Moving House Utilities Checklist

Moving house, whilst exciting, is also possibly one of the most stressful things we have to do in life. It takes weeks of packing, planning and preparation, and then there’s all the unpacking and organisation at the other end. With so much to think about, quite often some of the smaller details can easily slip the mind.

When it comes to moving house, utilities are frequently one of the things that we forget to consider until after actually moving. What many people may not realise is that neglecting to organise their gas and electricity supplies before moving can cost them money unnecessarily – and no one needs that extra expense and hassle in the middle of a move. Whether you’re renting or buying, by following the tips below, you can learn how to effectively organise your utility bills during a move, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Before You Move

The best way to organise your utility bills and avoid unwanted expenses is to start planning before your actual move date. Check the following off your list…

• Inform your current supplier – it’s best to let your current gas and electricity suppliers know that you are moving before your actual move date. This comes in handy if you want to transfer your current supplier or tariff over to your new property. Also, you may be on a fixed term tariff, meaning you could be charged for early cancellation. You can find all this out by contacting your supplier.
• Meter Readings – always try to remember to take meter readings from your old property on the day you move. Having accurate readings can ensure that you won’t be overcharged on your final bill and also avoid paying for energy used by the new occupier who moves in to your old home.

Your New House

You made it! You’ve got all that unpacking to look forward to now… But, before you do, check off the following items…

• Meter Readings – The first thing you should is locate your new property’s gas and electricity meters. It might be an idea to do this before you start unpacking, as they’ll be easier to find. Once you’ve found them, take a reading. Once again, this ensures that you won’t be overcharged on your first bill.
• Meter Type – It’ll probably also be useful to find out the type of meter your new property has got. For example, is it a prepayment meter? Or an economy 7 meter?
• Suppliers – You need to find out who the current gas and electricity suppliers are for your new property. The best way to do this is to follow the instructions on this page.
• Beware the Standard Tariff – Most energy suppliers will put new movers onto a standard tariff by default. Unfortunately, standard tariffs are usually the most expensive so instantly you know a big saving is on the cards by switching to a better tariff.

After the Move

When moving house, gas and electricity bills shouldn’t increase, but they often do. So, after you’ve figured out who your new supplier is and what type of meter you’ve got it’s time to find a new tariff and ensure your energy bills are kept to a minimum.

Running an energy comparison online can tell you instantly whether there’s a better deal out there. Make the most of UKPower’s free comparison service to see if you could save.