Metering point number: What it is and where to find it

Anyone switching electricity providers in Austria, registering a solar installation, or requesting smart meter data will be asked for a Zählpunktnummer (metering point number). Most people encounter this term for the first time and have no idea where to look. This article explains what the Zählpunktnummer is, how it is structured, where to find it, and why it plays a central role for businesses.

What is the Zählpunktnummer?

The Zählpunktnummer (also called Zählpunktbezeichnung, or metering point designation) is a 33-character alphanumeric identifier that uniquely identifies every electricity metering point in Austria. It always starts with the letters AT, followed by 31 digits.

A common misconception: the Zählpunktnummer does not identify the physical meter device. It identifies the metering point in the electricity grid. This is a subtle but important distinction. When your meter is replaced (for example, during a smart meter upgrade), the Zählpunktnummer stays the same. It is tied to the location, not to the device.

The Zählpunktnummer is standardized across all Austrian grid operators (Netzbetreiber) and serves as the primary key in the EDA network (Energiewirtschaftlicher Datenaustausch), the system through which smart meter data is exchanged between market participants.

Structure of the Zählpunktnummer

The 33 characters of the Zählpunktnummer are not random. They follow a fixed structure that encodes information about the location and the responsible grid operator:

• Characters 1-2: Country code — Always AT for Austria.
• Characters 3-4: Grid operator code — A two-digit number identifying the responsible grid operator or grid area.
• Characters 5-33: Individual identifier — A sequential number, unique within the grid area, that designates the specific metering point.

An example: AT0010000000000000001000012345678

The first characters already reveal the grid operator. This means automated systems can identify the responsible Netzbetreiber from the Zählpunktnummer alone, without needing a separate lookup table. For more on the technical infrastructure behind smart meter data, read our Smart Meter guide.

Examples from different grid operators

The prefixes vary by grid area. The structure itself does not change: always 33 characters, always starting with AT.

Where do I find the Zählpunktnummer?

The Zählpunktnummer is not a secret and is not personal data in the strict sense. It is a technical identifier and can be found in several places.

On the electricity bill

The most common place to find it is your electricity bill (Stromrechnung). The Zählpunktnummer typically appears on the first page, in the section listing your contract or installation details (Vertragsdetails or Anlagedetails). Depending on the provider, it may be labelled "Zählpunktbezeichnung", "Zählpunktnummer", or simply "ZP".

What to look for: a string starting with AT that is 33 characters long in total. The remaining 31 characters are digits. Once you spot this pattern, you have found the right number.

In the grid operator's smart meter web portal

Every Austrian grid operator provides a customer portal where your metering point data is stored. The Zählpunktnummer is usually displayed prominently there, often alongside your current consumption data.

You received access credentials for this portal when your smart meter was installed. If you no longer have them, you can request new credentials from your grid operator.

By contacting the grid operator directly

If you do not have your electricity bill at hand and cannot access the online portal, you can contact your grid operator by phone or email. The Zählpunktnummer is a technical identifier and will be provided on request. You will typically need your customer number or the address of the connection for identification.

What is the Zählpunktnummer used for?

The Zählpunktnummer comes into play whenever a process in the Austrian electricity market needs to be linked to a specific metering point. The most common use cases:

• Switching providers — When you switch your electricity supplier, the new provider needs the Zählpunktnummer to correctly register the switch with the grid operator.
• Smart meter data access — To access consumption data via the EDA network, the Zählpunktnummer is the basis of every data request.
• Energy certificates and energy consulting — Creating an energy performance certificate (Energieausweis) or conducting a professional energy audit requires consumption data, which is linked via the Zählpunktnummer.
• Feed-in and photovoltaics — When registering a solar installation for grid feed-in, the Zählpunktnummer of the feed-in point is required.
• Building management — In building management, the Zählpunktnummer is the key to associating consumption data with individual units, buildings, or properties.

Zählpunktnummer vs. meter serial number vs. customer number

Three numbers, three different things. The confusion is understandable, but the differences are clear:

The Zählpunktnummer is the relevant identifier for all data processes in the EDA network. The device ID on the meter itself helps technicians with on-site identification but has no function in electronic data exchange. The customer number links you as a contract partner to your energy supplier and has no direct connection to the metering point.

The Zählpunktnummer in a business context

For individuals, the Zählpunktnummer is a detail you look up once and then forget. For businesses working with energy data, it is the starting point of every data process.

Whether you are an energy service provider, a building manager, or a software developer: anyone wanting to query smart meter data via the EDA network first needs the Zählpunktnummer of the relevant metering point. It is the key to the consent request, to data delivery, and to the unambiguous assignment of measurement values.

In practice, this often looks like this: Zählpunktnummern are collected by email, phone, or in spreadsheets. Tenants, customers, or property managers are asked to read the number from their electricity bill and pass it on. This process is error-prone and only manageable with a small number of metering points.

Many meters, many grid operators

Once a business works with more than a handful of metering points, manual management quickly becomes uneconomical. A building portfolio spanning multiple Austrian provinces can involve dozens of different grid operators. Each metering point is routed through a different Netzbetreiber in the EDA network. With ten, fifty, or a hundred metering points, manual assignment and management is no longer viable.

The Zählpunktnummer itself contains the information about which grid operator is responsible. Automated systems use this: at energiedaten.at, entering the Zählpunktnummer is all it takes. The system automatically identifies the responsible grid operator and initiates the consent process. We describe why automating energy data processes is worthwhile in our article Why automate?.

Frequently asked questions about the Zählpunktnummer

Is the Zählpunktnummer the same as the meter serial number?

No. The Zählpunktnummer identifies the metering point in the electricity grid. The meter serial number (or device ID) identifies the physical meter device. When the meter is replaced, the device ID changes, but the Zählpunktnummer remains the same.

Does the Zählpunktnummer change when the meter is replaced?

No. The Zählpunktnummer is tied to the metering point in the grid, not to the device. Whether it is an analogue Ferraris meter or a digital smart meter: as long as the metering point itself does not change, the number persists.

Can I request someone else's Zählpunktnummer?

No. You cannot simply obtain the Zählpunktnummer of another person's metering point. To access the data of a metering point via the EDA network, you need the explicit consent of the person or entity associated with that metering point.

What if I have multiple Zählpunktnummern?

This is more common than you might think. Businesses, multi-unit buildings, and properties with separate feed-in meters (for example, for photovoltaics) often have multiple Zählpunktnummern. Each individual metering point has its own number, and a separate consent must be granted for each one.

Do gas and water connections also have Zählpunktnummern?

The 33-character system described here applies to the electricity market. Gas metering points use a similar scheme with their own structure, managed separately. Water connections are not covered by this system.

Summary

The Zählpunktnummer is Austria's universal identifier for electricity metering points. It is 33 characters long, always starts with AT, and remains the same for life, regardless of which meter device is installed or which supplier delivers the electricity.

For individuals: You can find your Zählpunktnummer on your electricity bill or in your grid operator's online portal.

For businesses: The Zählpunktnummer is the key to accessing smart meter data via the EDA network. It is the first input when querying consumption data programmatically or using a data service such as energiedaten.at.