subject: Who supplies my gas and electricity? [print this page] Who supplies my gas and electricity? Who supplies my gas and electricity?
There are many occasions when you may wish to discover which company provides your gas and electricity - particularly when moving into a new property. With so many different energy companies offering such a wide range of tariffs and price plans, switching to a gas and electricity provider you prefer can be a wise financial decision that's best made as soon as possible.
Whether you're renting a property or buying, you should be in control of your energy bills. You may decide to bring your existing account with you into your new property, but in many cases, the home you're living in will already have its electricity and gas delivered through a company of the landlord's choosing - which won't necessarily be your favoured option.
Unfortunately, finding out which energy company is billing you isn't always as straightforward as simply asking the landlord. This may be because previous tenants and residents have switched the supplier without informing them, or even cancelled gas and electricity services upon their departure. They are likely to have taken or destroyed their utility bills too.
Searching through post could reveal the answers you're looking for though, as utility companies routinely send a letter addressed to 'The New Occupier' informing them of the situation. However, if such correspondence does not arrive within the first few weeks of your residence, it's time to make use of other resources, as it's possible the energy company does not know about the change in tenancy.
Phoning your local electricity distribution company should reveal which company is currently providing electrical power to your home, while services such as the M Number Enquiry Line can provide details of your registered gas supplier. Once you have these details, you will be free to contact the companies that provide your electricity and gas and inform them of your situation - which could even involve cancelling their service and switching to a company of your preference, if you've found cheaper tariffs elsewhere.
If you are moving into a new property, it's vital to take meter readings immediately, to ensure you aren't burdened with electricity and gas bills from previous tenants. Electricity and gas are not the only utilities that need to be sorted out when you move into a new property either, and you should also ensure that the local Council Tax Office and water supply company are similarly informed of your change of address.
