Schould I disconnet the Elec&Gas supply while being abroad for long?

karl1973_2

Hi,

I intend to leave the country for up to one year possibly. I wonder if it is best to contact my current Electricity and Gas supplier to disconnet the supply, leaving my flat without any energy supply? Otherwise, I'll have to pay the monthly charges with  a need to submit meter readings which I'll obviously not be able to do while abroad.

Best Regards

Robin9

Physically cutting off your supplies and then reconnecting is an expensive exercise.
Find the cheapest standing charges you can and give your best guess readings on line otherwise the supplier will use figures based on last year.

Talldave

Sounds like an ideal use case for smart meters. Eon would cost you around £66 for the year dual fuel and they're hot on fitting smart meters (post Covid of course).

karl1973_2

Thank you, guys for your response. I thought about Eon and smart meters.; but I might be leaving before they can install them...the best option, I guess is what Robin is suggesting; cheapest standing charges...

unforeseen

Don't forget about water and CH systems.

Robin9

and to notify your insurers /  mortgage

brewerdave

I was away for ~ 6 months a few years ago. I shut off the gas/elec/water - because it was Summer I didn't drain down central heating. I did inform all utilities so that they didn't estimate usage but accepted standing charges. 
However, in this "modern"  world I'm not sure that the supplier's computer systems could cope with zero usage. I suspect that they would carry on inserting "standard" estimates which means that you would face a bit of a mess to sort when you returned.
Probably worth contacting your existing suppliers(s) to see if they have a department to deal with such issues. 

Emmia

Slightly OT but have you made sure that your home insurance (and mortgage provider if applicable) will allow you to be away and the property empty for so long? Will cutting the electricity mean that any alarm or security systems you have installed will also not work? If there is a problem, do you have someone who can go to your property (with keys) to resolve it?

MWT

Look at 'unoccupied and vacant' home insurance, you will need it.

karl1973_2

Thank you guys for your responses.

For home insurance, I renewed it a month ago. Re. the alarm, I am lucky to live in a secure place with lovely neighbours; besides, I don't have anything valuable in the property.

MWT

karl1973_2 said:

For home insurance, I renewed it a month ago.

Standard home insurance will not cover a vacant property for that length of time though, that is why people were mentioning it.

There is always a clause stating that the property must not be left unoccupied for more than xx days.. often as little as 30 days...