Who Supplies the Energy at My New Address?

Who supplies the energy at my new address is usually the same supplier the previous occupier used, because gas and electricity supply does not stop when people move out. When you move in, you are automatically placed on that supplier’s standard variable tariff under a ‘deemed contract’, and you can switch to a cheaper deal whenever you like. To find out exactly who supplies your gas and electricity, enter your postcode into the free Find My Supplier service for gas, and check with your local electricity network operator via the Energy Networks Association for electricity.

Free Price Compare sources its energy data from Ofgem publications and the regulated network tools, so the steps below reflect the current Great Britain process as of June 2026. Northern Ireland has a separate system run by the Utility Regulator.

• For gas, use the free Find My Supplier postcode tool to get your supplier and MPRN.
• For electricity, find your network operator via the Energy Networks Association, then ask them who supplies your meter.
• You inherit the previous occupier’s supplier on a deemed (standard variable) tariff, which is usually their most expensive rate.
• You can switch supplier or tariff from the day you become responsible for the property, with no exit penalty on a deemed contract.

Last updated: June 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed June 2026

How do you find your gas and electricity supplier by postcode?

To find your gas supplier, enter your postcode into the free Find My Supplier service, which returns your supplier name, your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) and your gas transporter. To find your electricity supplier, first identify your local distribution network operator using the postcode search from the Energy Networks Association tool referenced by Ofgem, then contact that operator, who can tell you the supplier registered to your meter.

Gas and electricity use different lookup routes because they run on separate networks. Across Great Britain there are eight gas distribution networks and 14 electricity distribution networks, and your network is decided by where you live, not by who supplies you.

If you would rather not use the online tools, the Meter Number Helpline can confirm your gas supplier and MPRN by phone (calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge). For electricity, the network operator’s customer line can confirm your supplier and MPAN.

What are the quickest non-technical checks?

The fastest way to find out who supplies a new home is often to ask the letting agent, landlord, or the previous tenant or owner before the technical lookup. Most suppliers also write to ‘The Occupier’ shortly after a move once the previous occupier has told them they are leaving, so a letter on the doormat usually names your supplier.

If you have a smart meter, the in-home display does not name your supplier, but any paper or online bill left by the previous occupier will. Avoid relying on guesswork: registering with the wrong supplier can delay your account setup and your first accurate bill.

What are your MPAN and MPRN?

Your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is the unique reference for your electricity supply point, and your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) is the equivalent unique reference for your gas supply. These numbers identify your meter to suppliers and never change, even when you switch, so quoting them speeds up account setup and switching.

You will find your MPAN on an electricity bill (often labelled ‘supply number’) and your MPRN on a gas bill or via the Find My Supplier tool. Keep both noted somewhere safe when you move in.

Compare energy tariffs for your new address →

What tariff do you land on when you move in?

When you move into a new home you are automatically placed on a ‘deemed contract’, which is the existing supplier’s default standard variable tariff. A deemed contract is the agreement that applies by default when you use energy at a property without having chosen a tariff, and it is usually a supplier’s most expensive rate.

You should contact the existing supplier as soon as you move in to set up an account in your name and give an opening meter reading. Doing this protects you from being billed for energy the previous occupier used and gives you an accurate starting point.

A deemed contract is capped by Ofgem’s price cap, so you are not charged unlimited rates, but the cap limits unit rates and the standing charge for a typical user rather than fixing your total bill. Because deemed rates sit at or near the cap, most movers can pay less by switching to a fixed deal.

Will I be cut off when I move in?

No, your gas and electricity supply will not be cut off when you move into an existing home with a working connection. The supply continues automatically under the deemed contract, so you will have power and gas from day one even before you contact the supplier.

The exception is a prepayment meter. If your new home has one, contact the supplier straight away and avoid topping up or using the existing key or card until you do, because you risk paying off debts left by the previous occupier.

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Can I switch supplier straight away after moving in?

Yes, you can switch supplier or tariff from the day you become legally responsible for the property, and a deemed contract carries no exit fee. There is no minimum time you must stay with the inherited supplier, so you can start a switch on day one.

In practice a switch does not happen instantly. Your new supplier should complete the switch within around 15 working days, and you will usually pay at least one bill to the existing supplier while the switch processes. Ofgem’s switching protections mean your supply is never interrupted during a switch and you are covered if anything goes wrong.

Around 40% of UK energy accounts (roughly 22 million) were on fixed tariffs as of May 2026, according to Ofgem, meaning a large share of households have already moved off default rates. If you are on a deemed standard variable tariff, you are likely paying more than you need to. Comparing whole-of-market deals lets you see whether a fixed tariff beats your inherited rate.

See current fixed energy tariffs →

Should I transfer my old deal or start fresh?

Your current fixed tariff normally cannot move with you, because most energy contracts cover supply to one specific address only. A few suppliers let you transfer a fixed deal to a new home, so it is worth asking your existing supplier before you move, but assume you will need to choose a new tariff for the new property.

