Moving house and your energy bills
Moving house in the UK can feel like a logistical challenge, and sorting out your utility bills is often a major part of it. From ensuring you are not paying for someone else's energy to setting up new accounts smoothly, the process has many potential pitfalls. Getting it wrong could lead to unexpected charges, service interruptions, or even debt. This guide aims to simplify the process, offering a clear, step-by-step plan to manage your household utilities when relocating, ensuring a smooth transition.
Managing your energy during a house move does not have to be complicated. With Fuse Energy, you can easily add your new property and manage your meter readings directly through the app. Take control of your energy bills from day one by switching to Fuse. Click here to get started.
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Your moving house bills checklist
Before you even pack your first box, understanding which bills need attention is crucial. A comprehensive approach saves stress and money.
- Energy (gas and electricity): These are often the most complex to manage. You will need to notify your current suppliers of your moving date, take final meter readings, and then set up new accounts at your new property. Remember, you have the right to choose your energy supplier at your new home, and comparing tariffs can lead to significant savings. For more insights, you can explore our guide on energy bills comparison.
- Water and sewerage: Unlike energy, you usually cannot choose your water supplier; it is determined by your location. You will need to inform your current water company you are leaving and contact the supplier for your new address to set up an account.
- Council tax: Council Tax is managed by the local authority. You will need to notify your old council that you are moving out and register with your new local council. This is essential to avoid being charged at both properties or facing penalties.
- Broadband and phone: Most broadband and phone contracts can either be transferred to your new address or cancelled. Check your contract terms carefully for any early exit fees if you plan to cancel1. Arranging installation at your new property in advance is wise to avoid a connectivity gap.
- TV licence and other subscriptions: Your TV Licence needs to be updated with your new address2. Similarly, remember to update your address for any other subscriptions, such as streaming services, gym memberships, or postal redirection services.
Notifying your current suppliers
One of the most common pitfalls when moving is failing to inform all utility providers in time, leading to unexpected charges or services being cut off.
When to tell them
Aim to notify all your current utility providers at least 48 hours before your moving date, though giving them a week or two is even better. This gives them ample time to process your request and ensures a smooth handover.
Taking final meter readings
On moving day, take accurate final meter readings for both gas and electricity at your old property. This is crucial to ensure you are only billed for the energy you have used and to avoid estimated or incorrect final bills. Take a photo of the meters with the readings and the date for your records. If you had credit with your old supplier, it will not transfer; you will need to contact your previous supplier to get a refund to your bank account. For more details on managing your finances, you might find our article on being in credit on bill helpful.
Cancelling or transferring contracts
Do not assume your existing utility contracts will automatically transfer to your new address; this is rarely the case. For energy, you will typically need to close your old account and open a new one. For other services like broadband, you might be able to transfer, but always confirm the terms and any associated costs. When switching to Fuse, you do not need to contact your previous energy supplier separately to notify them of the move; Fuse handles the switch through industry systems. Your only responsibility is to provide final meter readings.
Setting up bills at your new home
Once you have left your old property, the focus shifts to getting everything set up at your new place.
Identifying new suppliers
Upon moving into your new home, one of the first tasks is to identify the existing energy suppliers. You can usually find this information on a previous bill left by the former occupants, or via the consumer look-up services: "What's My Supplier?" (supplier.nationalgrid.co.uk) or your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for electricity, and Find My Supplier (findmysupplier.energy) for gas.
Taking opening meter readings
Immediately upon moving in, take opening meter readings for gas and electricity. Just like with your old property, photograph these readings with the date. This ensures you are not charged for the previous occupants' usage and provides a clear starting point for your new bills. If you have a smart meter, Fuse connects to it after switch-in and sends those readings to your old supplier for the final bill. If you have a manual meter, you should submit readings in the Fuse app (or on the website) within 5 days so billing is correct; Fuse sends those same readings to the previous supplier for the final bill.
