Finding cheapest supplier before i move in

themoffster

I am due to move into a new build flat in a few months.
I haven't had any bills, or any idea of an annual cost for gas & electricity.

I was looking to switch to the cheapest supplier via youswith.com but as I don't know my monthly bill I can't proceed with the quotes.

When is a good time to switch and how can I go about it?

Thanks

tripled

You need to register with the existing provider and give them meter readings when you move in even if you are planning to switch, as it takes a few weeks for the transfer to go through.

Most comparison sites have an option where they will take some details and estimate your consumption to help you compare. I would also recommend using energyhelpline instead of uswitch.

A good time to switch is around the time you move in to your new property. Beware of some suppliers charging you a premium for your gas if you aren't connected to the national grid (most developers use smaller independent pipelaine companies). You may have difficulty obtaining your supply numbers (which you need to switch ) with it being a new build, you can find them out by taking down your meter serial numbers and contacting your pipeline company for gas and your local MPAS service for electricity.

themoffster

thanks my friend.

saxmund

It's a new build flat - how does it have an "existing provider"?

Personally I find it absolutely bizarre than when moving house you cannot give a reasonable amount of notice to have your bills provided by a supplier of your choice from the day you move in. After all, the previous occupier will have had a final bill. Why should you be bound by a contract agreed by someone else?

oldwiring

But, if you are buying the property, you do not own it until completion, so why should the supplier enter in to a contract with you?

saxmund

oldwiring wrote: »

But, if you are buying the property, you do not own it until completion, so why should the supplier enter in to a contract with you?

They won't. But why, on completion, can't you contract with whatever supplier you want, from that date? You could, for example, carry over supply from your current property. You haven't had a contract with a previous supplier to cancel, so you should be starting from scratch. They will have a reading from the previous customer so will know when to stop/start charging. Why is there this presumption that you have to continue to be supplied power by someone you have no prior contractual relationship with?

saxmund

OK I realise in my old post "reasonable amount of notice" implies that you could arrange it in advance, which is maybe not practicable. But I don't see why, if you arrange it within x amount of time of moving in, it shouldn't be backdated to the date you moved in.

tripled

It's a new build flat - how does it have an "existing provider"?

The builder's will have nominated one, or if not it is usually set to the local distributor by default. Firstly, the builders will usually need to use electricity for testing, and secondly if there wan't a provider there would be nothing to stop the new people movong in an enjoying free power if they didn't notify anyone.

But I don't see why, if you arrange it within x amount of time of moving in, it shouldn't be backdated to the date you moved in.

Personally I would like to see properties disconnected when people move, and new people can choose whatever supplier they want to reconnect them, but that would probably prove unpopular.

olly300

saxmund wrote: »

It's a new build flat - how does it have an "existing provider"?

Personally I find it absolutely bizarre than when moving house you cannot give a reasonable amount of notice to have your bills provided by a supplier of your choice from the day you move in. After all, the previous occupier will have had a final bill. Why should you be bound by a contract agreed by someone else?

It's not bizarre.

On the day you move into a property you take a meter reading. On the day you move out of a property you take a meter reading. If the day is the same i.e. completion day when keys are handed over during the day then the previous owner would not have received their final bill.

The final bill will be sent 7-10 days later to the previous owners new address.

As National Grid Gas (formerly Transco) or Electricity have to keep track of which meter is registered with which gas/electricity company which they do by an ID number on the meter and address, not by the name of the person, it would be impossible due to how the system is set up for them to have the same meter registered with two companies.

With new builds the builders will use electricity to power their tools so they have to get their electricity supplied by someone, may need water and they also have to check that the gas/electrical/water fittings work.

As heating and sanitation is considered essential in this country the companies are not allowed to cut you off/disconnect you without lots of warnings first.

If you want to do as purposed i.e. people can chose what supplier they like when they move in but get no utilities until they do then this means that:
1. People whose completion is delayed would not have utilities at their property while they were waiting to move out or the new owner would be paying for their use of the utilities.
2. Vulnerable groups who move into accommodation at short notice would not have any heating, lighting or water.

Not nice any time of year especially if it's in winter.

saxmund

So why can't this work:

I move into property on 9 July.

Previous owner receives a bill from Amalgamated Utilities for heating up to 9 July

I tell United Gas & Power I want to deal with them and they write to AU and National Grid stating I took over from the 9th.

This shouldn't be a problem, surely?

tripled

Firstly, the utility company you have chosen has to give you a cooling off period. So they couldn't take over for several days anyway. Then, they need to notify the pipeline co you are changing supplier. The pipeline company needs to pass this notification to the old company, who are then given several days to object. This is to stop people running up bills and then trying to switch provider to avoid disconnection. A provisional switch over date is also provided to both companies at this stage. If the old company doesn't object, then the meter details are sent to your new provider, and you are asked to provide meter readings, which are passed to both suppliers and the National Grid.

Throughout all this happening, the old supplier would be pumping the gas into the national grid to cover your projected usage - then you would pay someone else for the gas they have supplied.

Could this be overcome? Probably. But the government is the one thast set up the market to operate in this way, so if you want it changing, there is no point complaining about the utility co's, write to your MP and OFGEM and get them to change the regulations.