Just Moved to a New House? Here’s how to Switch your Energy Supplier

Here we’ll take a close look at switching energy suppliers when moving house. We’ll explain why it’s important to be proactive in switching your energy supply to a new home, as well as how to manage switching during your move to ensure that you get optimal savings as soon as possible when you move into your new home.

A new home should be a fresh start. An exciting time that’s brimming with new possibilities. An opportunity to develop new habits that will improve your personal and financial wellbeing. By learning about switching energy suppliers when moving house you can ensure that you hit the ground running with amazing savings that free up more of your income to spend on the things that matter most to you and your family.

What happens to my energy supplier when I move house?

When you move to a new home, you can usually choose to take your current energy plan / tariff with you as long as your new home is equipped to support it (e.g has both gas and electricity supply or has an Economy 7 meter). Your supplier will remain the Energy Supplier to your old property under what’s called a "Deemed Contract". Alternatively, you may choose to switch to a brand new supplier in your new home, in which case your relationship with your current supplier will end.

Are you not happy with your current energy supplier? Well, let us help you! Switching suppliers is our expertise and we are here to find you a plan that caters to your needs. All you need to do is call the number above!

In either case, you will need to notify your current supplier that you are moving home. You should do this at the very latest 48 hours before your moving day. You will receive a final bill after moving which will need to be settled before your supply can begin anew in your new home.

Deemed Contracts- What do they mean, and how do you get out of them?

Whether you choose to switch energy suppliers when moving house or to transfer your current tariff across, your move will never be 100% seamless. You are only able to switch tariffs when you are responsible for the home’s energy supply. In other words, the day you move in.

When you move to your new home, the property will be under a Deemed Contract with whoever the previous occupant chose to supply their gas and / or electricity. Unfortunately, this means that you will almost certainly not benefit from a great rate, as these are usually standard or default tariffs. Although these are protected by the Energy Price Cap ( £1,042 as of October 2020), they virtually never represent the best value on the market.
 

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The better you know the steps of switching energy suppliers when moving house, the easier it is to ensure a fast transition and better savings from the day you move in.

Switching Energy Suppliers When Moving House: What Are The Steps?

If you want to enjoy optimal savings on your energy tariff in your new home, you need to familiarise yourself with the steps necessary to switch your supply promptly. If you want to switch to a new supplier, it’s important to be as proactive as possible. The longer you leave it, the more likely it is that switching your supply will be lost in the shuffle of moving.

And, inevitably, you’ll spend longer on a Deemed Contract and a sub-par tariff.

So, What Are The Steps? Let’s take a closer look…

Step 1: Notify your supplier that you’re moving

Although you should notify your current supplier that you’re moving 48 hours before your move, it’s best to contact them a couple of weeks before moving day or as soon as you have a clear idea of when you’ll be moving. This will ensure that you have plenty of time to explore your options. Keep in mind that if you’re on a fixed tariff, you may be expected to move this to your new home. Unless you don’t mind incurring an early exit fee. This may be anywhere from £10-£50 per fuel depending on the length of your contract.

However, according to Ofgem guidelines you can exit your tariff without incurring a fee if you are 49 days or less away from your tariff’s completion.

Step 2: Take a meter reading on moving day

You don’t want to be charged for any energy that you’re not using. Which is why it’s essential to take accurate meter readings on the day you move out, and send them to your supplier as soon as possible either over the phone, via email or (if they have one) your supplier’s mobile app.

If you’re moving out of a rental property, it may be a good idea to forward your last meter reading to your landlord or letting agent. If you have moved the supply since you moved in, you should also let your landlord know so that they can instruct the new tenant accordingly.

You should also ensure that you take a meter reading on moving day and forward it to your new property’s current supplier as soon as you are able. You should also ask them what tariff is currently set up in the property. So you can accurately gauge how much you’ll save by switching.

Step 3: Find out who is currently supplying your new home’s energy

Your estate agent, letting agent or landlord will probably be able to instruct you as to who currently supplies energy to your new home. However, if you are unable to access this information, there are a couple of ways you can find out. The quickest and easiest is to head to the UK Power Networks Website and input your full address and postcode. Alternatively, contact your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO), and ask for their Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS). They will be able to not only inform you with your current supplier but also give you your MPAN number, which will be useful when moving your supply.

Step 4: Find a new supplier

With so many different tariffs from so many different suppliers on the market, you’ll want to take your time to ensure that you’re getting the best possible value for your needs and usage. Which is why it’s a good idea to start doing your homework as soon as possible before your move. Once you’ve chosen the perfect supplier, you can start making arrangements to switch as soon as you move in.

Make sure you have a bill handy or at least a rough estimate of your monthly usage. This will ensure that you’re able to make accurate comparisons and guard against unpleasant surprises when you move your supply.

What Happens To My Feed in Tariff (FiT) if I Move House?

If your current home uses solar panels, wind turbines or other low-carbon off-grid energy generation infrastructure, you may well have a Feed in Tariff or FiT in place. As such, you may wonder if you can transport this tariff (and your equipment) to your new home.

Unfortunately, however, the tariff set up applies to the property rather than the property’s owner. And even if you were to move your solar panels with you to your new home, new applications for FiTs were discontinued in April 2019.

So, unfortunately, you will be unable to set up a new FiT in your new home.

Not sure which tariff to choose for your new home? We’re here to help!

You want to get your energy supply off to the best possible start in your new home. But with so many different suppliers and tariffs on the market, finding the right one for your needs can be a daunting prospect. Don’t worry, we’re here to make it easy for you.

Not only can we find the perfect supplier in line with your needs and usage, we can also manage every aspect of your switch from end-to-end. Call us today on 03308186223 to find out more. We’re available from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.

If only every aspect of moving home were that simple!

Read More:

• How to switch energy suppliers
• Switch gas supplier
• Can my energy supplier stop me from switching
• Switching energy supplier final bill
• Can I switch energy supplier with a debt
• Cancelling my energy contract

FAQ

Can you switch energy suppliers before you move in?

Unfortunately not. You can only switch suppliers once you are responsible for the property’s energy supply. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t start researching suppliers and getting a clear idea who can give you the best value in your new home straight away.

Can I take my Feed in Tariff (FiT) with me when I move?

Unfortunately not. FiTs apply to the property and not the owner. Even if you were able to take your solar panels with you and attach them to your new roof, new FiT applications were discontinued in April 2019 so you would be unable to set up a new one. 

Should I switch Energy Suppliers now?

If you have a while to go before your move, you may find that switching Energy Suppliers now allows you to make more savings leading up to your move. You will, however, still have a short transitional period while your supplier replaces the Deemed Contract. You should also ensure that you’ll definitely be able to move the new tariff to your new property.

My new home has a Prepayment Meter. Am I stuck with it?

Not necessarily. Some find that they prefer to use a Prepayment Meter as it helps them feel more in control of their supply. There are also suppliers like Boost Energy that have tariffs especially for Prepayment Meters. Nonetheless, you may find that switching to a regular meter or Economy 7 meter affords you a better range of options. You usually won’t have to pay to change your meter, or inform your landlord if it’s a rental property.