New house, new supplier, prices ridiculous

XEO25

Moved into new house last week and assumed my energy from last house (Scottish Power) would just transfer over. However on ringing them they said they would need to set me up as a new customer due to the move. My fixed deal with them had expired a couple of months back. The new deal they offered was around 250 per month dual fuel, which seems about 50 quid more per month vs the last variable rate, and KWH was higher too.

I thought as I'm a new customer I'd shop around but have since learned its not a good time to switch.

The current provider for the new house is SSE and they've offered me a deal at around 250 per month too, which is double what I was paying (kwh) on my fixed with SP.

Is this just the market at the moment and do I have to accept the price hikes? Is there any recommendation for those moving home and having to switch at this time?

Thanks

[Deleted User]

Do nothing and you will be on the Ofgem Cap. Expect prices to rise substantially in April when the Cap is reviewed. Energy pundits are now predicting that as a result of the extraordinarily high gas prices and supplier failure costs that the Cap could increase from £1277 today to £2000 in April. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

bagand96

Stick with the current supplier.  Do not take up a new fixed deal with them.  You already have what is called a "deemed" contract with them as they are the existing supplier.  They have to put you on a Standard Variable tariff which will be at the Ofgem price cap.

They will try and sell you a fix but you are not obliged to enter into one.  Have you tried doing it online via their moving portal? Help with moving gas and electric to a new home – SSE

XEO25

bagand96 said:

Stick with the current supplier.  Do not take up a new fixed deal with them.  You already have what is called a "deemed" contract with them as they are the existing supplier.  They have to put you on a Standard Variable tariff which will be at the Ofgem price cap.

They will try and sell you a fix but you are not obliged to enter into one.  Have you tried doing it online via their moving portal? Help with moving gas and electric to a new home – SSE

Thank you. I suspected this might be the case but good to have it confirmed. 

I tried to set up with SSE online as the new homeowner, but I can only see an option to take a single fixed price deal. Is it worth calling them and telling them I want to remain on the SVR and not sign up to a new deal?

It's terrible that they would try to lock me into something more expensive 

booshya

XEO25 said:

Moved into new house last week and assumed my energy from last house (Scottish Power) would just transfer over. However on ringing them they said they would need to set me up as a new customer due to the move. My fixed deal with them had expired a couple of months back. The new deal they offered was around 250 per month dual fuel, which seems about 50 quid more per month vs the last variable rate, and KWH was higher too.

...

You can't take your energy tariff with you in most cases, especially when your tariff has ended anyway.

So you should be able to get energy at your new home at about the same price as you were paying at the old home, after allowing for any regional variations. - it's capped by Ofgem!

But if you want to change to SP at your new address, then you will pay more. But again, it should be about the same price  as a fixed term tariff at SP would have cost at the old address (small regional variations may apply)

Gerry1

If you haven't already done so, send SSE the meter readings from the date that you gained possession together with your name, address and banking details and leave it at that, don't agree to anything other than the SVT.

If it's a hassle then simply posting a letter via snail mail (preferably getting a free Certificate of Posting) will do the trick.

Of course, if the new price cap is astronomical then today's crazy fixed tariffs may look almost attractive with hindsight, but it'll be then moving into summer and consumption will be much lower whereas agreeing a fixed tariff now will definitely result in massive bills during the worst of the winter.

SpendingMoney

I’ve had a similar situation with Scottish Power: bought a flat in September which had electric heating, then installed a gas boiler in November so wanted to change to fuel fuel.

The direct debit tariff offered was £390 a month - for a 3-bed modern flat where I’m out at work almost full time. Needless to say I declined that.

So I’ve been phoning in meter readings monthly & paying on a debit card, with average usage at £85 a month.

I wonder what will happen in the next 6 months or so…..