Who is my gas and electricity supplier? Guide to find your energy supplier

A quick guide to help you find your gas and electricity supplier

Moving into a new home? You might need an easy way to check who supplies your gas or electricity. Luckily, there’s a very simple solution. This quick guide will show you how

1. Who is my gas supplier?

2. Who is my electricity supplier?

3. The difference between energy plans

4. Switch suppliers to save money

5. Gas and electricity supply when you’re renting

6. Energy supply guidance for landlords

7. The lowdown on exit fees

8. How to switch suppliers

9. Switching your new home’s gas and electricity to OVO

10. In summary, who supplies my energy?

Who is my gas supplier?

If you’re wondering who supplies your gas, you can find out by typing your postcode into this website: Find My Supplier

You can also call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524. Tell them your postcode and the first line of your address, and make sure you have a pen handy to write down your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) and your current supplier. The helpline costs 7p per minute, and is nationwide.

Who is my electricity supplier?

Finding out who supplies your electricity is slightly trickier – but not much. The UK electricity network is split into regions. Each region has a local distribution company that keeps a record – called a Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS) – of who supplies electricity to every home in their area. Call your local distribution company and they’ll tell you who’s currently supplying power to your home. 

Here’s a quick visual guide to help you figure out who to call:

Keep a pen and paper handy when you call, so you can jot down the supplier – and don’t forget to have your meter point administration number (MPAN) ready, too.

The difference between energy plans

There are 2 types of energy plan – one is a fixed rate tariff and the other is a variable rate tariff. Here is a bit more info about them:

• Fixed rate tariff (also known as fixed-price or fixed energy): these plans give you peace of mind and protection against future price changes. Your unit price is fixed – that's your price per kWh. And your standing charge is fixed too – this is the price everybody pays for maintenance of things like pipes and meters. A fixed tariff can be a great option as it’s predictable, which in turn makes budgeting simpler.
• Variable rate tariff (also known as variable price or variable energy): prices could go up or down in line with energy prices. But with no fixed contract to tie you in, you’re free to change your plan whenever you like.

Switch suppliers to save money

Once you know which gas and electricity supplier you’re with and which plan you’re on, you can decide whether it’s the best one for you. If you’re on a “standard variable” plan and you’d like to see if you can save by switching to a fixed rate plan, it only takes a couple of minutes to get a quote.

Gas and electricity supply when you’re renting

The process for working out your energy supplier as a renter is just the same as above – whether you’re a new tenant or you’ve been living somewhere for years. 

The telephone services listed here are accessible for all homes – but they should only be used if you are (or are about to be) responsible for paying for your home’s energy.

 Find out more about switching as a tenant

Energy supply guidance for landlords

Your tenant’s energy supplier is usually a matter for them. But if the tenancy agreement says that you’re responsible for paying the energy bills, the choice of supplier is up to you.

Any tie-in to a supplier should be explained clearly in the rental contract – but even then, the person paying the bills should generally still be able to switch, if they choose.

Plus, if you're a landlord, it's also your responsibility to get your properties checked to make sure they're safe.

The lowdown on exit fees

If you want to end a fixed contract early, your energy company could charge an exit fee – though they can’t do that in the last 49 days of a fixed deal.

How to switch suppliers

Whether you want to switch your gas or electricity supplier (or both), OVO has made the process very easy. Why not get a quote and start your switch in 2 minutes?

You can also find out more on how to switch energy suppliers in this guide.

Switching your new home’s gas and electricity to OVO

We supply gas and electricity throughout Britain. And there are only 2 things that might make switching to us an issue: 

1. If there’s an outstanding balance on your account with your current energy supplier for more than 28 days
2. Or, if your meter is incompatible with the plan you’re looking for

In summary, who supplies my energy?

If for some reason you don’t know your current supplier, it’s easy to find out:

• For gas, just call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524
• For electricity just call your local distributor (see map above) 
• In each case, make sure you have a pen handy, so you can note down your supplier and your meter number

This guide is intended to provide general guidance only. It’s not intended to give you advice on your personal financial circumstances. You should seek independent professional advice if you’re unsure about anything mentioned in this guide or what choices to make.