The quickest way to check your business gas supplier is to find your MPRN, the unique reference number for your meter point, and either look it up on a recent bill or ask a broker to check it against the industry register on your behalf.
It is a more common problem than people expect, especially after moving into a new commercial unit or inheriting a business where nobody kept the paperwork.
Unlike electricity, where the MPAN is fairly well known, business gas has its own separate identifier and its own separate industry register. That is the MPRN, which trips up a lot of people trying to check who supplies them.
The good news is that gas supply point data is held centrally, so once you have the right reference number, checking who supplies you is genuinely quick.
What is an MPRN and why do you need it to find your supplier?
An MPRN, or Meter Point Reference Number, is the unique identifier for your specific gas meter point, and it is the single piece of information every method of checking your supplier ultimately relies on.
Where the number appears on your bill
Think of it as the gas equivalent of an MPAN on the electricity side. It is usually a six to ten-digit number identifying the physical connection point regardless of who supplies gas to it, as our guide to how to read a business energy bill shows.
You will find your MPRN on any recent gas bill, usually near the top alongside your account number and Annual Quantity, or AQ, figure that estimates your yearly consumption.
How do you check your business gas supplier using your MPRN?
With your MPRN in hand, a broker or energy comparison service can check the industry register directly and confirm your current supplier within minutes, without you needing to contact anyone yourself.
The methods ranked by speed
| Method | What you need | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Check a recent gas bill | The bill itself | Immediate; supplier name is printed on it |
| Broker checks via MPRN | Your MPRN | Minutes |
| Ask landlord or previous occupier | Their contact details | Hours to a few days |
| Check meter markings on site | Access to the meter | Immediate, though supplier is not shown |
The bill route is fastest if you have one. If you do not, using your MPRN through a comparison service is usually quicker than trying to trace it manually.
What if you don’t have a recent gas bill to check?
Without a bill, you can still find your MPRN from the meter itself, from a previous occupier, or by asking your landlord, and from there a broker can trace the current supplier.
Where to look when the paperwork is gone
- Check the meter: the MPRN is sometimes printed on or near it.
- Contact the landlord: or letting agent if you have recently moved in.
- Ask about tenancy: a change of tenancy means supply continues on a deemed contract until you take it over.
Moving into premises where the previous business simply vanished is common enough that suppliers have a standard process, so you will not be left without gas. The industry Find My Supplier service can also help identify who supplies a site.
Who holds the gas supply point register in the UK?
Xoserve holds and maintains the central gas supply point register on behalf of the industry, recording which shipper and supplier is registered against every MPRN in Great Britain.
Xoserve is the register, not a supplier
Xoserve is not a supplier itself; it is the industry body that keeps the data suppliers and brokers rely on to confirm who is registered at a meter point, as Xoserve sets out.
Gas transported through the national network is moved by National Gas Transmission, a separate role again from supply or the register. If you are ever asked which body owns your gas data, Xoserve is the correct answer, distinct from your supplier who bills you and the network that delivers the gas.
What should you do once you’ve identified your supplier?
Once you know your current supplier and contract terms, check whether you are on a competitive rate, out of contract, or approaching renewal, and compare against the panel before deciding to stay or switch.
Average business gas rates in 2026
UK average business gas sits at 5.17p/kWh across all sizes in 2026, ranging from about 7.48p/kWh for very small users down to 4.46p/kWh for large consumers, from DESNZ data, with the best fixed rates currently starting from around 8p/kWh.
- Check your end date: and notice period once you have confirmed your supplier.
- Compare against the averages: for your business size before deciding.
- Compare the panel: against a full panel of business energy suppliers to see if a better rate exists.
