Consider the diagram above in which a positive source charge is creating an electric field and a positive test charge being moved against and with the field. In Diagram A, the positive test charge is being moved against the field from location A to location B. Moving the charge in this direction would be like going against nature. Thus, work would be required to move the object from location A to location B and the positive test charge would be gaining potential energy in the process. This would be analogous to moving a mass in the uphill direction; work would be required to cause such an increase in gravitational potential energy. In Diagram B, the positive test charge is being moved with the field from location B to location A. This motion would be natural and not require work from an external force. The positive test charge would be losing energy in moving from location B to location A. This would be analogous to a mass falling downward; it would occur naturally and be accompanied by a loss of gravitational potential energy. One can conclude from this discussion that the high energy location for a positive test charge is a location nearest the positive source charge; and the low energy location is furthest away.
The above discussion pertained to moving a positive test charge within the electric field created by a positive source charge. Now we will consider the motion of the same positive test charge within the electric field created by a negative source charge. The same principle regarding work and potential energy will be used to identify the locations of high and low energy.