Disconnect power or pay standingcharges

akkers

Our house is going to be empty for 3-4 months. We do not want the electricity/gas to keep running in this period as standing charges will rack up. I am inclined to get them cut off for time being.

But if I get them cut off will the charge me for cutting and reconnecting after 3-4 months?

Just trying to work best option.

Brie

Yes they will charge and charge again to reconnect.  Empty for 3-4 months will likely cost less but you might ask what their charges would be.  Don't forget that you would have the same issue with your water.

Brie

Oh - it also occurs to me that you might not be able to get them to turn things off/on at convenient times.  Not like they will guarantee to be there at 10 am on the Tuesday you are leaving and again at 4 pm on the Wednesday you come back.  

AND if there isn't at least some minimal heat in the place what's the chances of your pipes freezing???

gefnew

Also i would check your home insurance as you will have a clause about your home being unattended for a certain period of time and then you will not be covered.

DavidT67

Your house insurance may well require heating to be maintained to keep interior temperature at 15 degrees centigrade or above.  Do advise them that it will be unoccupied for a sustained period, weekly visits by a trusted person may be required.  

Shop around for the tariff with lowest standing charge, the actual energy consumption should be low.  

Dependent on the type of heating system, i.e. gas fire boiler with water filled radiators, you may need to maintain water connection, albeit with minimal usage.  Our water supplier agreed to suspend service and cease standing charges for six months.

Also remember you can potentially make a saving on council tax for an unoccupied property, dependent on the reason.

MyRealNameToo

akkers said:

Our house is going to be empty for 3-4 months. We do not want the electricity/gas to keep running in this period as standing charges will rack up. I am inclined to get them cut off for time being.

But if I get them cut off will the charge me for cutting and reconnecting after 3-4 months?

Just trying to work best option.

It's expensive to have it disconnected... they do much more than just pull the fuse out as they have to leave it such that you can't just reconnect it yourself. SSE state its £1,323 if an underground cable and £398 if an overhead line. You can reduce the former a bit by doing the digging yourself but it's still more than an overhead line. 

Obviously to reinstate it is much the same as again full cabling needs to be done. 

QrizB

akkers said:

Our house is going to be empty for 3-4 months. We do not want the electricity/gas to keep running in this period as standing charges will rack up. I am inclined to get them cut off for time being.

But if I get them cut off will the charge me for cutting and reconnecting after 3-4 months?

Just trying to work best option.

Standing charges are about pound a day, so £90-120 for 3-4 months.

Reconnection charges will be hundreds.

I also suggest checking your insurance. If we have a cold snap and your pipes freeze it could cost you thousands.

BooJewels

I'd reiterate what others have said - after managing 2 empty estate properties lately.  Firstly, standing charges will be significantly less than disconnecting and reconnecting 2 x services - I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up in thousands. Hardly worth it to save a quid a day.

And insurance is certainly a factor - we had to leave the heating on at 15°C on the thermostat and internal doors and loft hatch open - if you don't leave the heating on, you have to drain water from your system and turn it off.  We also had to keep a log of visits and inspections and lights on timers.  Plus, many normal insurance policies don't cover more than 60 days of unoccupancy - we had to make appropriate arrangements.

An unoccupied house gets really cold and stale very quickly indeed, so it was a no brainer to us to keep the property in much nicer condition.

WiserMiser

DavidT67 said:

Also remember you can potentially make a saving on council tax for an unoccupied property, dependent on the reason.

That was true about 35 years ago, but certainly not today.  With very few exceptions (e.g. recently deceased occupier) you'll be be charged DOUBLE, even more if you have a 'nasty' council.

35har1old

MyRealNameToo said:

akkers said:

Our house is going to be empty for 3-4 months. We do not want the electricity/gas to keep running in this period as standing charges will rack up. I am inclined to get them cut off for time being.

But if I get them cut off will the charge me for cutting and reconnecting after 3-4 months?

Just trying to work best option.

It's expensive to have it disconnected... they do much more than just pull the fuse out as they have to leave it such that you can't just reconnect it yourself. SSE state its £1,323 if an underground cable and £398 if an overhead line. You can reduce the former a bit by doing the digging yourself but it's still more than an overhead line. 

Obviously to reinstate it is much the same as again full cabling needs to be done. 

It appears that OFGEM let's your electric companies do anything they want
In NI a temporary disconnect only requires the removal of the mains fuse and possibly the meter.
As to the standing charge there are a few with no standing charges so if you where with a supplier that charged a standing charge you could move to one that doesn't 
Most permenant disconnects are for  demolition of premises 

Ectophile

35har1old said:

MyRealNameToo said:

akkers said:

Our house is going to be empty for 3-4 months. We do not want the electricity/gas to keep running in this period as standing charges will rack up. I am inclined to get them cut off for time being.

But if I get them cut off will the charge me for cutting and reconnecting after 3-4 months?

Just trying to work best option.

It's expensive to have it disconnected... they do much more than just pull the fuse out as they have to leave it such that you can't just reconnect it yourself. SSE state its £1,323 if an underground cable and £398 if an overhead line. You can reduce the former a bit by doing the digging yourself but it's still more than an overhead line. 

Obviously to reinstate it is much the same as again full cabling needs to be done. 

It appears that OFGEM let's your electric companies do anything they want
In NI a temporary disconnect only requires the removal of the mains fuse and possibly the meter.
As to the standing charge there are a few with no standing charges so if you where with a supplier that charged a standing charge you could move to one that doesn't 
Most permenant disconnects are for  demolition of premises 

That seems remarkably trusting.  The fuses are a standard size you can get from any electrical wholesaler.