Utilities in first home

Polly05

Hi,
Just looking for any tips regarding choosing who supplies my gas and electricity in my first home.
I dont know how much i'm likely to use, I dont know who has good/bad reputations etc..
I read on the main MSE about EDF energy having a fixed rate til april 2014, with no fee for leaving.. which sounds quite good.
But Ive read on here that when you move into a house, you are automatically under contract with the old owners supplier. But I cant find any official confirmation of this.. Other people have said, no, you just get the keys, read the meter and phone up any company and say, 'Ive just moved in, I want you to supply me, here's the readings'.
Looking on suppliers websites, all the FAQ for moving home assume youre moving from another home, where you pay the utilities and can take your supplier/tariff with you. So I did an instant chat with EDF and they said I don't need to go with the previous owners supplier and can just phone them up when I get the keys.
Any opinions people?
Thanks!!

jalexa

Polly05 wrote: »

So I did an instant chat with EDF and they said I don't need to go with the previous owners supplier and can just phone them up when I get the keys.
Any opinions people?

That is wrong (or misleading). As soon as you become responsible for the property you are in deemed contract with the current supplier, the identity of which is normally obvious from "to the occupier" letters. Note the meter readings when you move in (ideally take a photograph) and set up an account with the current supplier. Having done that you are then free to initiate a switch to your supplier of choice (assuming that is the current supplier does not "dupe" you into signing-up for a fixed term).

welshee

jalexa wrote: »

That is wrong (or misleading). As soon as you become responsible for the property you are in deemed contract with the current supplier, the identity of which is normally obvious from "to the occupier" letters. Note the meter readings when you move in (ideally take a photograph) and set up an account with the current supplier. Having done that you are then free to initiate a switch to your supplier of choice (assuming that is the current supplier does not "dupe" you into signing-up for a fixed term).

Sound advice from Jalexa...make sure you take the photo and get the serial in view.:beer:

Terrylw1

The only time you can go straight to a chosen supplier is when you have the distributor install a new supply.

After this, there is always a current supplier. So, if you apply to Eon, if they are not already the current supplier, they have to apply through the distributor to switch you over. This is future dated hence you have to pay the current supplier up to the point of the switch.

That live chat advisor has said the opposite of the Electricity Code in the Utility Act. That needs feeding back.