Utility bill for empty house

Biggles

The energy company doesn't know whether you have any pilot lights running on your gas appliances, or any security lights or suchlike, in your absence.

They will, eventually, use the final reading as, presumably, agreed by the new occupant at the date of completion. And, of course, will want the daily standing charge, as explained above.

modsandmockers

Biggles wrote: »

The energy company doesn't know whether you have any pilot lights running on your gas appliances, or any security lights or suchlike, in your absence

It would be easy for them to find out though - send a meter reader round!

modsandmockers

ashleygorecki282 wrote: »

Yes, You have to pay outstandings of your house. its necessary of you are or are not living in that house. If that house is your, You have to pay all the bills

Would that include an 'assumed similar usage'?

[Deleted User]

A few weeks ago I was surprised to read, in an answer to a similar question, the Eon rep, Malc or Helena to affirm that if the house was empty and with absolutely zero use of gas and electric, then no daily standing charge would be billed. I was always under the impression that the owner, occupier or whoever was responsible for the property picked up the charges.
Maybe this is just an Eon rule, but all of us need clarification if this is the case for all suppliers if we are going to advise. Zero use was mentioned so even a kwhr would be enough to qualify for charges. Its very common for properties to be left idle for years on end so consumers need to know if they are being charged wrongly.

Nada666

modsandmockers wrote: »

It would be easy for them to find out though - send a meter reader round!

How on earth would that help?

edwink

This is my own experience.


I had my gas switched off my choice (Eon customer). But, I still had to pay the standing charge for the meter even though the gas was physically switched off at the meter. When I questioned this with Eon I was told that the standing charge still has to be paid if I use gas or not because they were still responsible for the meter and future meter readings. I was not having that I certainly did not want to pay the standing charge so I had the meter removed. No more standing charge to pay. Job done!!

I know it is a different story but I wanted to explain that if you own/rent the house etc. then regardless of electric being used or not the standing charge has to be paid.

And in your case the standing charge is yours to pay and not the new owners. You will be charged up until tomorrow when you complete on the property. Please take advise from others and take a photo of the meter and the current reading tomorrow.

boliston

presumably there would be the option of disconnecting gas or electric supply BUT that would require an engineer to attend with presumably a fee to pay - also if the property were advertised and sold with these utilities listed then the new owners would not be happy to find the property did not have these services and would probably look to being compensated for the cost of reinstatement.

ChumpusRex

edwink wrote: »

. I was not having that I certainly did not want to pay the standing charge so I had the meter removed. No more standing charge to pay. Job done!!

That will avoid the standing charge, but be warned that once the meter has been removed, any underground pipes must also be removed or disconnected. There is a grace period of a few weeks to a few months, to allow for temporary disconnections, but if the meter isn't replaced relatively quickly, the law requires the pipes to go.

If the pipes have been removed or blocked up, then it could cost thousands to have new pipes installed, if you ever want gas again.

Skools_Out

elfrider wrote: »

I vacated my property in July, and moved into a rented property, but continued to own the property, until tomorrow when the sale completes. I informed the utility company the day I moved out and paid the final bill. I assumed that my continued ownership was irrelevant due to the fact that I was no longer using any energy at the property. Their moving out process also made no mention of whether or not I owned the property.

I have just been to the old property to remove any mail and picked up several bills addressed to the 'occupier' which I obviously don't want to leave for the new owner to sort out. The company has assumed similar usage and billed appropriately. My question is am I liable for the standing charge (no usage) between July and now as the homeowner? Can the company legally charge a standing charge whether the property is lived in or not? Thanks.

Who do you think should pay the bills for your property if not you? :huh:

[Deleted User]

Eon rep Malc posted this comment to "Pixiecat " on 17-07-2015
"when a property is empty and is nt using energy customers may NOT have to pay a daily standing charge "
"To have the standing charge to be waived customers need to be on a standard plan from the time they took over responsibilty.At the moment this would be Energy Plan and Energy Plan with Prepayment.They would also need to use no energy.In these cases standing charges will usually be removed ."
If Eon have a system in place to avoid standing charges in empty houses I would expect the others also would have something similar. Malc was correcting a call centre advisor that it was ok just to have a cup of tea and no standing charges are paid.It has to be zero use