Not sure who supplies the gas to your business premises? You are not alone. It happens all the time when a company moves into a new unit, takes over a shop from a previous tenant, or simply loses track of paperwork after a few years with the same supplier.
The good news is that finding out takes a few minutes and costs nothing. This guide walks you through every method that works in the UK, what to do if you have more than one site, what changes when you have just moved in, and what to do once you know the answer.
The quick answer
Here are the fastest ways to find your business gas supplier, starting with the quickest:
- Look at a recent gas bill or contract. The supplier name and logo will be on the first page.
- Use the Find My Supplier service at findmysupplier.energy. Enter your postcode and building details and it shows your supplier and your MPRN.
- Call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524. They can tell you who supplies gas to an address. Calls cost your phone company’s access charge plus 7p per minute.
- Check your bank statements for a direct debit to an energy company.
If none of those work, keep reading. There is always a way to find out.
Method 1: Check your bills, emails and bank statements
Your supplier’s name appears at the top of every bill and annual statement. If you have gone paperless, search your email inbox for words like “gas bill”, “energy statement”, “MPRN” or “renewal”. Suppliers send renewal letters before a contract ends, and these are often the easiest documents to find.
Bank statements are another quick check. Look for regular payments to an energy company. If you share accounts with a landlord or a managing agent, ask them, because the gas may be in their name rather than yours.
While you have a bill in front of you, note down these details. You will need them later:
- Your MPRN (meter point reference number)
- Your account number
- Your contract end date
- Your annual gas usage in kWh
- Your unit rate in pence per kWh and your daily standing charge
Method 2: Use Find My Supplier online
Find My Supplier is a free online service run by Xoserve, the company that manages central data for Britain’s gas network. It works for businesses as well as homes.
You enter your postcode, choose your property from the list, and the tool shows the current gas supplier and the MPRN for that supply point. It is usually the quickest option if you have no paperwork at all.
If your property does not appear in the list, it may be registered under a slightly different address, for example a unit number or the name of the building rather than the street. Try the variations before you give up.
Method 3: Call the Meter Number Helpline
The Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524 gives the same information over the phone. It is open Monday to Friday during office hours. Have your full address and postcode ready, and if possible the serial number printed on your gas meter.
Phone lines like this are useful when your address is unusual, such as a unit on an industrial estate, a farm building, or a property split into several commercial spaces.
What is an MPRN and where do I find it?
Your MPRN is the unique number that identifies the gas supply point for your premises. It stays with the property, not with you or your supplier, so it does not change when you switch.
It is usually between 6 and 10 digits long. You can find it:
- On the front or back of your gas bill, often labelled “M number”, “MPRN” or “meter point reference”
- Through Find My Supplier or the Meter Number Helpline
- Sometimes on a label on or near the gas meter itself
Your MPRN is not the same as your meter serial number. The serial number belongs to the physical meter and changes if the meter is replaced. If you also need your electricity number, our guide to MPAN and MPRN numbers explains both side by side.
Finding your supplier if you have more than one site
Businesses with several shops, offices or depots often end up with a mix of suppliers, contract end dates and prices. That costs money, because contracts that roll over without anyone noticing usually move onto more expensive rates.
The fix is simple:
- Make a list of every site address.
- Find the MPRN and supplier for each one using your bills, Find My Supplier or the helpline.
- Record the contract end date and annual usage for each site in one spreadsheet.
Once you have that list, you can see which contracts end soon and whether it makes sense to group sites together. A broker can look at the whole portfolio at once and line up contract dates so they are easier to manage.
Just moved into new premises?
When you move into a commercial property, the gas does not switch off. It keeps flowing from whichever supplier served the previous occupier. The catch is that you are placed on a deemed contract until you agree a proper one.
Deemed rates are usually much higher than a negotiated fixed contract. So the faster you act, the more you save. Here is what to do in your first week:
- Take a meter reading on the day you get the keys and photograph it with the date visible. This protects you from paying for the previous tenant’s gas.
- Find the current supplier using Find My Supplier or the Meter Number Helpline.
- Tell that supplier you have moved in and give them your opening reading.
- Compare contracts straight away. On a deemed contract you are not locked in, so you are free to agree a new deal with any supplier.
If the landlord pays the gas and recharges you, check your lease. In that case you may not be able to choose a supplier yourself.
Supplier or network operator? Who to call
Two different companies are involved in getting gas to your business, and people often mix them up.
Your supplier sells you the gas, sends your bills and handles your contract. You choose this company and you can switch it.
Your gas network operator (sometimes called the gas distribution network or GDN) owns and looks after the pipes and the meter point in your area. You cannot choose this company. It depends on where your premises are.
Britain has eight regional gas distribution networks, run by four companies:
| Network company | Areas covered |
|---|---|
| Cadent | North West England, West Midlands, East of England and North London |
| SGN | Scotland and Southern England, including South London |
| Northern Gas Networks | North East England, Northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire |
| Wales & West Utilities | Wales and South West England |
You would contact the network operator about a new gas connection, moving a meter point, or problems with the pipes in the street. You contact your supplier about bills, meter readings, prices and contracts.
