Who is my gas and electricity supplier?
Short answer
Check a recent bill first. Without one, search the postcode on Find My Supplier or call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524 for gas. For electricity, call 105 or use the Energy Networks Association's postcode search to reach your network operator, which can tell you your supplier. Both work for a home you have not moved into yet.
Updated
0870 608 1524
Meter Number Helpline for gas, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
7p a minute plus your phone company's access charge
105
Free number that connects you to your electricity network operator in Great Britain
£0
What you owe for energy used before you moved in
See who supplies an address
Pick the address to see which supplier its meters are with and the price-cap rate for the home. Moving in, you also see tariffs that can start on the day you move.
Your supplier is the company that bills you for the energy you use. It is not the network operator that runs the local pipes and cables, and your gas and electricity can come from two different companies, so the two lookups below are separate. Both cover England, Scotland and Wales. The address block below gives the supplier for an exact address, whether you are moving in or already live there, with the capped rate for the home.
What are the MPAN and MPRN, and where do I find them?
Two reference numbers identify your home's energy supplies, and both are on your bill.
- The MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) identifies your electricity supply. The MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) is the same thing for your gas supply.
- Ofgem says both help energy companies identify your property, and both are printed on your energy bill.
- Your bill also names your supplier, so a recent bill or your online account is the quickest check of all.
- Your MPAN includes a two-digit Distributor ID. The Energy Networks Association uses it to show which network operator looks after your connection.
- Citizens Advice says you might need your MPRN when you sign up with a new gas supplier.
Sources (3)
- Ofgem: energy terms explained (read 13 October 2026)
- Energy Networks Association: who's my electricity network operator? (read 13 October 2026)
- Citizens Advice: find out who your gas or electricity supplier is (read 13 October 2026)
How do I find out who my gas supplier is?
Gas supply records for Great Britain are held in one place, by Xoserve, and you can search them by the property's postcode.
- Search the postcode on Find My Supplier, run by Xoserve. It shows your gas supplier, your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) and your gas transporter.
- The service is open to the occupier, someone about to occupy the property, or an agent with their express permission, so you can check a home before you move in.
- Prefer to phone? The Meter Number Helpline is 0870 608 1524, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm. Calls cost 7p a minute plus your phone company's access charge.
- Xoserve holds Britain's gas industry data. If the lookup does not find your supplier, Xoserve says to contact the supplier you want to switch to and let it know.
Sources (3)
- Citizens Advice: find out who your gas or electricity supplier is (read 13 October 2026)
- Find My Supplier, run by Xoserve (read 13 October 2026)
- Xoserve: information for gas consumers (read 13 October 2026)
How do I find out who my electricity supplier is?
Electricity takes two steps: find your regional network operator first, then use that operator's supplier search.
- 1
Find your electricity network operator
Enter the property's postcode on the Energy Networks Association's network operator checker. It tells you which company owns and operates the cables in your area.
- 2
Search that operator's website for your supplier
Most network operators let you search by postcode, though some ask you to fill in a form instead. The result names your electricity supplier.
More detail
- Your network operator owns and operates the cables in your area. It does not sell you electricity, and you would usually contact it about a power cut or supply fault rather than a bill.
- Most network operators let you search for your supplier by the property's postcode, though some ask you to fill in a form.
- If you know one company supplies both your gas and electricity, Citizens Advice says the gas lookup is the easier route.
Sources (2)
- Citizens Advice: find out who your gas or electricity supplier is (read 13 October 2026)
- Ofgem: energy terms explained (read 13 October 2026)
Which electricity network operator covers my area?
Fourteen regional networks cover Great Britain, run by six operators. The table at the end of this guide lists every region.
- Call 105, free, from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales to be connected to your local network operator. It is also the power cut number.
- The Energy Networks Association says your network operator should be able to tell you who your electricity supplier is.
- The two-digit Distributor ID in your MPAN matches one of the regions in the table, from 10 for Eastern England to 23 for Yorkshire.
- Behind the answer is a register called the Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS). National Grid Electricity Distribution says its MPAS can tell you which electricity company is registered to supply a property, and since when.
Sources (2)
- Energy Networks Association: who's my electricity network operator? (read 13 October 2026)
- National Grid Electricity Distribution: Meter Point Administration Service (read 13 October 2026)
What if my new-build home is on an independent network?
Some estates are connected to a smaller, independent network. It changes who runs the wires, not how you pay for energy.
- The Energy Networks Association says some homes are connected to independent distribution networks, run by an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) that looks after a smaller part of the electricity network.
- IDNOs have Distributor IDs from 24 upwards. Examples on the Energy Networks Association's list include GTC, ESP Electricity, Last Mile Asset Management, Fulcrum and Vattenfall.
