Electricity

sieve

Afternoon all,

I've got a question about electricity. Essentially, I have a feeling I may have to include a debt to Southern Electric in my BR. I've just submitted an up to date meter reading to them online, to make sure that while I am BR I'm not going to get any nasty shocks and have to pay for electricity I've used over the last year (as if I got a £1000 bill after BR I would be totally screwed) but how is the electricity company going to look on me going BR and wiping my debt off with them? Do I risk getting cut off or will they probably just put me on a pre-pay? Or might they leave me as I am and just start again?

Cheers,

S

MercMan

Good Q Sieve. I have the same problem with British Gas and gas and electric bills which arrived last week. I have dual fuel with BG.

haleygrey

i was wondering what to do about the gas and electricity as i think i might have to include my arrears.

startagain_2

Hi everyone,

I can't speak from experience because I switched suppliers just before BR and put my last pre-BR bill into the BR pot. My new suppliers haven't changed anything since BR and I am still on monthly DDs.
Other posters on here seem to have had a mixture of experiences from deposits being charged, pre-payment meters and no change at all.
British Gas seem to be the worst suppliers though ..... others will give their experiences but I know they aren't good.

SA

sieve

startagain wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I can't speak from experience because I switched suppliers just before BR and put my last pre-BR bill into the BR pot. My new suppliers haven't changed anything since BR and I am still on monthly DDs.
Other posters on here seem to have had a mixture of experiences from deposits being charged, pre-payment meters and no change at all.
British Gas seem to be the worst suppliers though ..... others will give their experiences but I know they aren't good.

SA

That's brilliant, thanks SA. Changing providers for a fresh start before BR sounds like a great plan actually - do you mind me asking who you changed to?

k2nga

They will just change you over to pre-pay and to be honest they are very expensive but you may not have a choice unless someone can start the bill in there name for you after BR?

startagain_2

sieve wrote: »

That's brilliant, thanks SA. Changing providers for a fresh start before BR sounds like a great plan actually - do you mind me asking who you changed to?

Sure, I had already decided to change before BR came into my life but the timing just coincided with it. I switched from npower to Scottish Power as they were a lot cheaper in my area. I think eon are supposed to be fairly relaxed as well (?)
Scottish Power took over 5 days before BR and everything is fine. Fingers firmly crossed as I type!
SA

skylight

Basically, your account as it is now would be frozen (if the debt goes into your BR). Your utility provider would have to start a new account for you. Now, the fun and games start here - some providers will allow you to carry on, some would change you to a pre-pay meter and some will want a deposit up front.

I would try to avoid the pre-pay meters. They are expensive (more per unit used and a rental cost too). Try to change providers before BR - so that you have a proveable debt (bill) that you can include. But, more issues, some providers will not allow you to change with a debt! Mine were AOK (Moved from Eon to Ebico), so its pot luck.

Give it a go, you have nothing left to lose - but don't forget to switch via Quidco for some cashback.

sieve

startagain wrote: »

Sure, I had already decided to change before BR came into my life but the timing just coincided with it. I switched from npower to Scottish Power as they were a lot cheaper in my area. I think eon are supposed to be fairly relaxed as well (?)
Scottish Power took over 5 days before BR and everything is fine. Fingers firmly crossed as I type!
SA

Brilliant Just switching now to Scottish, they're cheapest bar one (EDF) in my area but EDF don't do online servicing so I'll go for the option that looks like it might be BR friendly too

Thanks again!

startagain_2

sieve wrote: »

Brilliant Just switching now to Scottish, they're cheapest bar one (EDF) in my area but EDF don't do online servicing so I'll go for the option that looks like it might be BR friendly too

Thanks again!

Make sure you go for the online account - they are nigh on impossible to get hold of on the phone!! A word of warning .....

SA

sieve

startagain wrote: »

Make sure you go for the online account - they are nigh on impossible to get hold of on the phone!! A word of warning .....

SA

Thanks Gone for Green Economy 7 Online, through Quidco which will hopefully get me £31 too