New Electricity account questions

BritishBulldog

The better half and i are moving into our new house on the 25th of June. Im in the process of setting up the utilities. The current owners use Scottishpower..presumably im not obliged to stay with them?
The next question is if i was to choose a new supplier, are they able to set an account up in the space of a week..i know that switching takes months.
The final question is how do i find the cheapest tariff to begin with? Im not switching or moving from from an account at our current place, as we arent responsible for the bills at our current place - we are living with relatives for a few weeks until we could complete on the new place. All the comparison sites only seem interested in switching and im finding it impossible to work out how i can get the cheapest deal out there for a whole new account. Any ideas?

Any help appreciated.

BTW - its electricity only as the house uses piped LPG from a central tank supplying all the houses in the courtyard development.

keith1950

Hi, you have to sign up with ScottishPower, preferably on a standard tariff (so you aren't locked in ).......you are then free to start a switch which will take between 3 and 8 weeks.

You cannot just move in and start with another supplier, the supply on the house has to be finalised ( by you ) first.,

Richie-from-the-Boro

BritishBulldog wrote: »

The better half and i are moving into our new house on the 25th of June. Im in the process of setting up the utilities. The current owners use Scottishpower..presumably im not obliged to stay with them?
The next question is if i was to choose a new supplier, are they able to set an account up in the space of a week..i know that switching takes months.
The final question is how do i find the cheapest tariff to begin with? Im not switching or moving from from an account at our current place, as we arent responsible for the bills at our current place - we are living with relatives for a few weeks until we could complete on the new place. All the comparison sites only seem interested in switching and im finding it impossible to work out how i can get the cheapest deal out there for a whole new account. Any ideas?

Any help appreciated.

BTW - its electricity only as the house uses piped LPG from a central tank supplying all the houses in the courtyard development.

Whoever the existing supplier was, is already your new legally contracted supplier, you will be on a 'deemed contract' with SP. SP will also have pre-selected the most expensive tariff at their disposal and put you on it.

You can :

- stay with SP on the existing tariff
- stay with SP and change the existing tariff to a cheaper one
- leave SP and go to a different supplier altogether

You should :

- record and photograph the meter
- inform SP immediately what your 'take-over' reading are
- choose a tariff from anyone that includes (1) e-account (2) monthly direct debit (3) supply meter readings, etc

The only reasonably accurate way to get an idea of usage is to ask the previous owner of the property, even that will normally be of little use as no two families and their lifestyles are the same. In this case if the water & space heating is LPG it may be a fair reflection of CAC, ask the previous owner - or SP - or look for an old bill for the figures.