How to close an energy account in rented property?

icicle21

Hi everyone,

Forgive me for sounding somewhat naive on this subject, I've searched the internet and can't find any info on this!

I'm a student in a houseshare, we have our gas and electricity supplied by e-on and pay on a quarterly basis by our own meter readings (not by direct debit). We've just finished uni and our tenancy is coming to an end at the end of June. Does anyone know if we have to give e-on notice to be able to close our account at the end of June? I've emailed our landlord who has said we need to take final meter readings when the last person leaves to settle our account, but it seems almost too simple to be able to phone them up on that day, pay the outstanding balance and close the account without needing to give prior notice? Also, does it make any difference because we pay quarterly... our last bill was at end of April, so the next one would be due end of July but we're leaving at the end of June...will there be any issues closing the account 2 months into that 'quarter'?

Thanks for any help, once again I apologise if this is obvious, it's all quite new to us being the first place we've lived out of halls away from home!

Terrylw1

The guidance is 2 days before your leaving date. At this point they only create the first stage if the closure, your reading for the actual date is the final part of the transaction to close the account and issue the final bill.

Customers can do it later, but if the premise remains unoccupied, Ofgem allow the supplier to attempt to charge until the second working day after you make contact. Personally, this is poor policy and I've never seen it uses as it tends to prompt a pointless complaint costing more to resolve.

If you do it later and someone moves in the day after you leave, the date is based on your leaving date since the next day is the start for the new consumer.

In terms of a bill, don't worry, they create a partial bill covering you from the last bill date/readings up to your leaving date/closing readings.

Its a very simple process, so as long as you call before and give your readings afterwards, it will be simple. Remember they need a forwarding address so consider working your bill out yourself so you are all prepared for it and don't have a 3rd party dispute with any flatmates. Its easy to do by taking 7 days of readings at the same time of day, work out the daily average per day, then a master average if required, multiply it into the number of days you are to remain the property, then multiply by your unit price. If you have tiers in your bill, just divide the annual kwh for the initial higher tier by 4 to get quarters, then 91 to get the per day value then multiply by your days from the last bill date to your leaving date. Remember, when using the average kwh per day method, you only need to do it beyond the 7 days of reads (since you have the consumption already between your last bill and the 7 day reading, but remember this would form part of a tier if you have them). If you are with npower, their gas tiers don't work like this so you would need to get their gas tier values for the months from your last bill to your leaving date.,,but searching "npower gas sculpting" on this board will probably term that up.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi icicle

Don't worry; as Terrylw says, closing an account is simple.

Just take meter readings on the day you give up responsibility for the property. Tell us these readings, the date responsibility ends and a forwarding address. We'll do the rest.

We'll issue a final bill based on these readings and send it to the forwarding address (unless registered with our website). The account will finish on the day you tell us responsibility ends.

If you've registered with our website, the final bill will be put online within 24 hours of issue and an email sent advising it's available to view.

I know moving out can be a busy time with lots to do, so you can phone this info through later if you like.

It doesn't matter about being part way through a quarter. Charges will be based on the amount of energy used up to the date responsibility changes.

We've a specialist Home Moves section who will handle this for you or you can use our website to close the account. Alternatively, drop an email to the address in my Profile and I'll sort it for you.

Best of luck with the move.

Malc