Completely new to sorting out utilities!

makedamnsure

Hi all, I need some advice!

My friend has just moved out of home into a studio flat (it's in a house split into 8 studios, each has a different landlord). Everything runs on electricity (shower, cooker, heating), which is on a prepayment meter, apart from the gas boiler which provides hot water for the bath and sink.

The previous tenant had gas & electricity from EDF, and we think the gas is set up on a quarterly DD. He's using about £1 per day in electricity, but we have no idea how much he's going to need to spend on gas.

He has showers daily, rarely has baths and is at work till late Mon-Fri, so he's hardly ever home. He'd only need enough gas to wash up a few times a week.

EDF quoted him a fixed £30 fee for gas only for the first 6 months, after which they'll have a look and maybe lower it. This seems a bit steep to me anyway, considering he's barely using any gas.

He would consider switching from a PP electricity meter to a credit one, and can change companies if he wants.

I normally help him out with financial stuff, but as I still live at home I have no idea about utilities! Can anyone advise how much he should expect to spend, and a good supplier?

Thanks

dogshome

Hi makedamnsure - If indeed the gas is on a credit account, EDF would have registered your friend as a 'New' account and as such put him on an Expensive 'standard' tariff.

To compare prices properly, he has to know his annual consumption in Kwh to enter into the Switch sites, but with the likelyhood of very low gas consumption the cash cost difference between the cheapest and dearest supplier will not be great, so his best bet is to get onto EDF's best tariff a.s.a.p

So far as EDF's requirement for a £30 Direct Debit, to be reviewed in 6 months is concerned - The advice would be for him to record the meter readings weekly, and after 2 months go back to EDF to negotiate