- An IDNO runs the wires, not your supply. You still pay an energy supplier for the electricity you use, and for gas the Find My Supplier route is the same.
Sources (1)
- Energy Networks Association: who's my electricity network operator? (read 13 October 2026)
Who supplies my new home when I move in?
You can choose a new supplier for the day you take over, where a tariff takes that start date, or stay with the supplier already serving the property. Citizens Advice says a switch of supplier or tariff waits until the day you become responsible for the property, and until an agreed tariff starts, the existing supplier normally supplies you under a deemed contract.
- To choose a new supplier, compare tariffs and check its confirmed start date.
- If you prefer to stay, use the lookups above to find the existing supplier and contact it to open your account and ask about tariffs.
- In either case, take opening readings or confirm the supplier can obtain smart-meter readings for your responsibility date.
- Contact the existing supplier about any period it supplies you before a new supplier starts. You do not owe the previous occupier's debt.
- If your landlord pays the energy supplier and includes energy in the rent, check that arrangement before opening a separate account.
Sources (4)
- Citizens Advice: moving home, dealing with your energy supply (read 21 October 2026)
- Ofgem: guidance on deemed contracts (November 2023) (read 13 October 2026)
- Citizens Advice: check if you're responsible for paying an energy bill (read 13 October 2026)
- Ofgem: switch your home energy supplier (read 13 October 2026)
I have just moved into a new address with no bill. How do I find the supplier?
Work through these in order, starting with what is already in the house.
- Look at the post. A letter from an energy company at your new address usually names the supplier: ScottishPower, for example, says a letter from it means it supplies your new home.
- Ask the letting agent or landlord, check your legal pack, or contact the previous owner, as OVO suggests.
- Run the lookups: Find My Supplier or the Meter Number Helpline for gas, and 105 or the Energy Networks Association's postcode search for electricity.
- If you want to stay, contact that supplier with your responsibility date and opening readings, or confirm it can obtain smart-meter readings.
- You can also compare new suppliers without a bill. Check an available start date and account for any period supplied by the existing supplier.
Sources (4)
- ScottishPower: moving home (read 13 October 2026)
- OVO: moving home (read 13 October 2026)
- Citizens Advice: moving home, dealing with your energy supply (read 21 October 2026)
- Energy Networks Association: who's my electricity network operator? (read 13 October 2026)
Why am I getting letters addressed to The Occupier?
Usually because the supplier serving the property does not yet have an account in your name.
- ScottishPower says a letter from it at your new home means it supplies your energy, and asks you to tell it you have moved in so it can set up your account.
- British Gas has a set-up route for anyone who has received an Occupier letter from it.
- Post in the previous occupier's name is different. E.ON Next says not to open it, and to post it back marked Return to sender and No longer at this address.
- A bill for energy used before you moved in is not yours to pay. The previous tenant guide covers what to send.
Sources (3)
- ScottishPower: moving home (read 13 October 2026)
- British Gas: moving home (read 13 October 2026)
- E.ON Next: moving home (read 13 October 2026)
Can I switch energy supplier before I move in?
Citizens Advice says you'll need to wait until the day you become responsible for the property to switch supplier or tariff. Some tariffs take a future start date, so you can apply before you move for a switch that starts on that day; Taupia's move-in check shows which do. The supplier confirms the date, and the application date and supply start date can differ.
- You can compare with estimated usage for the new address. A manual supplier lookup or first bill is not a prerequisite to comparing new deals.
- Taupia can help identify the supply and compare eligible move-in tariffs. Missing details may need checking, and available dates depend on the supplier and tariff.
- If you prefer to stay, contact the existing supplier to set up your account. You can also notify it while arranging a switch.
- Take opening readings or confirm smart-meter readings, and pay for any interim period before the new supplier takes over.
Sources (2)
- Citizens Advice: moving home, dealing with your energy supply (read 21 October 2026)
- Ofgem: switch your home energy supplier (read 13 October 2026)
How do I find my supplier in Northern Ireland?
The lookups above are for Great Britain.
- Find My Supplier is run by Xoserve, which holds Britain's gas industry data, and the free 105 number covers England, Scotland and Wales.
- For electricity in Northern Ireland, the Energy Networks Association says to call 03457 643 643, the number for Northern Ireland Electricity, the network operator.
- Citizens Advice's guidance does not cover Northern Ireland. For an energy problem your provider has not resolved, it points you to the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.
