Commercial Feature

Moving house can be stressful enough without having to think about all the tedious little jobs that go with it. If you’re about to relocate, follow these top tips for setting up cheap electricity and gas bills.

Tip one: If you’re all set to move, you’ll need to find out who the current energy supplier is at your new property. If the previous owners haven’t thought to leave you any information, you can find out who your gas supplier is by calling a general meter hotline. You’ll find the number in your local phone book under ‘electricity’. Simply call the number for a quick and fuss-free way to find out who supplies your electricity and gas. Ensure you get your electricity and gas meters read before leaving your old house to avoid paying a bill that isn’t yours. Likewise, when you’re moving to new accommodation, read the meter and contact your chosen supplier to inform them you are the new tenant.

Tip two: Now is a good time to do a quick Internet search in order to compare the different energy tariffs. Once you’ve sorted this and called up the meter enquiry line, ring your supplier and ask them to register you as the new owner of the property. Make sure you check the name of the plan you’re on at the same time.

Tip three: Moving house is a time of great expensive, so you’ll no doubt want to cut costs by reducing the price of your gas and electricity bills. A few simple measures and a conscious effort to use energy more wisely will help you save that much-needed cash for the necessary renovations your new home needs. Take advantage of great online energy saving tips and guides for fantastic hints you can use every day.

Tip four: If you’re sick of sky rocketing energy bills, there are plenty of free changes you can make around the house to save you money. A few useful tips include using dimmer switches for your property’s lights, switching off appliances when not in use and buying energy-saving light bulbs, such as halogen ones. A common misconception is that when appliances are on standby, they’re not using energy. In fact, they most certainly are – so ensure you don’t make this mistake.

Tip five: For cheap electricity bills, put out your washing to dry a sunny day instead of racking up hefty costs by using a tumble dryer. Use the economy wash setting on your washing machine or wash clothes on a lower temperature to minimise cost. There are also plenty of cost-effective gas suppliers out there to help you save money.

Tip six: Seeing as you’ve just moved house, it might be a good time to think about the future and install solar panelling. Though initially pretty pricey, installing solar panels on the roof of your house will help save you hundreds of pounds on electricity and gas bills over the years. If you’re not sure whether solar panelling is right for your home, check out hints and tips online and listen to advice from fellow property owners who’ve had it installed. For a one-off payment of around £4,500, you can save hundreds of pounds a year on your bills. You’ll also reduce your carbon footprint – solar panelling is green energy at its very best. Check out energy suppliers to see what deals are currently on offer. It can’t hurt to get a quote and it takes a matter of minutes to find out if your home will benefit from solar panelling.

Tip seven: Some energy suppliers have their own technicians able to visit your house for servicing and repairs. Ensure you take a note of which energy suppliers will help you when needed by simply paying into an insurance policy. For as little as £7 a month, you can get hold of boiler and controls breakdown cover for added peace of mind.

Tip eight: Breathe and relax, letting your chosen energy supplier take care of any unexpected problems to put you at ease. For a monthly payment, you can be safe in the knowledge that your heating/hot water service will be quickly up and running again should any emergencies arise. You’ll be entitled to gas boiler and control repairs, too – your boiler will be replaced if it’s less than seven years old and cannot be repaired. You’re also entitled to unlimited call-outs via a 24/7 customer helpline and you can relax once you know a trained engineer will be with you as soon as a problem occurs.

Tip nine: Keep a close eye on your energy bills via your personal online account with your energy supplier. Simply sign up and submit some basic details and you can view accounts, book an engineer and send your meter reading in seconds. You can even view your latest bills so you know exactly what’s what and when money will be coming out of your bank account. Book an annual service visit to make sure everything’s in tip top condition and you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Tip ten: If you’re moving to a new town to set up or expand your own business, you can take advantage of great deals from your gas and electricity supplier. Just get an online quote today and get it all set up from the comfort of your brand new home. You can then manage your own account, keeping an eye on energy-efficiency and bill costs on your home computer. Enjoy first-class customer service from trained professionals in addition to fixed term, fixed price contracts and quick and easy direct debit bill payments. What’s more, all staff are likely to be UK-based to help you deal with any queries you may have immediately.

If you’re still unsure what to do ahead of moving into a new house, check online for some advice. If you have an energy bill query or you’re considering using a pay-as-you-go meter, you’ll find all the help you need online.