How do I find out who gas & elec providers are

shopndrop

DS is about to move into a rented house but letting agent does not know who the elec and gas providers are, said it is up to him to find out! Any ideas how we go about doing this as he wants to make sure he is with the cheapest company.

brysiewysie

shopndrop wrote: »

DS is about to move into a rented house but letting agent does not know who the elec and gas providers are, said it is up to him to find out! Any ideas how we go about doing this as he wants to make sure he is with the cheapest company.

Call however he wants to join, thay can find out and start the switch at the same time. It's always best to then contact the current supplier, give up to date readings and his details.

shopndrop

Don't know who to go with yet as not sure what the tariff will be if we stay with whoever the previous tenant has been with.
I would have thought that the letting agent had an obligation to tell you who the current provider is so that he can provide meter readings on the day he moves in. Anyone experience of moving into rented accommodation and not knowing who provides utilities?

Plushchris

When you move into the property it will just be the standard tariff with whatever supplier is there with quarterly billing until you instruct them otherwise.

Also, if there are prepayment meters in the property you may not be able to change them, you would need to check the rental agreement or ask the landlord first.

To find out the gas supplier you'll need to ring Transco and to find out the electric supplier you should contact the regional supplier, if you're not sure who that is then if you say hwere you are I'm sure theres someone here who will be able to tell you. All suppliers should be able to tell you who the supplier is but most of them wont for some reason.

shopndrop

Plushchris wrote: »

When you move into the property it will just be the standard tariff with whatever supplier is there with quarterly billing until you instruct them otherwise.

Also, if there are prepayment meters in the property you may not be able to change them, you would need to check the rental agreement or ask the landlord first.

To find out the gas supplier you'll need to ring Transco and to find out the electric supplier you should contact the regional supplier, if you're not sure who that is then if you say hwere you are I'm sure theres someone here who will be able to tell you. All suppliers should be able to tell you who the supplier is but most of them wont for some reason.

Thanks - there are no prepayment meters and letting agent has said it is OK to change suppliers so long as they are advised - agent will tell landlord.

Will sort gas out via Transco.

The area he is moving to is Isle of Dogs, London so would appreciate if someone can advise who the regional supplier is for electricity.

Plushchris

That'll be EDF then.

shopndrop

Wow, thanks. Will give them a call and see what tariff the house is currently on and see if we can better it.

brysiewysie

Regional suppliers have to charge a higher rate than non-regional suppliers, so you may find EDF may be the dearest for you. There's nothing to say you are currently with EDF, the question Plushchris answered is they were the suppliers when there was no choice and are still the regional supplier, but a previous occupier could have moved to anyone else years ago.

Call any supplier, tell them you want a quote from them, ask them to look on ecoes (an national database of electricity supplies) to tell you who the current supplier is.

Plushchris

Yeah, what I meant was you have to call the regional supplier to find out who the current supplier is at the property. They are the only ones that will tell you in my experience.

brysiewysie

I'm sure many suppliers have access to a system called ecoes which will show current supplier details.

Shopndrop, the agent or landlord probably don't know who the supplier is so it's best you do as you are already doing and take ownership of the task of notifying of opening meter reads etc.