Who is my gas or electricity supplier?

Whether you’re moving into a new home or simply looking for a cheaper energy tariff, it’s important to know who supplies your gas and electricity. If you’re not sure who provides your energy, here’s how to track down the details.

Written by

Dan Tremain

Energy and business energy expert

Last Updated

24 JANUARY 2024

7 min read

Who is my energy supplier?

Your energy supplier is the company that provides your gas and/or electricity. If you’re on a dual fuel deal, you’ll have the same supplier for both, or you may have different suppliers for each service.

You might not know who your energy supplier is – perhaps because you’ve just moved into a property. But it’s important to find out so you can make sure you’re on the best tariff (price and usage plan) for you. It's also important to know who to contact if you run into problems.

The easiest way to find out who supplies your energy is to check a recent gas or electricity bill. Along with the supplier name and contact details, you’ll find the name of your tariff. Your bill should also show your provider’s cheapest available tariff. If you can’t find a bill, there are other ways to track down your supplier.

Who is my electricity supplier?

You can find out who your electricity supplier is by contacting your distribution network operator (DNO). They’re not responsible for your energy bill, but they can help you find out who supplies your energy.

You’ll need to contact the local distribution centre for your area:

North Scotland
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks:
0800 048 3515

Central & Southern Scotland
SP Energy Networks:
0800 092 9290

North East England & Yorkshire
Northern Powergrid:
0800 011 3332

North West England
Electricity North West
0800 195 4141

Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and North Shropshire
SP Energy Networks
0800 001 5400

The Midlands, South Wales and South West England
Western Power Distribution
0800 6783 105

South East England, East of England and London
UK Power Networks
0800 029 4285

Southern England
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks: 
0800 048 3516

Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks:
03457 643 643

Republic of Ireland
ESB Networks:
00353 21 238 6555

If you’re not sure whose area you fall under, you can find out using the Energy Networks Association postcode search tool.

If you have a power cut, call 105 (a free phone number) or use the Power Cut 105 website. They’ll put you straight through to your local electricity network operator. It doesn’t matter who provides your electricity – anybody can call 105.

If it’s an emergency and you think someone is in danger, call the emergency services on 999.

Who is my gas supplier?

To find out who supplies your gas you can:

Type your postcode into Find My Supplier. It’ll show you who supplies your gas. It’ll also give you your gas Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN), which tells your supplier where your gas meter is located.

If you don’t have internet access, call the meter helpline on 0870 608 1524. The number is available nationwide, and calls are charged at 7p per minute.

I’ve just moved house. How do I find my gas or electricity supplier?

To find out who supplies the energy at your new house, ask your estate agent or the previous owner. If you’re renting, the letting agency or landlord will know.

If the previous occupant has told the energy supplier they’re leaving, you should receive a notification letter when you move in. This is usually addressed ‘to the occupier’.

Once you’ve moved in, contact the current supplier to let them know you’re now living there. Be sure to read the meters on the first day and send the supplier these readings. You’re responsible for the gas and electricity bills as soon as you take responsibility for the property, even if you don’t move in on that day.

You should also pay your old supplier’s final bill once you get it.

Why do I need to know who supplies my gas and electricity?

It’s important to know who your energy supplier is, not least because you need to know who to pay and which tariff you’re on. It will also help you find out if you’re overpaying for your energy and potentially could find a better deal with a new provider.

You’ll also need to know who to contact if something goes wrong with your energy supply.

If you need to make a complaint, you should first contact your energy supplier directly. By law, they have up to eight weeks to come to a decision about the complaint with you. If you’re not happy with the supplier’s response, you can then contact the
Energy Ombudsman.

Citizens Advice is available for help and support at any point during your complaint process. You can contact their consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

How to find which energy plan you're on

If you’re not sure which energy tariff you’re on, check your energy bill. This should include all your supply details, including the name of your tariff. If you’re still unsure, or can’t find it, just give your supplier a call and they’ll tell you.

Where can I compare energy tariffs?

You can compare energy tariffs with Compare the Market. Have a look today to se if you could find a better energy deal.

Compare energy

Frequently asked questions

How easy is it to switch energy supplier?

Thanks to the Energy Switch Guarantee, switching energy suppliers should be hassle-free, with no disruption to your energy supply. The Energy Switch Guarantee gives you:

A reliable switchover in five days. You’ll continue with your current energy supplier right up until the switch, so you’ll never be without gas or electricity.
A cooling-off period of 14 days in case you change your mind.
A refund of any credit from your old energy bill within 14 days of your final bill.

What information do you need to switch energy supplier?

You should find all the information you need to switch energy supplier on your most recent bill. If you can’t find one, check your online account.

If you still can’t find a bill, you can compare energy quotes using estimates of your usage, but the prices will be just that - estimates.

Ideally you’ll need the name of your supplier and the tariff you’re on, plus details of how much energy you use.

How do I switch energy supplier?

The first thing to do is read up about different tariffs to see how they could benefit you.

It might be that you prioritise customer satisfaction scores over cheaper prices. Or perhaps green energy tariffs and fixed deals with no exit fees are most important to you.

Once you know what you’re looking for, you can find your new supplier. Start by entering a few details into our energy comparison tool including your postcode and current energy usage (which can be found on an existing bill). We’ll then do the legwork to find you quotes from each of our suppliers.

Once you’ve found a quote you’re happy with, you’ll just need to enter a few more details, including your full address and basic bank details, before confirming your switch with your new supplier.

Then your new supplier should tell your existing one that you’ve agreed to switch, taking the hassle of the switchover off your hands. After a cooling-off period, you’ll then be automatically switched to your new provider.

How long does switching energy supplier take?

With the Energy Switch Guarantee, you can switch to a new tariff within five working days.

What’s an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?

If you’ve just moved into your home, the landlord or previous owner should have given you an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This will tell you more about the property’s energy costs, as well as potential ways to improve energy efficiency and save money.