New Connection

amyanne

Hi. What notice do you need to give a new energy supplier that you'd like to set up an account with them. I was told I had to tell them as close to my move in date as possible, now I've just read it could take several weeks to set up the account. The current supplier is British Gas, but this was my tenant's account and they're taking their plan with them when they move out. I'm moving in in a few days time and was going to ring them tomorrow. Am I going to be without gas/electricity! Thanks for any advice.

Cardew

The old tenants cannot take their BG account with them; they set up a new account at their new address.


When you move in you are on a legally binding 'deemed tariff' with the existing supplier(BG in this case)


You need to immediately contact BG with your meter readings and your details.


You can then set in motion a switch to another supplier. All your contact about the switch will be with your new(gaining) supplier. They will ask for your meter readings after a couple of weeks and tell you when the supply has switched.


You will have to pay BG a final bill for your consumption from moving in to the date of switch. You will be on BG's most expensive tariff.

AndyPK

You will have gas and Elec. Will be with BG. standard. Tarriff

bri160356

OP,

you certainly won’t be without gas and electricity but as stated in Cardew’s very precise and informative post #2 British Gas will be charging you at their very expensive ‘Standard’ tariff rates;

...a switch to a new supplier can take up to 5 weeks in some cases so it’s prudent to choose a new supplier/tariff sooner rather than later.

I don’t know how familiar you are with the process of choosing a new Energy supplier/tariff but it can be something of a minefield for the unwary.

It’s certainly worth spending a bit of time familiarizing yourself with the various tariff Ts&Cs that the Energy suppliers offer.

Have a look at several price comparison sites (Cheap Energy Club, Uswitch, Citizens Advice et al) and ensure you look at quotes from the ‘whole of market’.

Don’t just rely on one price comparison site when obtaining quotes as (rather confusingly!) a ‘whole of market’ comparison can sometimes be markedly different depending on which comparison site you use.

But don’t hang around,...prices are on the up at the moment,...rapidly! :eek:

Skools_Out

amyanne wrote: »

Hi. What notice do you need to give a new energy supplier that you'd like to set up an account with them. I was told I had to tell them as close to my move in date as possible, now I've just read it could take several weeks to set up the account. The current supplier is British Gas, but this was my tenant's account and they're taking their plan with them when they move out. I'm moving in in a few days time and was going to ring them tomorrow. Am I going to be without gas/electricity! Thanks for any advice.

You don't need to give any notice. You simply call the supplier and they will set up a new account in your name there and then, making you responsible for all costs accrued from thereon in.
Not sure where you read it could take weeks ... :huh:

So best not to contact the supplier until you become liable for the consumption

ETA: as expalined in post#7 of your thread from 2 weeks ago
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5880971/new-connection

I see you also made a thread on the same topic a week ago
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5884490/new-connection

Looks like it's going to be a long wet bank holiday weekend... :cool:

AndyPK

Yes you do want to get on a switch after you have moved in.
So you are on cheap rates for October when the cold days can start

It's difficult knowing how much you will use in a new house.
However its much better to guess (and go on a 1 year fixed tariff) than stay on the standard tariff.
The following year you will know your usage and be able to save a few more quid.

giraffe69

Not sure where you read it could take weeks

You move in. You are on a deemed contract with, in this case, BG. If you choose to move to a fixed contract with BG this would be done quickly (and it would be cheaper than the standard rate but not necessarily the best you could do) but any change to a different supplier is likely to take a while during which time you will be paying BG at their standard rate.