New build utility bills

energy1x

Quick question about new build utility bills...

Just moved into new build flat. Took water and electricity metre readings on completion (with photo). Developer believes the electricity provider is Scottish Power but on trying to register an account with them online they say they do not provide the supply.

I will go back to the developer tomorrow morning via sales office and ask what is going on and also who provides the gas and where the metre reading can be found.

My main question is, how early can I switch to a cheaper tariff? I have signed up for cheap energy club and there are savings to be had so I want these immediately! Obviously I will need to ascertain who my current supplier is beforehand, but as soon as I discover this can I switch instantly?

martindow

Here is a link to find out your electricity provider

http://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html

Pixie5740

energy1x wrote: »

Quick question about new build utility bills...

Just moved into new build flat. Took water and electricity metre readings on completion (with photo). Developer believes the electricity provider is Scottish Power but on trying to register an account with them online they say they do not provide the supply.

I will go back to the developer tomorrow morning via sales office and ask what is going on and also who provides the gas and where the metre reading can be found.

My main question is, how early can I switch to a cheaper tariff? I have signed up for cheap energy club and there are savings to be had so I want these immediately! Obviously I will need to ascertain who my current supplier is beforehand, but as soon as I discover this can I switch instantly?

Switching energy suppliers does not happen instantaneously. Ideally the switch should take no longer than 17 days due to Ofgem challenging energy suppliers to cut their switching times. However, some smaller, independent supplier may take longer than this.

Mutton_Geoff

When you change supplier, they will take a couple of weeks then ask for "current" meter readings for the switch. Just give them the readings you had when you moved in, then you won't be liable for any consumption from the current supplier so their closing bill to you will be zero.


I have done this a couple of times and it works. The only hiccup will be if they send a meter reader round in the meantime but they are few and far between these days.

ProDave

You don't need to involve the existing supplier. Sign up with your new supplier and they will contact the old supplier who should then send you a closing bill.

t0rt0ise

It's safer to sign up with the current supplier in order to give new readings otherwise you could end up arguing about the readings on entry which you may or may not win.

Smodlet

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

When you change supplier, they will take a couple of weeks then ask for "current" meter readings for the switch. Just give them the readings you had when you moved in, then you won't be liable for any consumption from the current supplier so their closing bill to you will be zero.


I have done this a couple of times and it works. The only hiccup will be if they send a meter reader round in the meantime but they are few and far between these days.

While I love this idea in theory, I think it is energy theft or fraud in practice, unless no energy has been used at all.

energy1x

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I have made some progress today by discovering the supplier of the gas and I now have the MPRN number and whatever use that may be in future. Still have not located the gas meter.

I will get onto the developer tomorrow to find out who does the electricity and confirm the gas supplier again to double check. Then I will take all the meter readings and try to switch and also set up an online account with whoever the current providers are to at least give them the meter readings from when I moved in.

Is this the correct course of action? I do not want to leave it too long and end up paying for the developers use of electricity etc! I haven't touched the gas yet luckily!

Pixie5740

energy1x wrote: »

I have made some progress today by discovering the supplier of the gas and I now have the MPRN number and whatever use that may be in future. Still have not located the gas meter.

I will get onto the developer tomorrow to find out who does the electricity and confirm the gas supplier again to double check. Then I will take all the meter readings and try to switch and also set up an online account with whoever the current providers are to at least give them the meter readings from when I moved in.

Alternatively you could use the link Martin provided earlier.....

martindow wrote: »

Here is a link to find out your electricity provider

http://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html

energy1x wrote: »

Is this the correct course of action? I do not want to leave it too long and end up paying for the developers use of electricity etc! I haven't touched the gas yet luckily!

Why would you end up paying for the developer's gas and electricity? You took meter readings the day you moved in that is sufficient.

Are you sure you haven't used any gas? Is the water heated using electricity? Even if your gas consumption is genuinely zero it's likely there will be standing charges to pay.

energy1x

That link doesn't recognise my postcode and even putting in my previous address postcode it does not specify the supplier. It states all homes in my entire borough are supplied by the same firm. That can't be true, everyone switches all the time

t0rt0ise

The link given was, as you found out, the wrong one. Try this page which explains who to contact.


https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/who-supplies-my-electricity-and-gas/