Gas and Electric to a new house

SapKnight

Getting a brand new house - so I'm presuming we get to choose the supplier of gas and electric before we move in.

Most of the threads i've seen on here are about changing suppliers and tarrifs. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on who to go with from the start?

Both work all day mon - fri and in at the weekends, so we dont use much gas or electric. House is 9 rooms (4bed, 3bath, kitchen, lounge), very well insulated as its a new build.

Thanks

espresso

SapKnight wrote: »

Getting a brand new house - so I'm presuming we get to choose the supplier of gas and electric before we move in.

No, the builder will have arranged both gas and electricity suppliers to the property, which you will initially have to sign up with. Then you are free to switch to different suppliers.

notbritishgas

Espresso is correct. The builders will have needed the electric and gas connected if only to test the CH and make the tea, and as such will have set up an account.
Make sure you read the meter when you move in and contact the supplier with it so they know you are there.

SapKnight

Well I'll be able to change straight away wont I if I want to?

dogshome

Hi Sapknight - Be aware that you will inherit whichever supplier the builders opted for, and, as a New Account Holder, that supplier will automatically put you on an expensive 'Standard' tariff.
The best tariffs at the moment are those where you opt for monthly Direct Debit payments and Online billing

You must read the meter(s) the moment the property is yours and phone the supplier with the reading(s), By doing this you won't be lumbered with Bills for power & gas the builder used, and keep safe a note of these readings so you can check your 1st bill.

To get the best Utility deal you need to know how many Kw of Gas & Elec you use a year,( which obviously you will not have), and enter these into a Switch site.
As a pure guess, I recken you will use around 18,000kw of gas & 5,000Kw of electric a year, so if you want to explore the market enter these figures on a switch site, which at least will tell you how good or bad the deals from your present supplier, and give you an idea of the running costs.
Good Luck in the new home

notbritishgas

SapKnight wrote: »

Well I'll be able to change straight away wont I if I want to?

Yes and no!
You must set up an account with the existing supplier, ie the one the builders used.
You would then be free to imediately start the switching process to another supplier. However the switch usually takes about 6 weeks to complete, so you will be with the original supplier for that time.