Comparing and switching energy tariffs
You are free to choose and change your energy supplier in Great Britain. Do not just stick with the existing supplier at your new property, as you might be placed on an expensive 'deemed' contract. Compare energy tariffs to find a deal that suits your needs and budget. For more information on how to manage your energy bills, check out our blog.
Registering for other utilities
Contact your new local council to register for Council Tax and the regional water company to set up your water and sewerage account. Arrange for your broadband and phone services to be installed or transferred, and update your TV Licence.
Managing your energy move with the Fuse app
The Fuse app simplifies managing your energy accounts during a move, offering a central hub for tasks and reducing anxiety.
Adding your new property
The Fuse app allows you to easily add your new property. Simply tap the postcode in the top-left corner of the main screen, select "Add Property", and then search for the full address, postcode, or supply number to locate your meter and set up the account.
Submitting meter readings seamlessly
For customers with an ONLINE smart meter, readings are sent automatically. If you have a non-smart meter or need to submit a manual reading during a switch, the Fuse app provides a straightforward "Add reading" flow. This helps ensure accurate billing and avoids estimates.
Understanding credit checks and prepayment
Before you switch to Fuse, our industry partner for credit checks assesses your account. If you are being asked for a top-up before switching in, this means our industry partner for credit checks has flagged your account to us. In line with our credit policy, when we receive one of these flags, we ask for an initial deposit when you open your account. The deposit will only go toward your future bills with us.
Common challenges and how to overcome them
Moving house can throw up unexpected issues, but many common problems have straightforward solutions.
Address matching issues
Gas and electricity meters are often registered under slightly different addresses in industry records, which means the consumer look-up tools may not return both fuels when you search by address. If you cannot find one fuel or your property, try searching using the supply number (MPAN for electricity, MPRN for gas) found on a previous bill. If you do not have a bill, you can send a photo of your meter to the support team, who can look up the meter serial number and find the associated supply number. After both supplies are onboarded, they can be grouped under the same address in the Fuse app.
Dealing with deemed contracts
If you do not actively choose a new energy supplier when you move into a property, you will likely be placed on a 'deemed' contract with the existing supplier. These tariffs are often more expensive than those you could actively choose, so it is always best to compare and switch as soon as possible. If you need help with energy bills, our blog has more information.
Support for vulnerable customers (Priority Services Register)
The Priority Services Register (PSR) helps energy suppliers identify and support customers who may need extra assistance during power cuts or supply interruptions. You may be eligible for the PSR if you are of state pension age (66+) or older, pregnant or have young children (under 5 years old), have a disability or long-term health condition (including mental health), have your sight, hearing, or sense of smell affected, rely on medical equipment that uses electricity, are recovering from an injury or recent hospital stay, have experienced a recent bereavement or job loss, or any other situation where extra assistance during power cuts or supply interruptions may be needed. Fuse Energy can help you register for the PSR once your supply is active with them. Information collected for PSR registration includes: a secondary phone number (optional), an alternative contact's name and phone number (optional), their full address (optional), and the reason for being added to the PSR (for example, reliance on medical equipment or specific vulnerabilities).
Final steps for a smooth transition
A little extra effort at the end can prevent future headaches.
Double-checking everything
Before you settle in, take a moment to double-check that all notifications have been sent, final bills are settled, and new accounts are active. This includes confirming direct debits are set up correctly for your new utilities.
Updating your address
Beyond utilities, remember to update your address with your bank, employer, doctor, dentist, DVLA, and any other important institutions. Setting up a postal redirection service can catch anything you might have missed.
Moving house can be a busy time, but managing your energy should be straightforward. With Fuse Energy, you get clear pricing, real-time usage data, and 24/7 human customer support. Switching takes as little as 3 minutes, so you can take control of your bills from day one. Click here to switch to Fuse Energy today and start saving.
References
- GoCompare. Switching broadband provider
- TV Licensing. What happens when I move home?
Disclaimer
For the avoidance of doubt, this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal or financial advice. The author and/or Fuse Energy shall not be responsible for any losses arising out of any reliance on the information contained herein.
