buying house - informing energy supplier

ejmi

Hi!
I'm in process of buying property. Completion day is 25th of january. I know energy supplier is sse southern energy, but I checked and the cheapest one for me will be avro so I filled in a form and from 10th of february they will start supllying gas and electricity to my property.
But should I inform sse that I'm moving in on 25th of january? I was trying to but in only form I found, meter readings are neccessery but obviously I will have it on day of completion. Also I don't want start a new contract but just have deemed contract between 25th january until 10th of february. So should I do anything else or avro will sort this out for me so I will need just to take a meter readings on day of completion.

Also I'm renting a room right now so don't need to pay any bills so don't need to inform any provider from this side.

Thanks!

csgohan4

The house is not yours until completion, so a bit pre emptive to switch suppliers.


Generally take meter readings on day of completion, including water, electric, gas and inform all three companies of the readings and switch then.

ejmi

This is the way I thought but even in a letter from solicitor he advised me: "between exchange and completion inform energy and media provider that you will be the owner of the property from 25th of january". Also it takes some providers 21-28 days to switch so don't want to pay more to other providers if I can have cheaper tariff.

Pixie5740

Do you have the reference numbers for the gas and electricity meters? I'm sure I've always been asked for those when changing utility supplier.

TadleyBaggie

ejmi wrote: »

This is the way I thought but even in a letter from solicitor he advised me: "between exchange and completion inform energy and media provider that you will be the owner of the property from 25th of january".

Which is fine, it's starting a switch process before you complete which might cause issues. What if completion is delayed for some reason, the current owners might not appreciate it.

pinkteapot

You will own the property from 25th January so will need to pay for utilities used between then and the switch date, so you'll need to inform SSE that it's your property from that date. I've never bothered calling in advance of completion - I just phone on the day or the day after to set up an account with that supplier and give them the opening meter readings (whether you get round to calling or not, make sure you take meter readings on day 1 so the opening account readings are correct).

When you phone SSE say you just want a standard tariff - not a fixed price one with a tie-in period. Explain that you plan on switching. Check with them but every utility company I've known has no tie-in contract period or anything on their standard tariff.

Have you exchanged contracts yet?

ejmi

Yes I exchanged contracts. Thank you for your answears. I will inform all companies at 25th of january which I was thinking about at first just letter from solicitor confused me a little so I just want to make sure that I will not miss anything.
Thank you for your help!

sparky130a

ejmi wrote: »

Yes I exchanged contracts. Thank you for your answears. I will inform all companies at 25th of january which I was thinking about at first just letter from solicitor confused me a little so I just want to make sure that I will not miss anything.
Thank you for your help!

More importantly are you now insured?

ejmi

Yes. Insurance is sorted.

ThePants999

pinkteapot wrote: »

You will own the property from 25th January so will need to pay for utilities used between then and the switch date, so you'll need to inform SSE that it's your property from that date. I've never bothered calling in advance of completion - I just phone on the day or the day after to set up an account with that supplier and give them the opening meter readings (whether you get round to calling or not, make sure you take meter readings on day 1 so the opening account readings are correct).

When you phone SSE say you just want a standard tariff - not a fixed price one with a tie-in period. Explain that you plan on switching. Check with them but every utility company I've known has no tie-in contract period or anything on their standard tariff.

+1 - all this is correct and what the energy companies expect. They need the initial meter reading, so there's no point calling beforehand.

AnotherJoe

pinkteapot wrote: »

You will own the property from 25th January so will need to pay for utilities used between then and the switch date, so you'll need to inform SSE that it's your property from that date. I've never bothered calling in advance of completion - I just phone on the day or the day after to set up an account with that supplier and give them the opening meter readings (whether you get round to calling or not, make sure you take meter readings on day 1 so the opening account readings are correct).

When you phone SSE say you just want a standard tariff - not a fixed price one with a tie-in period. Explain that you plan on switching. Check with them but every utility company I've known has no tie-in contract period or anything on their standard tariff.

Have you exchanged contracts yet?

and take photos as well in case of disputes.