Please help a utility newbie.

donnydude

Hello there. I'm due to move into a house on Saturday (renting) and have only just been told by the estate agents that I need to arrange a gas and electricity supplier. Currently there is a prepayment meter for gas (house owners have their own prepayment card) but a standard electricity meter.
It is only a small house and I will be living alone and would be a low user. I would prefer to have the prepayment meter for both gas and electric as I am on a low income and don't want bills each month or quaterly.
From looking around, Ebico seems lke a good option for myself.
My question is, if I phone up to have a prepayment meter installed for the electricity and apply to change the gas prepayment meter over to Ebico, does anybody know what the general timescale is for the installation and changeover?

Many thanks for reading.

Premier_2

You need to register with the existing suppliers first.

Once you have an account with them, you can switch supplier - this normally takes about 4-6 weeks.

A meter change will typically take about 2-4 weeks to arrange.

As the property is rented, you should gain the permission of the landlord (or his agent) to change the meter as you will otherwise be expected to return the property in the same condition as it was originally let (fair wear & tear excepted). The LL may charge you the cost of reverting the meter to a credit one, unless you have his permission beforehand.

donnydude

Premier wrote: »

You need to register with the existing suppliers first.

Once you have an account with them, you can switch supplier - this normally takes about 4-6 weeks.

A meter change will typically take about 2-4 weeks to arrange.

As the property is rented, you should gain the permission of the landlord (or his agent) to change the meter as you will otherwise be expected to return the property in the same condition as it was originally let (fair wear & tear excepted). The LL may charge you the cost of reverting the meter to a credit one, unless you have his permission beforehand.

Ok thanks for that info. However, I'm not sure what position that leaves me in in regards to moving into the property in 5 days!

Premier_2

donnydude wrote: »

Ok thanks for that info. However, I'm not sure what position that leaves me in in regards to moving into the property in 5 days!

When you move into the property, take meter readings and supply these to the existing suppliers. The landlord, agent or existing tenants should be able to inform you who the current supplier(s) are.

If all these routes fail, post again and we'll explain how else you can establish who the current supplier(s) are.

You'll need to be supplied with a new key card for your gas supply and they will set up a new account for your electricity.

zzzLazyDaisy

donnydude wrote: »

Ok thanks for that info. However, I'm not sure what position that leaves me in in regards to moving into the property in 5 days!

You need to contact the existing supplier pronto as they will need to send you a prepayment card which you then take somewhere local (often the coop) and put credit on it. Utilities that are paid by monthly or quarterly bill are available to you immediately. The lanlord/managing agent should take meter readings, but make sure you keep a copy. Once you have everything set up, you can then change suppliers in your own time.

Before you decide to change over to prepayment meters for both, do check where the top-up places are - my son used to have this arrangement at his last place, but the nearest top-up place was a fair bus ride away (£1 each way).

KimYeovil

Is it really too difficult to read your meter, do a subtraction and multiply by 12p or 13p? Before deciding to switch, see how you go with working out how much you are using yourself. Work out how many units you get to the pound.

Remember, you can still run up a debt on a prepayment meter.

donnydude

Ok thanks people. I'm just waiting to arrange to get the meter readings at the moment.
I think gas wise I'll be ok as the estate agent said that they will get the gas card from the owner to put some gas on in the meantime.
It looks like I'll just have to grin and bare it with a small bill until a meter can be arranged to be installed. The landlord is fine about having one installed as the house will be rented out long term and will avoid future tenants running up a debt in the property.
A pay as you go payment card might be an option however....
The house is in the town centre anyway so there are plenty of shops which use the paypoint scheme.

Premier_2

donnydude wrote: »

Ok thanks people. I'm just waiting to arrange to get the meter readings at the moment.
I think gas wise I'll be ok as the estate agent said that they will get the gas card from the owner to put some gas on in the meantime....

Don't use someone else's payment card - you could be paying off their debt for them. Contact the supplier who will provide you with your own.

donnydude

Premier wrote: »

Don't use someone else's payment card - you could be paying off their debt for them. Contact the supplier who will provide you with your own.

Yes I did think that. I meant the estyate agents were going to use the owners card to put a little bit of credit on for me while a new card was being issued to myself in my name.