New house - how to get the best energy deal

Grum123

My son is about to get the keys to his first house. We think the current energy supplier is Utilita but we don’t know the current tariff (it’s hard to know anything definite as the previous owner has died and the executor is a distant relative so doesn’t know any of the details). Should he stay with Utilita - will he « inherit » the current tariff, or should he switch? How will he know he is getting the best deal given that some companies are trying to get people on to a tariff that is more expensive than the current cap because it’s costing them money? We are just really confused about how it all works these days as I haven’t moved house for over 30 years! He has tried contacting Utilita but they don’t seem to have a phone number and he had to give up after 45 minutes waiting for someone to respond on the online « chat ». Thanks 

Swipe

He will automatically go on Utilita's deemed stand variable tariff. I suggest he persists with the chat until someone replies

EDIT: I just saw that Utilita is a Pay As You Go provider. Not sure what to advise now

blueacid

Since Utilita is a PAYG provider, you'll probably want to move as soon as possible to "anyone else" in order to get onto a credit account for (marginally) better rates.

Sadly the 'best' deal is probably the standard variable rate, and all the providers are going to be within a few quid of one another.

Grum123

Thanks, I didn’t realise that Utilita was PAYG so I’ll advise him to change ASAP.

theoretica

PAYG is also capped, and I think I saw the cap is only about £20 a year more expensive for the 'average' user figure.  This may well be better than any fixed deal he is offered if he cannot find a provider who will take him on the standard variable tariff.  He certainly needs to check not just change in a rush!

Robin9

He  stills needs to contact Utilita and get a new key  -  he may find one on site but it may have debt from the previous owner

Grum123

Thanks. That’s all been helpful.