1st time buyer

closey99

Hi, just picked up the keys to my first house and looking to get a gas and electric supplier, but without having any past usage to go off, any advice on who is good to go with? I am on my own with a 3 bed semi, and only going to be there from 7 onwards, so I don't believe I would be that energy intensive, help!

macman

From day one you will be in a deemed contract with the existing suppliers, so you have to submit opening reads and register with them for an account before you can commence a switch, which takes 4-5 weeks.
There is no overall 'best' or 'cheapest' supplier, it depends on usage and region. Use an accredited comp site with your estimated annual kWh usage to find the best tariff for you.

DragonQ

Have you ever lived by yourself before? If so, you can use previous usage as a guide (adjust for any differences in heating systems, shower type, different whitegoods, insulation, etc.). If not, the best you can do is wait a few weeks to find out your typical usage. This won't help you for winter months though.

RockPaperScissors

Congrats!

I just bought my first ever home two weeks ago! As the others have said, you will be in a contract with existing supplier. I rang them as soon as I got through the door (after getting some great advice on here) gave them a meeter reading and they set up my account.

As said, you can use usage from previous home if you have had one. I had been living with parents so had no idea how much. In this case they took an estimate based on the people living in the house previously (though I will obviously keep a close eye on the meter as they had 2 children and we are just a couple)

Enjoy your new home

NXV839

When you start with a new supplier, you can base your Direct Debit off the national average. Since you have a 3 bedroom house, it may be worth initially going off the national average for a medium user, but this will probably leave you in surplus since there's only you in the house in the evenings.

Alternatively, some companies allow you to submit meter readings each month and pay exactly how much you owe. You won't be able to build up a supply for winter doing it this way though but at least you'll know where you're up to.

dogshome

Ask the current supplier, who you have to deal with when you move in, what the Gas/Elec Kwh consumptuion figures were for the year before you moved in - Your own figures may be different because of a different lifestyle, but it's the closest figures you will get from standing start with no previoius history