Sources (3)
- Energy Networks Association: who's my electricity network operator? (read 13 October 2026)
- Xoserve: information for gas consumers (read 13 October 2026)
- Citizens Advice: get advice in Northern Ireland (read 13 October 2026)
Electricity network operators by region
| Region | Network operator | Distributor ID in your MPAN |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Scotland | Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks | 17 |
| Southern Scotland | SP Energy Networks | 18 |
| North Eastern England | Northern Powergrid | 15 |
| North Western England | Electricity North West | 16 |
| Yorkshire | Northern Powergrid | 23 |
| Cheshire, Merseyside and Northern Wales | SP Energy Networks | 13 |
| East Midlands | National Grid Electricity Distribution | 11 |
| West Midlands | National Grid Electricity Distribution | 14 |
| Eastern England | UK Power Networks | 10 |
| London | UK Power Networks | 12 |
| South Eastern England | UK Power Networks | 19 |
| Southern England | Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks | 20 |
| Southern Wales | National Grid Electricity Distribution | 21 |
| South Western England | National Grid Electricity Distribution | 22 |
| New-build estates on an independent network | An Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO), such as GTC or Fulcrum | 24 and above |
| Any region in England, Scotland or Wales | Call 105, free, to be connected to your network operator | Not needed |
| Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland Electricity, on 03457 643 643 | None listed |
Questions about finding your energy supplier
Who is my gas supplier?
Check your latest gas bill or online account. Without one, search your postcode on the Find My Supplier website, or call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm. Calls cost 7p a minute plus your phone company's access charge. You can get your MPRN from either.
Who is my electricity supplier?
Check your latest electricity bill. Without one, call 105 free from England, Scotland or Wales to be connected to your network operator, which should be able to tell you. You can also find the operator with the Energy Networks Association's postcode search and use its supplier search.
Who supplies my energy when I move into a new home?
If you arranged a new supplier to start on your responsibility date, check its confirmation. Otherwise the existing supplier normally continues supplying you under a deemed contract until your chosen deal starts. If staying, find and contact it to open your account. In both cases, take opening readings or confirm smart-meter readings.
Can I find out who supplies a property before I move in?
Yes. Find My Supplier is open to someone about to occupy a property, and network operators' supplier searches work from the postcode. Your landlord or letting agent may already know. Taupia also tells you which supplier serves the address when you add it with your move-in date.
Who is my electricity supplier by postcode?
The postcode gets you there in two steps. Enter it on the Energy Networks Association's search to find your network operator, then use that operator's supplier search, which most run by postcode. Call 105 instead if you prefer to phone. For gas, Find My Supplier takes the postcode directly, and both routes work for a home you are about to move into.
Why am I getting letters addressed to The Occupier?
A letter to The Occupier from an energy company usually means it supplies the property and has no account in your name yet. ScottishPower, for example, says a letter from it at your new home means it supplies your energy. Tell the supplier you have moved in and give it an opening meter reading.
Is my network operator the same as my energy supplier?
No. Your network operator runs the cables that bring electricity to your area, and you would usually contact it about a power cut. Your supplier is the company that bills you. Call 105 in Great Britain to reach your network operator, which should be able to tell you who your supplier is.
Do I have to pay the previous occupier's energy bill?
No. Citizens Advice says you do not have to pay for energy used before you moved in. Tell the supplier when you moved in, give it a meter reading, and send your tenancy agreement or mortgage contract if it asks for proof.
Official lookups and related guides
Use the official services to check the record, and these guides for what to do once you know who your supplier is.
Start here
Set up gas and electric in a new home
RecommendedChoose a new supplier or stay, confirm meter readings and check your account dates.
- First-time renter bills setupEvery bill in a first rented home, what drives its price and where you get a choice.
- Bill or letter for the previous tenant?Why it is not your debt, what to send, and debt on a prepayment meter.
- Prepayment meter in your new homeChanging to credit, landlord permission, and what prepayment costs.
- Switch declined after moving in?Why a move-in switch gets objected to, and what to say to clear it.
- Does the price cap apply when you move in?Check whether your tariff is capped and compare it with available alternatives.
- Ofgem's list of UK gas licenseesEvery licensed gas company, for when you want the whole market rather than your own supplier.
Official references
- Find My SupplierThe gas industry's postcode lookup for your gas supplier, MPRN and gas transporter, run by Xoserve.
- Citizens Advice: find out who your supplier isOfficial guidance on the gas and electricity lookups for England, Scotland and Wales.
- Energy Networks Association: find your network operatorEnter a postcode to see which electricity network operator covers the property.
Choose energy for your new address
Taupia can look up the supply where available, compare tariffs and help you apply for an eligible move-in deal. Check the available start date and supplier confirmation. You choose whether to proceed and pay the supplier directly.
Cite this page
Taupia. "Who is my gas and electricity supplier?". Last updated 24 October 2026. https://taupia.com/move-home/who-is-my-energy-supplier