Changing Gas And Electric When Moving House
Moving house requires careful planning to ensure you're settled into your new home quickly. One of the key tasks is making sure your gas and electricity are properly set up.
When moving, you have a few options. You can either stay with your current supplier and transfer your contract to your new property, continue with the company already supplying the home you're moving into, or switch to a different energy supplier altogether. It’s crucial to compare gas and electricity prices in the UK to find the best deal.
While you can change suppliers at any time, it's important to weigh the costs and time involved. Given the current energy crisis, switching may not always be the best choice. Be sure to do thorough research and obtain multiple gas and electricity quotes to help you make the best decision.
In the sections below, we’ll explore the process of switching suppliers when moving house, including costs, timeframes, and best practices.
What to Do Before Moving?
Before you move house, you'll need to decide whether to stick with your current energy supplier or switch to a new one. If you're renting and utilities are included, you may not have the option to choose your energy provider.
For those buying a home, you can either continue with your current gas and electricity company or opt for the provider already supplying the property.
Whether you're switching or staying with your current supplier, the process should begin before your move. Be sure to factor this into your moving house timeline.
As part of your preparations, contact your current supplier ahead of your move. Citizen’s Advice recommends giving at least 48 hours' notice. You'll need to inform them whether you plan to stay with them or switch to another energy supplier.
You will need to supply:
Your new address
Date of the move
Provide meter readings at your current property
TIP: Provide meter readings at your current property
Switching to a New Supplier
If you decide to switch suppliers, you will need to contact your chosen provider. It will be useful to have the following information to hand:
Your new postcode
The date you will move into the home
The name of your current supplier
The name or a reference of your current energy tariff
Your annual energy usage or costs
Gas and electricity tariffs are the rates you'll pay for the energy you consume. These usually include a daily fee, known as the standard charge, which is applied regardless of how much energy you use.
You can find details about your tariff, supplier, and energy usage on your most recent energy bill.
Next, you'll need to confirm your contract with the new supplier and set up a payment method. Opting for Direct Debit is often a cost-saving option and is widely preferred by both energy suppliers and customers.
Finally, your new supplier will get in touch with you to confirm your switching date.
TIP: It’s important to weigh up the costs of staying with your current energy provider versus a new contract with a different company.
What If You’re Staying with the Same Supplier?
If you’re staying with the same energy supplier, you can transfer your contract to your new address without incurring exit fees. Be sure to notify them ahead of your move.
Additionally, you’ll need to inform the company currently supplying energy to your new home. It’s important to do this as soon as possible to avoid being charged for energy you didn’t use. Make sure to provide meter readings from your new home on the day you move in to ensure that your first bill is accurate.
Leaving Energy Supplier Fees
Many energy suppliers charge "exit fees" if you cancel your contract early.
Customers on fixed energy plans are usually committed to a specific contract term with their supplier. If you decide to break the contract, you may incur exit fees.
These fees can vary depending on your supplier and the terms of your contract, but on average, they can cost around £30 per service. If you have both gas and electricity with the same supplier, this could mean double the fee for both services.
However, a June 2022 article on Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert website highlighted that the energy crisis has caused exit fees to rise significantly in recent years. With this in mind, it’s always a good idea to check the cost of leaving your supplier before making a switch.
Can Exit Fees Be Avoided?
According to the Ofgem website, if you request to leave your current supplier within 49 days of your contract ending, they are prohibited from charging exit fees.
Some energy suppliers may even cover your exit fees when you switch to them. However, this is becoming less common due to the ongoing energy crisis.
If you're moving house, you can transfer your energy supply to your current supplier, helping you avoid exit fees. However, if you decide to change suppliers or are moving into a rental property where you can't choose your energy provider, you might be required to pay the exit fee.
How to Find the Energy Supplier for My New Home?
What to Know About Your Gas and Electricity Prices? To find out who your energy supplier is, you can use the "Find My Supplier" service. This tool allows you to identify your gas supplier, your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN), and your gas transporter. Note that your MPRN will not be listed on your gas or electricity meters.
This service is available to anyone currently occupying or about to move into a property. Agents authorized to act on behalf of the property owner can also access this service.
If you're moving into a rental property, you can ask the estate agent or landlord directly about the energy supplier. The supplier’s details may also be included in your rental agreement.
For homeowners, the details of your energy supplier can be found in the paperwork provided during the conveyancing process.
Additionally, there are services like Please Connect Me that can assist you in connecting with the right energy supplier for your home.
What If the New Property Has a Smart Meter?
If your new home has a smart meter, you’ll need to check if it is in “smart mode”. If it is not, it will work like a regular meter and you will need to take meter readings regularly (usually monthly) to send to your new supplier.
What If the New Property Has a Prepayment Meter?
If your new home has a prepayment meter, there are additional steps you need to follow. It's important to contact the current energy supplier as soon as you move in.
Be sure to do this before adding any money to the meter or using the key/card. If you don't, you could end up paying for any outstanding debts from previous owners or tenants.
When you reach out to the supplier, make sure to request that any existing debts be removed from the meter and ask for a new prepayment key or card. It's also a good idea to request any information on how the meter operates.
New Property Not Connected to the Mains?
If your new home isn't connected to gas or electricity, you’ll need to arrange for a connection to the mains. To do this, you can contact your local gas network operator and electricity distributor.
Keep in mind that there will be a cost for getting connected, which can vary depending on the extent of the work required and how long the process takes. For example, if access to nearby properties or roads is necessary, the cost may increase.
If you're concerned about the costs, you may be eligible for a lower-cost or even free connection to the gas network through the Fuel Poor Network Extension Scheme (FPNES). To find out if you qualify, you’ll need to get in touch with your gas network operator.
Changing Energy Suppliers If Renting
If you pay the utility bills directly for your rented accommodation, you have the right to switch if you want to. That said, you should check your tenancy agreement to see if the landlord has a “preferred” supplier. If you are switching from this provider, you should contact your landlord to make them aware.
Be aware that if your utilities are included in your rent, you may not have a say in what energy supplier the home is supplied by. This will be down to the landlord and at their discretion.
Changing Energy Suppliers If Buying a New Build
When it comes to energy for new build vs old house, building developers will often appoint gas and electricity suppliers during the house-building process. New builds will often have smart meters installed. When it comes to moving in, you can either choose to keep the same supplier or switch.
How Long Does It Take to Switch Energy Suppliers?
The length of time it takes to switch energy suppliers will depend on the company but on average it can take around 21 days.
According to Citizens Advice, there will be a 14-day “cooling off” period after you agree on a contract with a new supplier. During this time you can cancel the switch without paying a fee. After this period is up, you will be switched to your new supplier within 5 working days.
If you want to speed up the process, you can make an “express request” to the supplier.
