help choosing new energy supplier

mikeandrach_2

I am moving to a new house next week, its a 3 bed detatched bungalow, in the York area. what are the best comparison websites to use? it has gch, a gas fire, gas hob (electric oven). I have no idea what the bills would be so looking for any help I can get!

macman

Any accredited comp site will do the job, look at the main MSE board article for suggestions. Just enter your estimated annual kWh figures and your postcode.
You will however be in a deemed contract with the existing supliers from day one, so you can't commence a switch until you have registered with them and given opening reads.

mikeandrach_2

yep will read the meter the minute we move in and get that sorted, but then immediately look at others. any idea how to estimate our usage? its 2 adults and a 2 year old, my wife is a teacher so at xmas/summer holidays etc there will be a bit more electricity consumed, other than that pretty regular users nothing especially high drain etc

matelodave

You could use the so called average consumption of 16500kw for gas and 3300kw for electricity as a starting point (it's unlikely to be less) and then try playing around with other figures, say 20000kw gas and 4000kw for electricity to see if that changes the suppliers or tariffs. That will allow you to get a feel for what it's going to cost you and to find a supplier.

You then need to read the meter regularly, once a week is ideal but never less than once a month, record the info and send monthly readings to the supplier. Make sure that you check every bill carefully and get any estimates corrected immediately to make sure that your direct debit is about right (averaged over the year). Recording your meter readings will help you identify areas where you can economise a bit.

I use a free website called iMeasure to record my weekly meter readings which gives an analysis or how your heating is performing so you can optimise the controls.

It's also worthwhile checking your loft insulation and upgrading it if necessary, a bungalow roof is about twice the area of a house roof so has the potential to lose twice as much heat. Make sure the hot water tank has a good thick jacket on it as well (even a foam insulated tank will benefit from an extra jacket).

Don't forget to read your water meter if you've got one and notify your water supplier (and sewerage company if its different)

macman

Use the above averages. Or (depending on what kind of property you are moving from) use your current annual figures? Those quoted above are based on a 3 b/r property with gas CH and DHW, so shouldn't be too far out.