Energy Switching Advice for Students and Home Movers
Information correct as at 15th January 2010
If you’ve moved home recently or are about to, there are always chores to get out of the way – including sorting out your energy supply. It’s often a job to know where to even start... Which is why Confused.com has put together a handy step-by-step guide explaining what you need to do.
1) Find out the current energy supplier at your new property.
You should be able to find out who your current energy supplier is from the previous occupants of your property. Alternatively there may be correspondence from the supplier since the previous owners left. If you can’t contact the previous occupants, don’t fret... You can call the National Grid meter helpline on 0870 608 1524.
2) Work out your annual consumption.
In order to compare energy tariffs, you need to know how much energy you are likely to consume within a year. We realise that if you’ve just moved into a new home, you probably don't know how much energy you are likely to use there. But there are a few things you could do. You could ask the previous occupants, or even contact the current supplier to see if they can tell you. Alternatively, you can submit a rough estimate. Here’s a table of typical values, depending on whether you think you would be a low, medium or high energy user:
| |
Gas |
Electricity |
| Low |
10000 |
1650 |
| Medium |
20500 |
3300 |
| High |
28000 |
4950 |
To give you some idea:
- one resident in a single-bedroom house or flat is likely to have low usage
- a family of three in a two-bedroom house is likely to have medium usage
- a family of five plus is likely to have high usage
3) Use our energy price comparison service to identify the best deal in your area.
Energy prices change all the time, and vary across different regions. So just because you may have found a supplier cheaper at your previous address, it does not mean they will necessarily provide the best deal at your new home. But as luck would have it, you can compare tariffs really quickly and easily at Confused.com!
4) Switch to the deal most suited to you using our site and we'll do all the legwork for you.
It’s surprisingly easy to compare suppliers and deals. Don’t believe us? Then follow this link to compare energy and see for yourself.
Further reading
Want to know more about moving house and renting properties? You've come to the right place! We home these articles will be of some help:
Stay Organised to Make Your Home Move as Stress-Free as Possible
Step-By-Step Guide to the Energy Switching Process
Confused.com’s Moving House Checklist
Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities in Rental Properties
Deposit Protection Schemes for Tenants Explained by Confused.com