Utilities guide for first-time buyers

user18

How do I go about finding the best electricity & gas deals for my new property when I do not have the details about how much energy I have been using etc (usually required when getting a quote online)? I am a first-time buyer (we are about to exchange contracts) so any advice would be much appreciated.

Robin9

You guess the figures - what is the property ? A flat, 2 bed, 3 bed, modern , - what is the heating ? all electric, gas ?

When you move in read the meter and take a photo. Ring the present supplier and ask to go on their lowest tariff. Then visit a comparison web site and enter your figures and select a supplier - contact them and they do everything?

Then read your meters at least every month, keep your own records. When you get the bills read and understand them. What out for the end of your tariff fix.

d0nkeyk0ng

When we bought our first house, the gas/electricity were with British Gas so I stayed with them on a fixed-price plan for the first year. In that time, I made regular records of meter readings (though to be honest you really only need the difference between moving in and a year on from there to estimate usage).

JJ_Egan

Most of the sites have a simple estimator .
Use that and bear in mind the projected usage and Direct Debit is not an actual figure but an estimate . You pay for what you use not what is estimated .

user18

Thanks all