Whether you stay with the inherited supplier or switch to a new one, compare the inherited deemed rate against fixed deals available at your new postcode. The same supplier may offer a cheaper fixed tariff than the deemed rate you were placed on. Our EDF moving home guide walks through one supplier’s process if you are staying put.

How much could you pay on a deemed tariff in 2026?

A deemed standard variable tariff is capped by Ofgem at around £1,862 a year for a typical household for 1 July to 30 September 2026, an increase of £221 (13%) on the previous quarter, announced by Ofgem on 27 May 2026. That headline figure is based on the typical consumption values in use before 1 July; Ofgem reduced those assumed usage levels from 1 July, so quotes produced after that date may show a lower ‘typical’ annual figure for the same underlying unit rates.

The price cap is not a maximum bill: it caps the unit rate and standing charge for a typical user, so your actual cost depends on how much gas and electricity you use. From 1 July 2026, electricity rose by around 5% and gas by around 24%, driven by higher wholesale gas prices.

Figures are indicative national averages and may change. Source: Ofgem, price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026.

Payment method changes the figure. Paying by cash, cheque or quarterly Direct Debit costs more than monthly Direct Debit, while prepayment sits lower for a typical user. The next cap, for 1 October to 31 December 2026, is due to be published by 26 August 2026. Because these figures change quarterly, check the latest Ofgem announcement before deciding.

Why does the cap differ by region?

Your price cap depends on your postcode, because Ofgem sets 14 separate regional caps, one for each electricity distribution region of Great Britain. Your supplier charges the cap rate for your region, decided by where your meter is, not where the supplier is based, so two households with the same supplier in different regions can pay different unit rates and standing charges.

This is why comparing at your specific new postcode matters more than a national average. The standing charge in particular varies noticeably between regions. You can read more about how charges work in our guide to the no standing charge tariff option.

Check energy prices for your postcode →

What common problems do movers face and how can you fix them?

Movers most often face two issues: demanding letters from a supplier you have never dealt with, and a property the supplier claims it does not supply. Both are usually paperwork problems, not faults with your supply, and both are fixable by contacting the supplier with an opening meter reading and your move-in date. Acting quickly with a dated reading is the single best way to keep the previous occupier’s usage and any debt off your account. [STAT NEEDED: Ofcom, Ofgem, ABI, FCA or ONS]

What should I do about letters chasing the previous occupier’s debt?

If you receive demanding letters addressed to a previous occupier, you are not liable for energy used before your move-in date. Contact the supplier, explain when you moved in, give an opening meter reading and ask them to open a new account in your name from that date. Keep a record of the reading and the call.

You are only responsible for energy used from the day you became responsible for the property. An opening reading is the single most useful piece of evidence to separate your usage from the previous occupier’s.

What if a supplier says it does not supply my address?

If a supplier tells you it does not supply your new home, it usually means the property is registered to a different supplier, not that you have no supply. Run the Find My Supplier check for gas and the network operator check for electricity to confirm who is actually registered, then contact that supplier to set up your account.

For brand-new builds with no supply history, the developer or the local network operator arranges the initial connection, and you then choose a supplier once an MPAN and MPRN exist for the property. If the lookup tools return no record, contact your local network operator to confirm the connection status.

What if someone opened an account in my name?

If an account appears at your address that you did not set up, contact the supplier named on it immediately and report it. This can happen through administrative error or, occasionally, a salesperson misusing an address. You can also raise concerns about the handling of your personal data with the ICO if a supplier mishandles your details.

What should your move-in energy checklist include?

A move-in energy checklist should cover five steps that get your energy sorted from day one and put you in a position to switch to a cheaper deal. Completing them in order protects you from inherited debt and inaccurate first bills, and gives you the meter readings and supplier details you need before you start a switch. [STAT NEEDED: Ofcom, Ofgem, ABI, FCA or ONS]

• Take a clear meter reading (gas and electricity) on the day you move in, ideally photographed with a timestamp.
• Find your supplier: Find My Supplier for gas, and your network operator via the Energy Networks Association for electricity.
• Contact the existing supplier to open an account in your name from your move-in date and give your opening readings.
• If there is a prepayment meter, contact the supplier before topping up so you do not pay off the previous occupier’s debt.
• Compare whole-of-market deals and switch off the deemed standard variable tariff if a fixed deal is cheaper for your postcode.

If you are over state pension age, disabled or have a long-term illness, ask your supplier to add you to its Priority Services Register for extra support such as free gas safety checks. If your inherited supplier later stops trading, you are protected and your supply continues, as explained in our guide on what happens if your energy supplier goes bust.

• Who Are the Big Six Energy Suppliers?
• No Standing Charge Tariff: Ofgem’s New Plan
• Essential EDF Energy Moving Home Guide
• Fuse Energy Moving Home – How to Transfer or Close Account
• Energy Supplier Gone Bust? What to Do & How You’re Protected

Information correct as of 28 June 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).