If you smell gas
Do not wait to find your supplier. In an emergency, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, open 24 hours a day. In Northern Ireland, call 0800 002 001.
Open doors and windows, turn off the gas at the meter if it is safe to do so, do not use electrical switches, and get everyone out of the building. Any work on gas appliances such as boilers must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What about your electricity supplier?
Many businesses have gas and electricity with different suppliers. To find your electricity supplier:
- Check an electricity bill for the supplier name and your MPAN, the long number in a box beginning with an “S”
- Contact your regional distribution network operator. You can find yours by entering your postcode on the Energy Networks Association website, and they can tell you who supplies your meter
- Call 105 for power cuts, which connects you to your local network operator
Our business electricity page explains how electricity contracts and prices work for UK businesses.
Why knowing your supplier matters
Knowing who supplies your gas is the first step to paying less for it. Without it you cannot:
- Check when your contract ends. Many business contracts renew automatically onto higher rollover rates if you miss the notice window.
- Give notice on time. Most fixed business contracts ask you to give written notice within a set period before the end date.
- Compare prices properly. You need your current unit rate, standing charge and annual usage to compare like with like.
- Sort out billing problems. Estimated bills, missing readings and wrong tariffs all start with the supplier.
Our guide to business energy contract renewal explains notice periods and rollover rates in more detail.
How to read the key numbers on your gas bill
Once you have found your supplier, spend two minutes checking your bill. These are the numbers that decide what you pay:
- Unit rate: the price per kWh of gas you use, shown in pence.
- Standing charge: a fixed daily amount you pay whether you use gas or not.
- Consumption: how many kWh you used in the billing period. If it says “E” or “estimated”, submit a real reading.
- Contract end date: sometimes only on your annual statement or renewal letter.
- VAT and Climate Change Levy: most businesses pay 20% VAT and the Climate Change Levy, although some low users pay a reduced 5% VAT rate.
If you want to know whether your rate is fair, our guide to business gas prices per kWh shows how prices are built and what typical rates look like.
Checklist before you call a supplier or broker
Having these details ready makes any call quicker and gets you accurate quotes:
- Business name and registered address
- Site address and postcode
- MPRN for each gas supply
- Current supplier name and account number
- Contract end date
- Annual usage in kWh, or your last 12 months of bills
- A recent meter reading
Should you switch once you know who your supplier is?
Not always, but it is worth checking. You are usually in a good position to switch if:
- Your contract ends within the next six months
- You are on a deemed or rollover contract
- Your unit rate looks high compared with current market prices
- You have had repeated billing problems
Switching does not cut off your gas. The pipes and meter stay the same, no engineer needs to visit, and the change happens in the background. Most business switches complete within a few weeks once the contract is agreed. Our step by step guide on how to switch business energy supplier covers the process in full.
Utility Market Watch compares business gas prices from a wide panel of UK suppliers and handles the switch for you. You can get a free business gas quote in a couple of minutes, or book a free energy health check if you want someone to review your current contracts first.
What if your supplier goes bust or you have a complaint?
If your supplier stops trading, Ofgem appoints a new supplier, known as a Supplier of Last Resort, and your gas carries on as normal. Take a meter reading and keep copies of your latest bills. You can then switch away once the new supplier contacts you.
If you have a complaint, raise it with your supplier first. If it is not sorted within eight weeks, or you get a final response you are not happy with, eligible micro and small businesses can take it to the Energy Ombudsman for free.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out who my gas supplier is for free?
Use the Find My Supplier website or check a recent bill. Both are free. The Meter Number Helpline is also an option, although the call itself is charged at 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
Can I find my gas supplier without a bill?
Yes. Find My Supplier and the Meter Number Helpline only need your address and postcode. Having your meter serial number can help if the address is hard to match.
Is my gas supplier the same as my electricity supplier?
Not necessarily. Many businesses have separate suppliers for gas and electricity, and the two are found in different ways. Gas uses Find My Supplier or the Meter Number Helpline. Electricity uses your local network operator.
Who supplies gas to a new business premises?
The supplier that served the previous occupier keeps supplying the property on a deemed contract until you agree a new one. Find out who they are and give them an opening meter reading as soon as you move in.
Will my gas be cut off if I switch supplier?
No. Your gas supply carries on without interruption. Only the company that bills you changes.
How long does it take to switch business gas supplier?
Most switches complete within two to four weeks once you have agreed a contract. If you are still inside a fixed term contract, the new contract normally starts when the old one ends.
Why can my supplier block a switch?
A supplier can object to a switch if you are still in a fixed term contract or if you owe money on the account. Clearing any debt and switching at the right point in your contract avoids this.
Does my landlord choose my gas supplier?
Only if the landlord holds the contract and recharges you for gas. If the supply is in your business’s name, you can choose your own supplier. Check your lease if you are unsure.