the property is new or has just been subdivided, the connection may still be being created, and that is a conversation with the lines company rather than the retailer.
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