There’s a lot to think about when moving to a new home. The business of packing, finding a reasonably priced removals partner, and notifying all the right people about your move can take up all your time and attention. You probably haven’t thought all that much about electricity in your new home. But when you move into your new home, you could find yourself spending far more than you should if you’re not proactive about managing your energy contracts.
Here we’ll look at how to compare energy prices when moving and start saving straight away.
Why is it important to compare energy prices when moving?
According to the energy experts at Switch-Plan, as soon as you move into a new home, you could lose a lot of money on your energy bills. When you move in, you’ll automatically be put on something called a ‘deemed contract’ with the last occupant’s supplier. This means you could lose a lot of money on an expensive standard variable tariff. If you compare energy prices before moving you can find a much cheaper energy plan for your new property. You won’t be able to make the switch prior to your move. But you will be able to get an idea of what tariffs are available in your new home, and which best suits your needs and usage.
Find out your usage and incumbent energy supplier
Speaking of usage, it’s a good idea to find out how much you use per month. When comparing prices, you’ll likely be asked to input your monthly or annual usage. You can enter this in kWh or in monetary terms. Your existing supplier will be able to inform you of this. Knowing your energy usage ensures that your quotes will accurately reflect your usage. We also recommend finding out who the incumbent energy supplier will be in the new property. This will help you to accurately estimate how much you can save by switching.
Contact your energy supplier before moving
You need to notify your energy supplier of your move 48 hours (at the latest) before your moving day. They will then send your final bill to your new property within 6 weeks. If you have any credit remaining on your account, this will usually be credited within 4 weeks of receiving your final bill.
Take meter readings at both properties on moving day
The last thing you want is to pay for energy that someone else has used, either in your current property or your new home. This is why it’s so important to take a meter reading at both properties on your moving day. It’s a good idea to take pictures of both meters just in case either supplier requests them. You can submit your meter reading over the phone, online or via your supplier’s mobile app.
The sooner you switch, the more you save
With all the chaos of moving day, you likely won’t find the time to switch your energy plan. But it’s a good idea to make the switch as soon as you can. On your deemed contract, you’ll most likely be placed on a standard variable tariff. And these are often the most expensive offered by a supplier. The sooner you switch, the more you could save on your energy bills!