Energy supplier for new-build?

Claremac

I am buying a new-buld which is near completion. The gas is already being used for heating and the electricity will be connected shortly. I don't know who the suppliers are but can ask the builder. When we move in, I assume that all will be as normal in a move e.g. take readings of meters and let the energy supplier know of the change of ownership.
So far, so good. But how will I know whether we are getting a good deal? If I go on the likes of Uswitch won't they be asking me details of previous bills which, of course, I don't have? Do I have to wait for the first year of bills to go around before I can check whether anothercompany might offer a better deal? Thanks for any help.

Premier_2

Yes you will take over the supplies from the ones currently supplying the builder. Usually the builder will take the meter readings in your presence as part of the handover, but still contact the suppliers yourself.

The best supplier deal depends on how much you use. If you don't know how much you will use, any comparison is going to be quite meaningless. You can guess at how much you will use (a brand new house will tend to use a little more energy whilst it is drying out, but that needs to be balanced by the hopefully better insulation it has compared to an older property), or many of the comparison sites allow comparisons based on size of house, occupation, type of heating, etc but again it only guesses on what you might use.

It probably isn't worth worrying too much about ... I'm sure there will be many other things to consider in your new house for the first few months.
To put it in perspective, the average annual cost of household energy is about £1200 and Martin thinks that could be reduced to £900 if moving from the supplier's typical (high priced) standard rate to the very best, cheapest option including online tariffs, monthly DDs, etc. In reality, if you just ask the existing supplier for a better deal than their standard tariff, you'll probably save at least half that £300, so only about £150 a year saving. Haggle on the price of a new lawn, some new decent fencing or some new furniture or curtains and you'll probably save more than that.

neil40

With being a new build, you will probably have an independant gas transporter which also adds costs.We also found it was a nightmare to switch on our new build as our meter point reference number was not recognised and because of this gas transporter carry on.When we took ownership of the house, the supplier was Scottish Hydro.

Neil

Claremac

Thanks to you both. I am moving from a rental wih extremely poor insulation and therefore very high bills so am hoping that I will see large savings on this in a new build. I think Premier is right, make sure I get a good deal from whoever the supplier is and check in a year's time when I have some data to compare. Neil, what is a gas transporter please and how does that affect things?

Premier_2

Claremac wrote: »

... what is a gas transporter please and how does that affect things?

Independant Gas Transporter (someone other than National Grid, formally Transco)

Only British Gas and SSE (including Ebico) don't pass on the extra charges directly to those customers affected.

Claremac

Thanks for the clarification. There are only 2 houses being built by the developer so I wonder if it would be worth him going through transporter? Guess I'll have to ask him.

dunloadin

Should think the developer will be the best person to ask who is supplying your utilities, they are the ones who are building the property and will need to get them set up in the house. If your not happy with the supplier they have had install the meters you can always change once your in and settled.

Premier_2

Claremac wrote: »

Thanks for the clarification. There are only 2 houses being built by the developer so I wonder if it would be worth him going through transporter? Guess I'll have to ask him.

A developer will often choose an independent gas transporter. This is because the IGT will usually cost less up front than National Grid. However the IGT get their money back over time because of the higher standing charges.

The developer will usually use the cheapest option available to him when building your property ... and doesn't usually care how much ongoing costs are after you've bought it.

As the developer is only building 2 properties at this location, it sounds like a small developer, and so one you may be able to negotiate with.
Find out who he plans to use, and if not National Grid, it may pay you in the long run to ask if he would use National Grid, even if that means you have to pay the oncost he would otherwise suffer.
You may have better luck if you could convince the buyer of the other property to take the same approach.