Worried about setting up energy in your new home ? Let me help you.
The list of things you should do when you are moving to a new house can be quite overwhelming. It is natural to miss a thing or two. But one thing that you should not forget is setting up energy in your new home. The sin of forgetting this can cost you up to 500 pounds a year.
To avoid unnecessary hassle follow the steps described in this simple guide. If this is your first house in Uk or you have already moved to your new house please go to the section After moving into your new home
BEFORE LEAVING YOUR CURRENT RESIDENCE
Even before stepping out of your current residence, there are few things you should do to for clean closing off your old deal and smooth setting up energy in your new home
1.Notify your current supplier that you are leaving
Make sure you don’t pay for someone else’s energy use. let your energy supplier know that you are leaving and tell the exact date. Do this at least 48 hours before the intended date of leaving. If you in a fixed contract there can be an exit fee. but if you are in the last 49 days of your contract you don’t have to pay any penalty
2.Get a meter reading on the last day
Sometimes a representative from your energy company comes and take a meter reading if this doesn’t happen take meter reading before you leave the house.
3.Give your new address to your energy provider
You still have to pay your last energy bill so give your new address to the supplier so they can send you the final bill.
AFTER MOVING IN TO YOUR NEW HOME
When you move into a new house, current energy supplier to the property continue to provide gas and electricity to your house make sure you get uninterrupted power supply. However, you will be put into there standard variable tariff which is the most expensive energy plan. so if you stay with the same supplier without doing anything you will end up paying an average of 300 pounds more per year.
this is a total waste of money and you will not get any additional benefit from paying more. Follow the steps below and make an energy switch as soon as possible.
4.Find the Current energy supplier to your new home
You can get this detail from your landlord/letting agency or previous occupant. In case if you fail to find this out
For gas – call the helpline on 08706081524 or visit find my supplier
for electricity- contact your local distribution network operator (DNO)
5.Find the energy meter and get a meter reading
The energy meter is usually placed in the kitchen, hall or box outside the house. Find the meter and get a meter reading. Notify this to your landlord to prevent future disputes.
If you don’t know how to get a meter reading refer the short video below
Contact the energy provider and give them the meter reading
Contact the current energy supplier to the house, let them know that you move into the property and give them the meter reading.
they might offer you a better energy deal and try to lock you to a contract. Don’t commit to that You can always find a better deal by comparison and making a switch. read below.
Compare energy price and make energy switch
This probably the most important part if you want to save some money. Energy switch is a very simple process and can be done under 10 minutes. If you are responsible for paying your energy bill, You have the right to select your energy supplier. You landlord or letting agency shall not object this and You don’t need their permission to make an energy switch.
Follow these simple steps
- Necessary details – your postcode, current energy supplier to the property, a recent energy bill ( You can still get a quotation without the last bill so don’t worry if you just moved in .)
- Log in to energy helpline which has the largest switchable tariffs library. Enter your details and get a quotation
- Select cheap Tariff. Sit back and relax. energy helpline will do the rest for you. They will contact your current supplier and let them know you are leaving so no Hassell for you. You will receive a letter once the switching process is completed.
Whole switching process will take up 21 days. But don’t worry you won’t notice anything. Everything happens on paper,
Read How to switch energy supplier and find a better deal For more details.
Which supplier to select
Whoever the Energy provider you select you will be protected from Ofgem safe net. which is the energy regulatory body in the UK.
Even if your supplier goes busted your energy supply will not be interrupted and your credit balance will be protected. In an extreme situation if this happens Ofgem allocate you to a new supplier and you have the freedom of switching to another supplier without any cost.
So, in general, I don’t think there should be ant hesitation to select the cheapest offer. But if you are still concern you can select one of the following reputed providers when you get the quotation
big six energy companies – SSE, EON, Scottish power, British gas, Npower, and EDF Energy
reputed small to medium suppliers – Bulb energy, Shell energy, Ebico energy, octopus energy, peoples energy, So energy,pure planet and Ovo energy
Variable Rate vs Fixed rate Tariffs
These are the two main tariffs you will come across. In variable tariff energy unit price changes with the wholesale market price. Variable tariffs are usually expensive than the fixed-rate tariffs
In a fixed rate tariff energy unit price is fixed for the duration of the contract. Usually one year. In general fixed price tariffs are the most economical. most of the times fixed-rate tariffs are associated with an exit fee if you leave before the contract period ends. This ranges from 10-60 pounds.
When you get the quotation select what is more economical for you. If you planning to leave in a few months time selecting a variable tariff can prevent you from paying an exit fee.
Green energy tariff
Green electricity is produced from renewable sources like solar power and wind. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint on the earth you can select a green plan.
Green gas is less freely available but green suppliers offer a varying degree of carbon offsetting .
Economy 7 and prepayment meters
If your new home has a prepayment meter or economy seven meter your landlord or letting agency will specifically tell you about it.
prepayment tariffs are expensive so don’t accept these unless you can’t get a credit meter due to low credit score.
