Storage heaters -> GCH amid market chaos

wendel17

Hi everyone,

We moved into a house with electric storage heaters a few months ago and are planning to get them replaced with gas central heating to provide more efficient, cheaper and effective heating. 

The gas company are set to connect us to the network in a few weeks, and the next step is for us to ask "our preferred supplier" to install a meter and give them the meter point reference number we've been provided with. But I have a few questions if anyone could please help!

Firstly, with all the price rises and energy suppliers going bust at the moment, how best to pick a gas supplier to install the meter? I suppose it's probably safest to pick a Big 6 brand less likely to go bust? Would that mean we are tied into a supply contract with them for a year or more, or would we be able to switch as normal in a few months? 

We are currently electricity only with an economy 7 meter and our supplier is Green, who I expect to go bust in a matter of days or weeks. I realise we'll gradually be moved to another supplier if that happens. 

Is it possible to get a different energy supplier (e.g. a British Gas or Eon etc) to install our meter and supply our gas while keeping our electricity with Green (and whoever later takes them over). Or would we need to switch to a duel fuel contract as part of getting connected to gas? I suppose I'm nervous about switching at present because if Green go bust I imagine it would be a very slow process with lots of potential for miscommunication and confusion. 

The current gas price panic has even made me question whether we're right to convert our storage heaters to gas central heating at present, although I still think gas would do a better job at keeping our winters warm and that heat pumps would be more expensive in the short term and perhaps less effective at providing warmth too. 

Thanks in advance for any advice or clarity anyone can offer!

Robin9

Separate suppliers are generally the best option.  Gas is certainly the best for running costs

wendel17

Robin9 said:

Separate suppliers are generally the best option.  Gas is certainly the best for running costs

Thanks. Our electricity supplier Green has now gone bust, so we'll get one of the big six appointed to take us on soon. It probably makes sense (I suppose?) to wait and see which firm it is, and then ask them to install a gas meter for us when we get connected next month and put us on a duel fuel tariff.