EAN code
An EAN code is an eighteen-digit identifier designating a single electricity or gas supply point in Belgium. It belongs to the connection, not to the customer and not to the supplier, and it begins with 54. It is what technically identifies your meter during a supplier switch or a move.
Where it appears and why it is used
The code is printed on your energy invoices, generally in the header or in the technical block. A home connected to both electricity and gas has two distinct codes, one per energy, and they look almost identical at a glance.
It is indispensable when changing supplier, because it is the code and not your address that identifies the connection in the network operators' systems. A wrong code does not produce an error, it switches a neighbour's meter.
When you move, the code links the readings taken at handover to the correct supply point, which is what prevents billing disputes between the outgoing and incoming occupants.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my EAN code?
On your energy invoice, in the header or the technical section. If you have no invoice, because you have just arrived or the meter was inactive, the distribution network operator for your commune can supply it from the address.
Does the EAN code change if I switch supplier?
No. It identifies the physical supply point and stays attached to the connection whatever the supplier or the occupant. It only changes if the installation itself is technically modified, for instance when a connection is split.