new user gas and lecky deals

gadusmorhua

It seems all the price comparison sites are geared up for people who currently have gas and electricity suppliers, and want to switch. I am a new user, moving into a property at the start of next month- how do I go about getting the best deal for gas and electricity?

DUTR

If you don't know what you will be using how can anybody even start to suggest? Only thing you can compare is the per kwh rate, the lower the cheaper the bill will be (technically)

notbritishgas

gadusmorhua wrote: »

It seems all the price comparison sites are geared up for people who currently have gas and electricity suppliers, and want to switch. I am a new user, moving into a property at the start of next month- how do I go about getting the best deal for gas and electricity?

You will have a supplier when you move into your property because you MUST sign up with the existing supplier.
So when you move in ring them giving your details and the meter readings you take on the day you move in.
It may be best to sign up to their standard tariff, although this is the most expensive if you are thinking of switching it does not have any penalty for leaving them

You are then free to switch, put in to a comparison site the national average consumption of 3200kwh electric and 16500kwh gas, this assumes your new place has gas central heating.

This will give you some idea who has the cheapest tariffs, it could well be your existing supplier. Of course this will not tell you how much your annual bills will be as you do not know what your usage will be.
You can then switch to your supplier of choice, if to another tariff with your existing supplier it could be immediate, if to another supplier it will take about 6 weeks so you will eventually get a bill from them for that period.

Comparing kwh prices is not always reliable as discounts must be taken into account and they vary wildly between the suppliers.

Hope this helps.

gadusmorhua

DUTR wrote: »

If you don't know what you will be using how can anybody even start to suggest? Only thing you can compare is the per kwh rate, the lower the cheaper the bill will be (technically)

DUTR,How can anyone even start to suggest?
I would imagine my usage to be similar to the previous occupier, as it is a modern one bed flat.I think that would be a fair assumption, and a useful starting point.

Thanks for the helpful reply NBG, I had no idea I would have to sign up with the existing supplier, and that is obviously why comparison sites only cater for switchers.

macman

Incorrect. Comp sites cater for all users, you just put in any tariff you wish as your current one, and average kWh figures for your type of property. That will give you the comparative tariff figures, which is what you are interested in. As stated above,, when you move in you are in a deeemed contract from day one, once you have an account with the existing supplier you are free to switch.

Yorkie1

I believe some of the comparison sites have an option which allows you to input details about the property where you don't have £ or kWh figures available. On the drop down list there should be a Don't Know option, or similar.

I know that when I moved some time ago this was the case although haven't looked very recently.

DUTR

gadusmorhua wrote: »

DUTR,How can anyone even start to suggest?
I would imagine my usage to be similar to the previous occupier, as it is a modern one bed flat.I think that would be a fair assumption, and a useful starting point.

Thanks for the helpful reply NBG, I had no idea I would have to sign up with the existing supplier, and that is obviously why comparison sites only cater for switchers.

Your usage maybe more it maybe less, people use their energy in different ways, right now my heating is on and the window is open :eek: I'm in a 3 bed semi but my usage is more so than the previous couple that lived here,but I never have the heating on in the mornings.
I you feel your usage maybe the same and the energy supplier wis willing togive that information then yes that is a starting point, depending on which provider you go with, then there will at best a £6pm saving from one supplier to another.