What Information Do You Need to Switch Energy Supplier?

The information barrier is the reason many people put off switching for months. In reality, you need three things, all available in 5 minutes without leaving your chair.

Every year, millions of UK households overpay on their electricity bills by hundreds of pounds. Not because cheaper tariffs don't exist. Because switching feels complicated. People assume they need to dig through filing cabinets, wait on hold with their current supplier, or fill in lengthy forms.

None of that is true. The switch to a better tariff requires five pieces of information. Most households can gather all five in under five minutes using just their most recent bill and their bank details. Here is exactly what you need and where to find each item.

1. Your MPAN (electricity meter point number)

The MPAN is the most important piece of information for switching your electricity supply. MPAN stands for Meter Point Administration Number. It is a unique identifier, between 13 and 21 digits long, that pinpoints your specific electricity supply point on the national grid. Think of it as the postcode for your electricity meter.

You will find your MPAN on your electricity bill, usually printed in a prominent position and sometimes labelled as your "S-number" or "supply number." On older bills it sometimes appears inside a grid of squares. Look for a long number that often begins with the digit S. On digital accounts, log in to your current supplier's website or app and navigate to "account details" or "meter details."

Your MPAN is essential for switching electricity. Without it, your new supplier cannot register the transfer on the national network. If you cannot find it on a bill, call your current electricity supplier and ask them to read it out. They are legally obliged to provide it.

Switching to Octopus Agile specifically requires a smart meter alongside the MPAN. This is because Agile prices change every 30 minutes and billing requires half-hourly consumption data that only a smart meter can provide. If you do not yet have a smart meter, read our guide on whether you need a smart meter for Octopus Agile.

2. Your MPRN (gas meter point reference number)

If you are switching gas as well as electricity, you also need your MPRN. The MPRN is the gas equivalent of the MPAN. It stands for Meter Point Reference Number and is a 10-digit number that identifies your specific gas supply connection.

Find your MPRN on your gas bill, usually labelled "meter point reference number" or simply "MPRN." It may also appear in your current supplier's online account. On some installations it is physically printed on the gas meter itself, though that is less common than on bills.

If you are switching only your electricity to Octopus Agile and keeping your current gas supplier, you do not need your MPRN for this switch. Octopus Agile is an electricity-only tariff. Many households switch electricity to Agile for the half-hourly pricing advantage while keeping a separate gas deal. That is a perfectly valid approach and requires only your MPAN.

If you want to consolidate to a dual-fuel deal with Octopus, you will need the MPRN. See our dedicated guide on what an MPRN is and where to find it for more detail.

3. Your current tariff and supplier details

Before you switch, know what you are leaving. Note three things about your current supply:

Your current supplier's name (e.g., British Gas, EDF, E.ON, Shell Energy)
Your current tariff name (e.g., "Standard Variable Tariff," "Fixed Rate March 2027")
Whether you are in a fixed-term contract and if so, when it ends

The tariff name matters because of exit fees. Fixed tariffs often carry early exit fees, typically between £30 and £75 per fuel. If you are within a fixed contract, calculate whether the saving from switching outweighs the exit fee. For most households considering Octopus Agile, savings of £440 per year make even a £75 exit fee worthwhile in the first two months.

If you are on a standard variable tariff, you have no fixed term and therefore no exit fees. You can switch at any time with zero financial penalty. Standard variable tariff customers are paying the price cap rate of 26.11p/kWh as of July 2026. Agile overnight rates of 2-8p/kWh represent a dramatic reduction for households that can shift usage.

4. A recent meter reading

Take a meter reading on the day you initiate your switch. This is not a mandatory requirement in most cases, but it protects you in a specific way: it establishes an agreed consumption point between your old and new supplier.

Without a meter reading at the point of switching, your old supplier estimates your final bill. Estimates are sometimes inaccurate, particularly for older meters. Providing an actual reading means your final bill from your old supplier reflects exactly what you consumed up to the day you left. This eliminates the most common cause of disputes when switching.

