New Home Owner

bechug

Hi, 

We're about to purchase our first property and are looking at energy providers but it's such a mind field with the energy crisis. Octopus won't touch us as we are a new customer so just after advice from anyone who's been in the same situation the last few weeks and not had to spend an absolute fortune?

Thanks! 

MWT

There will already be an existing supplier for your new property so you must sign up with them first, and only then consider if moving elsewhere is going to be any cheaper.

Do not get talked into a fixed tariff just tell them you wish to remain on the capped standard variable tariff.

This may require calling them rather than trying to do it online.

Farway

You will be on a deemed contract the moment you move in, that is whoever supplies the property now will be your supplier by default. You do not have an option at this moment

 Also by default you will be on their Standard Variable Tariff [SVT] which is the capped one you may keep hearing about and is covered extensively on here. This is good but along with everyone else the cost will increase soon.

 Make sure you take photos of your meters the minute you move in, could save a lot of arguments later

 Find out who your supplier is and let them know your bank details for DD, do not sign up or agree a fixed deal at this time, the capped SVT one is the cheapest right now

You are unlikely to be able to do this on line, it will need a phone call or a letter, and possibly reminding the call centre of the obligation to put you on SVT, they seem to be under pressure to get you onto a fixed tariff as the SVT is costing them money

maisie_cat

I would recommend reading your meters daily to get a feel for the consumption in the property.
If you work out your daily consumption & cost you will have more control.
If the power company set the DD too low consider increasing it so that you are not left with a large debit balance.

Coffeekup

maisie_cat said:

I would recommend reading your meters daily to get a feel for the consumption in the property.
If you work out your daily consumption & cost you will have more control.
If the power company set the DD too low consider increasing it so that you are not left with a large debit balance.

This is most important if you want to get a grasp of what you will be paying. I spent 18 years of burning through gas and electricity before I realized I wasted my usage and wasted £1,000's in the process, along with all the emissions that come with it.

Once your more familiar with what you use, do a reading once a month to see your using what you thought you should be and keep the reads for comparison for year on year.

If my projected costs will be say £77 a month, I'll set the DD up at £80 a month so I can have a little bit of flex with the heating when it's cold, or at the end of the tarriff have some money back.... Which has been the case over last few years with £77/£129/£96/£55 being credited back to me at the end of the fix's.

Souffle11

Farway said:

You will be on a deemed contract the moment you move in, that is whoever supplies the property now will be your supplier by default. You do not have an option at this moment

 Also by default you will be on their Standard Variable Tariff [SVT] which is the capped one you may keep hearing about and is covered extensively on here. This is good but along with everyone else the cost will increase soon.

 Make sure you take photos of your meters the minute you move in, could save a lot of arguments later

 Find out who your supplier is and let them know your bank details for DD, do not sign up or agree a fixed deal at this time, the capped SVT one is the cheapest right now

You are unlikely to be able to do this on line, it will need a phone call or a letter, and possibly reminding the call centre of the obligation to put you on SVT, they seem to be under pressure to get you onto a fixed tariff as the SVT is costing them money

Hi, I just thought I’d say thank you. I looked at this thread earlier as I’ve just bought my first home and although I’ve paid energy bills in the past, for the past 9 months I was staying with family, so have been classed as a new customer with no history. I kept arguing that I have a right to stay on the standard variable and they kept saying they weren’t offering that to new customers. I kept on and on and in the end they realised I was right. All thanks to you and your advice on here. Instead of paying £189 a month fixed for 2 years I’m now paying £121 a month on standard variable. 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ❤️

Robin9

@Southfell Enjoy your new home.

Do make sure your read your meter every month and give your supplier those readings. Keep your own records.

When you get bills / statements check them and look to see if your DD is keeping pace with what you are being charged.

You do talk about having no history - that's not what matters - it's what the property needs are that is important. The quote you have got is based on what you asked for in terms of consumption .