Moving into Flat - How do I set up electric/water

FIRSTTIMER

Hi,


I am moving into a flat that has been unoccupied for say 2 weeks. Do I just ring and start new energy supplies with whoever I think is the cheapest - or do I have to find out who previous suppliers were etc etc.

Swipe

You will be given details of who the current suppliers are. For electric and gas you will have a deemed contract on the standard tariff with the current suppliers. You'll need to submit your opening readings and then you will be free to switch. You'll also need to contact the water supplier with your details and also submit opening readings if you have a meter.

matelodave

Make sure you read the meters yourself - do not rely on someone else doing it. Take a photo and save it if you can.

Once you've got that then you need to contact the existing supplier as you'll be on a deemed contract with them from the start. Make sure you set up your own account using the readings that you give them to avoid paying for the previous owners/tenant leccy/gas or water.

Make sure you get put on a tariff with no exit fees and investigate which is the cheapest easiest for you. It may be with the exiting supplier but probably wont, so a bit of homework before you move in with one or more comparison sites will give you an idea of what's around.

You can make a guess at what your consumption might be, try 3200kwh for leccy and around 12500 for gas which will get you some quotes. Use any supplier you like as the comparison (BG is as good as any) as you aren't looking for what you'll save but what you'l actually have to pay - there's a big difference.

When you got it all sorted then read your meters regularly, at least once a month. Send the reading through to the supplier and make sure that you check every bill or statement carefully. If they use estimates, get them corrected immediately. Most of the woes on these forums are from people who don't bother to check their bills, meters or bank account so they don't know whats going on until its gone wrong and they've got a ginormous bill to contend with

dogshome

If you don't have any paperwork or advice from the Letting Agent as to who your Elec/ Gas supplier/s are:
Google "Who supplies my Elec & Gas" - This will give you the Phone Nos of the National Data Base Register for gas meters, and the Regional Data Base for Elec meters in your area - A quick phone call to these will tell you who your supplier/s are

As already posted, tell these suppliers the date you moved in and give them the meter readings
Be aware that as a 'New' customer these suppliers will automatically put you on their 'Standard Variable' tariff which is the most expensive, so it's important that you either sign up to a cheaper tariff from that supplier or change supplier

So far as what your annual useage is likely to be, ask the present supplier very politely what the figures were for the previous occupiers,( they do not have to tell you this), but if you play the card that you are very worried about building up debt, they should come across as it's in their own interests to do so