For smart meter customers, your meter transmits readings automatically, which makes this less critical. The switch date is recorded on the national network and billing aligns to that date. But even with a smart meter, noting the reading yourself on switch day costs you nothing and gives you a reference point if anything looks wrong on your final bill.

Take a photo of your meter display as your record. If you have a dual-fuel supply, photograph both the electricity and gas meters on the same day.

5. Your direct debit bank details

Your new supplier needs to set up a payment method. Octopus Energy uses direct debit as the default payment method for all its tariffs including Agile.

You will need your bank account sort code (6 digits, in the format XX-XX-XX) and your account number (8 digits). These appear on your bank card, in your banking app, and on any bank statement. You do not need to contact your bank to provide this information; it is standard details for setting up any direct debit.

Octopus calculates a suggested monthly direct debit amount based on your property's typical consumption and your local Agile prices. You can adjust this amount at any time through the Octopus app. Many Agile customers set a lower monthly amount because their engaged usage behaviour means they consume less during expensive peak hours.

If you prefer to pay on receipt of bill rather than monthly direct debit, contact Octopus after the switch is complete to discuss options. Direct debit is the default but not the only option.

What Octopus specifically asks for and why

The Octopus sign-up process asks for the following information in roughly this order:

Postcode: Octopus uses this to identify your DNO (Distribution Network Operator) region, which determines which Agile price schedule applies to you. Prices vary slightly by region. Our DNO region guide explains this in detail.
Address: Required to match your property to the national database and confirm which meters serve your address.
MPAN: To register the switch on the national electricity network. Octopus can sometimes look this up automatically from your address, but having it ready avoids any delay.
Smart meter confirmation: Agile specifically requires a smart meter capable of half-hourly data submission. Octopus confirms your meter type at this stage. If your meter is not yet smart, they will arrange an installation before activating the Agile tariff.
Current supplier and tariff: So Octopus can initiate the transfer process with your current supplier. The Ofgem standard switching time is 17 working days.
Email address: For account management, billing, and price notifications. Octopus uses email heavily, including sending tomorrow's Agile prices each afternoon.
Direct debit details: Sort code and account number to set up your monthly payment.

Once you have submitted this information, Octopus handles everything. You do not need to contact your current supplier, cancel your existing account, or do anything beyond monitoring the switch confirmation emails as they arrive. Your supply continues uninterrupted throughout the switching process.

On switch day, check AgileAlert's live price dashboard to see your first real-time Agile prices. That is the moment the saving becomes real.

The complete five-minute checklist

Before you open the Octopus sign-up page, gather the following. Most people find everything in a single bill:

MPAN from electricity bill (the long number, sometimes starting with S)
MPRN from gas bill (10 digits, if switching gas too)
Current tariff name and end date (to check for exit fees)
Current meter readings (photograph both meters today)
Bank sort code and account number

That is the complete list. Nothing else is required. No referral codes, no estate agent certificates, no proof of identity for a standard residential switch. The five items above are sufficient to move your electricity supply to a tariff that could save you £440 this year.

The Ofgem switching guarantee protects you throughout the process. If anything goes wrong on the technical side, you are entitled to compensation. In practice, most switches complete without any intervention.

Frequently asked questions

What is an MPAN and where do I find it?

MPAN stands for Meter Point Administration Number. It is a 13 to 21 digit number that uniquely identifies your electricity supply point on the national grid. Find it on your electricity bill, usually labelled "supply number" or "S-number." It is sometimes displayed inside a grid of squares on older-format bills. You can also find it in your current supplier's online account under meter or account details.

Do I need to provide a meter reading when switching?

It is not mandatory but it is strongly recommended. Providing an actual meter reading on the day you switch ensures your final bill from your old supplier is accurate and based on real consumption rather than an estimate. Smart meter customers have readings submitted automatically, but photographing your meters on switch day still gives you a useful personal record in case of any billing queries.

Can I switch without a recent bill?

Yes. Your MPAN can sometimes be retrieved automatically by your new supplier from your address and postcode. If not, call your current supplier and ask them to provide your MPAN over the phone. They are legally required to give it to you. Your bank details are available through your banking app without any bill needed. So while a bill makes the process easier, the switch is possible without one.