Energy companies and house moves

WatlingA5

This may be the wrong forum - if it ought to be in House buying, etc, would admin please move it. Thanks.

We are about to move to another home for the first time in many years. Previously we just told the old company (gas and elec) we were moving out and then just give the existing suppliers meter readings from the new house.

Seems to be a lot more complicated now. We're with Eon on the Age UK tariff which is fixed until January 2016; the people at the house we're moving to are with a firm called Ovo, which I'd never heard of until then, but have since found mentions on here.

If we simply tell Eon and British Gas our new address and moving date (as soon as we've exchanged contracts) will our contracts just be switched automatically? I'm assuming Ovo will be given a final reading by the former occupants and we don't have to contact them - just give our opening reading to Eon.

If there is a sticky thread about this, I've been unable to track it down, so a link would be appreciated

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

When you take over a property you enter a deemed contract with the incumbent supplier. You can switch away immediately - but it'll take a minimum of 3 weeks.

You say you're with e.on but also mention British Gas? AgeUK is, in my opinion, a con. E.on have far better tariffs available let alone the rest of the market.

Also, if you do have elec with e.on and gas with BG, this too isn't great - BG are far more reasonable for electricity than gas, and most suppliers offer a dual fuel discount.

Finally, if you do a price comparison (as everyone on here is generally recommended to do), you'll never see the Big 6 companies appear as cheapest. The smaller suppliers don't have to pay the full "green taxes" that the Big 6 do - it'll almost certainly be worth giving OVO a go!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi WatlingA5

Hope the move goes well and isn't too stressful.

As the new property isn't supplied by us, it won't be possible to take your current E.ON tariff with you.

With your existing property, if you let us know about the move, we can make sure your account is closed down properly.

We've a Home Moves team who deal exclusively with this type of thing.

Have a chat with them and let them know the date you give up responsibility, a forwarding address and meter readings for that day. They'll make sure the account closes and an accurate final bill is sent to your new home.

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can do this online through our website.

There aren't any cancellation fees on the AgeUK tariff to worry about either.

Having done it myself, I totally understand the pressures of moving house. So don't worry if you don't have time to talk to us on the day. We'll back date the change to the actual day responsibility changes.

I would, though, make a note of the meter readings on the day. This will help keep things accurate.

Hope this helps WatlingA5 and good luck with the move.

Malc

WatlingA5

Thank you both for your responses, which provide clear information and food for thought.

I'd like to put on record, however, that we've never had cause to complain about E.on during our time here

It's looking like we'll be exchanging in the next couple of weeks with completion mid-August to fit in with everyone's needs.

cally6008

Double check any meter readings that you are given by new house owners and take photo of the meter and reading yourself

(I'm in middle of trying to sort out 2 digits getting put the wrong way round, not with eon or ovo, and its a little bit of a pain)

Biscuit_Tin

WatlingA5 wrote: »

This may be the wrong forum - if it ought to be in House buying, etc, would admin please move it. Thanks.

We are about to move to another home for the first time in many years. Previously we just told the old company (gas and elec) we were moving out and then just give the existing suppliers meter readings from the new house.

Seems to be a lot more complicated now. We're with Eon on the Age UK tariff which is fixed until January 2016; the people at the house we're moving to are with a firm called Ovo, which I'd never heard of until then, but have since found mentions on here.

If we simply tell Eon and British Gas our new address and moving date (as soon as we've exchanged contracts) will our contracts just be switched automatically? I'm assuming Ovo will be given a final reading by the former occupants and we don't have to contact them - just give our opening reading to Eon.

If there is a sticky thread about this, I've been unable to track it down, so a link would be appreciated

Oh it's far more complicated nowadays

You have to tell the old company (gas and elec) you are moving out (they'll want a meter reading) and then just give the existing supplier(s) at the new address meter readings from there, your name, etc

WatlingA5

Biscuit_Tin wrote: »

Oh it's far more complicated nowadays

You have to tell the old company (gas and elec) you are moving out (they'll want a meter reading) and then just give the existing supplier(s) at the new address meter readings from there, your name, etc

All right, wise guy

My point was that I wasn't sure whether the new house could be put on my present supplier and contract with just a phone call after exchange of contracts and a reading at moving in.

Thanks to this thread, I now do know the way

Photos of the meter readings at both houses is a great idea, because they will be date and time-stamped.

OVO_Energy

Hello WatlingA5, Welcome to Ovo! Once we know thedate that you moved in and the closest set of readings you have, we’ll get anaccount set up in your name. If you’d like to check out the deals we can offeryou, an advisor will be more than happy to run through these for you. If youwould like to change suppliers, just let us know and we’ll keep you on avariable tariff so there won’t be any fees for switching. Hope this helps J.Thanks, OVO

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

WatlingA5 wrote: »

Thank you both for your responses, which provide clear information and food for thought.

I'd like to put on record, however, that we've never had cause to complain about E.on during our time here

It's looking like we'll be exchanging in the next couple of weeks with completion mid-August to fit in with everyone's needs.

That's good to know WatlingA5. Glad the post was useful.

Malc