Moving Home - what can I do??

homemover2014

I am moving home next friday and I am looking for some advice to make sure we are getting the best deals! We are currently in a 2 bed flat and only have electric. Our new house has gas and electric. We are with EDF for our electric and southern water for our water!

Having never moved home before I am not sure where we stand with utilities in the new house? I want to make sure we are on the best deals for everything but cant use comparison sites as I have nothing to compare??

Also what do we need to do about telling the utilities companies we are moving.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me :-)

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.


Firstly write(email) to your present companies with your electricity and water meter(if metered) readings and date you left.


In the new house note the meter readings for gas/electricity/water and notify companies you are the new occupier. You have no option but to initially have the existing company for gas/electricity as you are on a deemed contract and it will be their most expensive standard tariff.


You can then start instigate switching to the gas/electricity company of your choice. The process takes about 6 weeks. However if you elect to take a cheaper tariff with the existing supplier for your house, you will benefit from the new rates immediately.

homemover2014

Thank you for your reply :-)

So we have to stay with who they are with for 6 weeks - I didnt know that! What about the phone line? We are with sky for phone, broadband, TV. What happens if they are with virgin for example?

How do we know which are the best rates?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

homemover2014 wrote: »

Thank you for your reply :-)

So we have to stay with who they are with for 6 weeks - I didnt know that! What about the phone line? We are with sky for phone, broadband, TV. What happens if they are with virgin for example?

How do we know which are the best rates?

I echo Cardew's comments, do take note of the meter readings when you move in and inform the incumbent supplier as soon as is practical. If you don't know who this is: http://www.ukpower.co.uk/who-supplies-my-gas-and-electricity

To find the best deal, go to a price comparison site. The problem is you need a years worth of consumption data, which you won't have. The UK national average is 13,500 KWh gas, and 3,200 KWh electricity - assuming GCH. Adjust this figure up/down depending on property size, how warm you like it etc.

Ebe_Scrooge

homemover2014 wrote: »

What about the phone line? We are with sky for phone, broadband, TV. What happens if they are with virgin for example?

For phone / broadband, it's easiest to contact your current supplier a few weeks ahead, tell them you will be moving on such-and-such a date, and they can usually just "transfer" your existing package to the new address. It's a good idea just to check with the existing owners of your "new" house that they will be doing the same. Even if the existing owners are "leaving" their phone line, so to speak, your existing supplier should be able to just "take it over". Unless there's any issue, for instance if you're currently on fibre-optic but the new house doesn't have fibre. But call your suppliers, they'll be able to check everything for you and get it sorted.

Cardew

homemover2014 wrote: »

Thank you for your reply :-)

So we have to stay with who they are with for 6 weeks - I didnt know that!
How do we know which are the best rates?

You can instigate procedures to switch to a new gas/electricity supplier immediately - but it takes roughly 6 weeks for the switch to finalize.


As said in post#4 you will have to estimate your gas and electricity consumption, but as suggested entering 13,500kWh gas and 3,300kWh electricity is the best compromise.