How to find out who supplies your gas and electric

If you’ve moved home recently, you might be wondering who supplies your electricity and gas. Without an energy bill to hand, it’s not always obvious – but it's important to know for a few reasons.

For a start, you’ll need to know who to contact if you have any issues. You’ll also need to know who to send your meter readings to (if you don’t have a smart meter). Or if you want to compare tariffs and switch to a more cost-effective plan, you’ll need to know your current supplier.

So, assuming you’re completely in the dark (not literally we hope), here’s how to find out who supplies your gas and electricity…

Knowing who supplies your energy is important, but you should be clear about which energy tariff you’re on too – that is, how you’re charged for your gas and electricity. The two main types of tariff are fixed rate and variable.

You should also know your Meter Point Administration Number or MPAN. This is a unique electricity identifier needed to make sure you’re getting billed accurately. You’ll need it if you want to switch suppliers. It shouldn’t be confused with an MPRN or Meter Point Reference Number which is used for identifying your gas supply point.  

Another important thing to find out is your billing cycle and payment options. Knowing this will help if you want to plan ahead so you can manage your money better. 

Of course, if you do have an energy bill handy, you’ll save yourself a lot of detective work as all these details should be on there.

Two key organisations make it possible for electricity to reach your home.

1. Your electricity supplier is who sells you your electricity and sends you your bills and statements.
2. Your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) – also known as your energy network operator – owns and manages the network of cables, transformers and towers that transfer the electricity from the National Grid to your home.

If you have questions about how your energy is supplied, or if you don't have electricity and need a connection point, you’ll need to know who to contact.

You can find out who your DNO is using your postcode. Once you know who yours is, you can get in touch with them by using the contact info below.

To find out who your gas supplier is, you can contact the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm. Calls cost 7p a minute, plus your phone company's access charge. It handles information about gas meters and their suppliers.

Or there’s a handy website you can use: Find My Supplier. Just enter your postcode and it will tell you who your gas supplier is, as well as your gas transporter. You can also find out your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN).

Having problems with your energy supply can be stressful. If you’re having issues directly related to your energy supply, you should contact your energy supplier or DNO in the first instance.

If it isn’t resolved after that, the Citizens Advice website has a wealth of helpful information that could help. You’ll find advice on what to do if you’re having problems with your energy supply along with other guidance such as what to if you’re moving home, if you’re a small business or if you want to make a complaint. There’s also helpful information on how to prepare for a power cut. But if it’s too late for that, you can visit Power Cut 105 which will tell everything you need to do should you experience a power outage.

If you discover you’re having issues unrelated to your energy supply, but rather as a result of your appliance or boiler playing up – you can book an engineer. They’ll come out, investigate the problem and get you back up and running as soon as possible