total newb

xirokx

Hi guys,

My gf and I are moving in together and its our first flat...

Bills are not included...

Whats the cheapest and best service for gas and electric?

How long do they take to connect you?

Please help

Thanks in advance..

Cheers..

Ken68

Hi xkx.....estimate 20,000 kwh p.a. for gas (EBICO charge 2.55p per kwh inc vat no standing charge) and 3000kwh for electric (Ebico charge 9.32p per kwh inc vat no s/c) tho electric prices vary according to region. Energyhelpline are the recommended comparison site.
With good insulation and draughtproofing, your bills can be half that quoted.

HelzBelz

If where you're moving to is or has been recently occupied there will probably already be a supplier, so you'd be switching rather than being connected, try one of the switching sites like Uswitch to compare prices and if you decide to switch go via one of the cashback site which will give you money for using their link to the switching site (last time we switched we went through greasy palm to Uswitch and got £9 cashback:T )

Cardew

You don't normally need to be wait to be connected as the Gas/electricity will be left connected; it will be from the supplier the last occupants used.

The first thing to do is accurately note the meter readings as soon as you have the keys.

You should get correspondence addressed to 'The Occupier'. This will enable you check out who is supplying your flat.

You can then start looking to see if there are cheaper options to switch to. If you are OK with the internet, one of the on-line accounts will be cheapest.

It will take some time for a switch to another supplier. Your current supplier might have a cheap tariff anyway.

tripled

When you move in you need to register with the current supplier and give them the readings. Then use a comparison site (such as energyhelpline mentioned above) to find a cheapest supplier. Comparison sites can usually estimate your usage for you based on the size of the property and number of occupants.

I would say you will probably use less than the kwh figures quoted by ken68 in a flat.

xirokx

hi peeps,

when we went into the flat there was no electric because we tried to switch some lights on and they didnt work despite trying from the fuse box also....

therefore i can only assume gas and elec is disconnected...

therefore on that basis who would you recommend? the postcode is n20 0lr

I also need a phone company so I can connect to the internet with a company called "bethere"

also water company required...

please help me save on these bills....

its a medium sized flat, we cook quite often, pc will be on 24/7....

look forward to your responses

cheers!!

tripled

xirokx wrote: »

when we went into the flat there was no electric because we tried to switch some lights on and they didnt work despite trying from the fuse box also....

therefore i can only assume gas and elec is disconnected...

Did you try the main fuse?

Even if it has be de-energised (the main fuse removed), you will still have a supplier. Only if the meter has been removed from the property and you need a new supply may you not have a supplier. *

Same goes for gas

Once you have registered with the present supplier, you should look on a comparison site to pick a good deal. The online tariffs are usually the cheapest.

also water company required...

Water is still a monopoly I'm afraid, you'll have to contact the local water board. If there isn't one already, you should consider a meter, depending on your usage. With a bit of luck, Cardew or someone else will come along with some advice for you.

I also need a phone company so I can connect to the internet with a company called "bethere"

You'll probably have to use BT to start off with, as to my knowledge there are no other companies yet who arrange a new connection for you, only take over existing lines from BT. Bulldog did, but they went belly up a while back.

*There are such things as 'shipperless supplies' but they are rare so don't worry about it. I just thought I'd mention it before someone else does and confuses the issue

xirokx

hey peeps,

if all goes well I should move in on saturday am really excited but am totally not looking forward to the moving grrrr

anyway, my other half suggested we look at "u switch" as they are better then energyline, is that true?? ive had a look and as i am new to all this im not quite sure....so i thought id ask the experts??

all thoughts and comments would be appreciated..

moreover, if energyline are the best ppl to call do i simply give them a call and they wil recommend the cheapest and reliable ppl to go with? should i get elec and gas with the same firm? or does it work out cheaper to go with two seperate companies?

please help

thanks in advance...

cheers

tripled

Energyhelpline is usually better than uSwitch as uSwitch don't always show tariffs that don't pay them a comission.

If you do the comparison on energyhepline you will be able to work out for yourself if is cheaper to have them together or from different suppliers. It can vary depending on your consumption and your region.

xirokx

Energyhelpline is usually better than uSwitch as uSwitch don't always show tariffs that don't pay them a comission.

thanks for the info...

If you do the comparison on energyhepline you will be able to work out for yourself if is cheaper to have them together or from different suppliers. It can vary depending on your consumption and your region.

well this is it, a) I dont know what I expect to use to be honest, rememeber its out first 1 bed medium sized flat...b) comparison - what exactly am I comparing too?

I am just paranoid about paying way over the odds...

thanks for your comments and help so far...

I received confirmation we can move in on saturday...yipppppeeeeeeee i cant wait

tripled

You are comparing the various suppliers Energyhelpline will show you a combined dual fuel cost. If you then click 'gas only', write down the estimated cost with the cheapest gas supplier, click 'electricity only', write down estimated cost with the cheapest electricity supplier, then add these two figures together. The you can see if it will cost more with dual fuel or seperate gas and electricity

Good luck with your move!