New build property, first time buyer - advice

bnek

Morning everyone,

We moved into our new build on 31st May.

The current supplier for our E and G appear to be British Gas. I haven't contacted them about it yet.

Obviously we may find a better deal that British Gas.

Any advice for us? e.g. tariffs, cashback and the fact we'll be opening brand new accounts in a brand new property?

Thanks,

Ben

Robin9

Once the property becomes yours - read the meters, take a photo, ring BG. You are then free to switch - you will need to guess consumption - assume 10,000 kwh for gas, 3000 kwh for electric. Use a comparison site and initiate the switch - the new supplier does everything and will give you a start date and ask for meter readings.

The Smart BG meter will no longer be Smart and you will need to read meters at least monthly - read and understand your bills.

bnek

Thanks Robin, i'll give BG a phone later.

[Deleted User]

Yes, take Robins advice and go for an average and see how it goes. Now in the summer months the gas usage will be a fraction of the yearly usage.
Personally I like the gas rates of EDF s smart meter tariff. In my area its 2.8p/kwh which is pretty cheap, if not the lowest in the UK.Low standing charges of 16p a day too..
An alternative is to grab a customer referral fee of £50 and switch to Bulb with its standard/variable no exit fees for a few months leaving the option of doing a yearly switch on a fixed rate before the usual pre winter rises which can start as early as September keeping an eye out for a best deal. Gas prices appear to be lowering but electric rising.

Talldave

When you've found a suitable tariff using comparison sites, just check on quidco whether you can get cashback by switching there (e.g £100 for SSE). Amounts like that might make deals that are not the cheapest better overall after cashback.

Don't assume dual fuel deals are better, you can often get lower overall costs by using different suppliers.

C_Mababejive

Is the development an IGT site? Ask your housebuilder who the gas transporter is for the site.

Biscuit_Tin

bnek wrote: »

Morning everyone,

We moved into our new build on 31st May.

The current supplier for our E and G appear to be British Gas. I haven't contacted them about it yet.

Obviously we may find a better deal that British Gas.

Any advice for us? e.g. tariffs, cashback and the fact we'll be opening brand new accounts in a brand new property?

Thanks,

Ben

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity/

But you'll need to register with BG first before you can switch

Smodlet

Talldave wrote: »

When you've found a suitable tariff using comparison sites, just check on quidco whether you can get cashback by switching there (e.g £100 for SSE). Amounts like that might make deals that are not the cheapest better overall after cashback.

Don't assume dual fuel deals are better, you can often get lower overall costs by using different suppliers.

Thanks for that, Talldave. I am seriously considering SSE right now but the tariff that pays £100 (for new customers purchasing dual fuel SSE 1 Year Fixed v16) is pants compared to the tariff I want so one really does need to weigh up all considerations before jumping, I think. Still, £100 compared to the CEC's measly £25... :think: More sums required!

Have you found Quidco reliable? I am still a cashback site virgin; though I signed up to Topcashback a few years ago, I have never used it as the offers they have for the things I want never seem worth the hassle/risk of not being paid (we are talking pennies/a couple of quid)

Talldave

Smodlet wrote: »

Thanks for that, Talldave. I am seriously considering SSE right now but the tariff that pays £100 (for new customers purchasing dual fuel SSE 1 Year Fixed v16) is pants compared to the tariff I want so one really does need to weigh up all considerations before jumping, I think. Still, £100 compared to the CEC's measly £25... :think: More sums required!

Have you found Quidco reliable? I am still a cashback site virgin; though I signed up to Topcashback a few years ago, I have never used it as the offers they have for the things I want never seem worth the hassle/risk of not being paid (we are talking pennies/a couple of quid)

Yes, Quidco's been fine for me, over £2k in cash back and I think I've only ever had to chase one transaction.

pattypan4

I moved into a new build 6 weeks ago, the developer had registered the build with BG. I took readings and rang BG to register, they put me on an emergency tariff as a stop gap. I paid one bill, have a vague idea about my usage, switched to octopus via online and am now with octopus on a 24 month fix with no exit fees. I just waited until I had a bill for gas and one for electricity with my name and customer number. Now dual fuel with octopus. Extremely easy

Smodlet

What is an emergency tariff? Do you mean the standard, variable one you would have been stuck with by the existing supplier had you not switched?