Moving in and can choose my provider, who should I choose? Annual 3,300 kWh usage with smart meter

QrizB

vikkiew said:

la531983 said:

Surprised nobody has actually reminded the OP that they HAVE to register an account first with whoever currently supplies the property. 

Keep_pedalling said:

You need to give Octopus a call on the day you get the keys provide a meter reading and give them your details. You can switch later if you wish once you have established your actual usage. 

Must I register or just notify the meter reading when I move in? If I must register with Octopus can I still get the referral bonus or must that be done separately later?

On the day you move in, you will be a customer of the incumbent supplier. It might be Octopus but it's likely to be one of the other companies (Octopus have 1/6th of the domestic market, IIRC).

You should contact that supplier, let them know you've moved in, provide meter reading(s) and your personal detils so they can bill you.

Then you can start a switch to Octopus (or whichever supplier you've chosen).

You will get a bill from the original supplier for your first days in the new flat, up to the day of your switch.

Gerry1

Unfortunately electric underfloor heating is likely to be the most expensive heating it's possible to have.  It might have been almost affordable on a legacy tariff such as Economy 10 but as you have a smart meter that won't still be available.

You MUST find out how how it works, especially with regard to hours of operation and temperature control.  A cheapskate landlord may not have even fitted a timeswitch or thermostat; if you don't investigate it might be running flat out 24/7.

Read the meter at least weekly and do the sums.  Turn down the thermostat if there is one.

Sorry to be so gloomy, but you may find you may wish to move again to somewhere ideally with GCH or else nothing worse than HHR NSHs such as Dimplex Quantums.

markin

Octopus can use the 30min data to charge E7 rates, you can't claim a referral code if your already with them.

You are a customer with the current supplier the day to sign the paper work for a rental, if you don't give your name as the new customer you could pay for someone else usage and debt.

Spoonie_Turtle

la531983 said:

Surprised nobody has actually reminded the OP that they HAVE to register an account first with whoever currently supplies the property. 

The flat already is supplied by Octovikkiew said:

la531983 said:

Surprised nobody has actually reminded the OP that they HAVE to register an account first with whoever currently supplies the property. 

Keep_pedalling said:

You need to give Octopus a call on the day you get the keys provide a meter reading and give them your details. You can switch later if you wish once you have established your actual usage. 

Must I register or just notify the meter reading when I move in? If I must register with Octopus can I still get the referral bonus or must that be done separately later?

You must register with them as the new occupier.  If you're going to try using a referral code, that's when you have to do it.  You won't be able to later apply one as you'll no longer be a new customer.

matelodave

vikkiew said:

It is underfloor heating which I presume is electric. I don't think gas is available in the building. I looked on www.findmysupplier.energy and none of the flats in my building are listed.

If you have electric underfloor heating, you'll probably be better on a single-rate eelctricity tariff rather than a dual-rate one like E7.

If the underfllor heating was installed when the property was built then its more than likely that its built into the floor slab and it will work like a storage heater. You can check, does it warm up within a few minutes or does it take several hours.

If its in the slab, then the best way is to use E7 so you get the benefit of cheaper overnight energy to charge it, like a storage heater (you also heat your hot water at the lower rate and can use you washing machine etc)

A single rate means you have to use full price electricity when ever you need heating and it will probably take several hours before you feel the benefit and the it will take even longer for it to cool down again as it wont be as controllable as a convention heater or wires under the carpet.

bristolleedsfan

"but the previous tenant was using Octopus Energy's 'Flexible Octopus' plan with MPAN beginning with 1"

Referral only applies to new customers who switch from another supplier.

https://twitter.com/OctopusEnergy/status/1723025883395490266

"we use the referral when you’re joining us from a different supplier, but it sounds like you just moved in into a home we already supply"