First time home buyers need to consider gas and electric costs upfront because these costs can add up quickly and can make a significant impact on their budget. It’s important to understand the different pricing options available, as well as any potential discounts or programs that may be available to help lower your costs. In addition, understanding these costs can help you make more informed decisions when it comes to budgeting for your new home. For example, if you know that the monthly cost of utilities will be higher in your new home, you may need to adjust your budget accordingly to ensure that you can afford these expenses.

With this simple guide, we intend to highlight all of the necessary steps you need after buying, to ensure that your gas and electric bills to do not cause any problems in the long term.

If you currently rent a home, the first step is to inform your energy provider of your impending move before you relocate to a new property. On the day you move, read your meter and provide your supplier with these readings so that they can calculate what is left on your bill, and will avoid a situation where you end up paying for any usage once you are gone.

When you’ve settled into your new house, this is now the time to inform the new supplier that you have moved in.

Unsure of your suppliers identity? This is not unusual when first moving into a property, so we put together a list of a few ways that you can solve this problem.

Look at your first bill: If you have received an energy bill at your new home, it will likely have the name of your energy supplier on it.
Check the meter: Your energy meter should have the name of your supplier on it. You can usually find your meter in a utility closet or basement.
Contact your local utility company: You can contact your local utility company and ask them who your energy supplier is. They should be able to provide you with this information.
Check online: Many energy suppliers have an online tool that allows you to enter your address and find out who your supplier is. You can try searching for “find my energy supplier” online and see if any of the utilities in your area offer this service.
Contact the previous homeowner: If you are unable to find out who your energy supplier is through any of the other methods, you can try contacting the previous homeowner and asking them for this information. An estatae agent may also be able to give you this kind of information.

Once you have this information, you can swap materials and browse around for a better value. If you know your tariff details, this is the perfect opportunity to get a reduction. On your first day, read the metres and provide your provider with these readings to ensure you are not overpaying for your supply.

Energy bill for first-time buyers

The present energy provider for your building will immediately switch you to their standard tariff when you move into your new house. We encourage you to compare this to other suppliers as, in most cases, these standard tariffs are not their best deal. Make sure you shop around so you save more on your bill.

By switching, you can save more money than you realise. We have a variety of tariffs that offer something different for everyone because every household is different and has various demands.

Everyone wants to get electricity and gas quotes for their first home, and choosing the best offer can help you save money.

How to find your gas and energy supply meters

If you have a smart meter, you can ignore all of this information and focus on locating the digital screen given when your smart meter was installed.

To find your gas and electricity meters, including a prepayment meter, you can try the following steps:

Look for a utility room or closet inside your home. These are common places for gas and electricity meters to be located.
Check outside your home, near the street. Many meters are located in a meter box outside the house, near the curb or sidewalk.
If you can’t find the meters inside or outside your home, try checking in the basement or crawl space.
If you still can’t find the meters, you can try contacting your utility company. They should be able to tell you where the meters are located and how to access them.

It’s important to locate your gas and electricity meters so that you can take regular readings to your supplier and ensure that you’re being billed accurately for your energy use. Also note mpan numbers.

Take a meter reading

To take a meter reading, you’ll need to locate your gas and electricity meters and follow these steps:

Make sure that all appliances and devices in your home are turned off. If any appliances or devices are using electricity or gas, it will affect your meter reading and give you an inaccurate result.
Locate your gas and electricity meters. These are usually found in a utility room, closet, basement, or crawl space, or outside near the street.
Write down the numbers displayed on the meters. Be sure to write down all of the digits, including any numbers after the decimal point.
Repeat the process every month to track your energy usage and ensure that you’re being billed accurately.

If you have a digital meter, you may be able to use a handheld device to take a reading, or you can contact your utility company to ask for assistance.

Contacting your energy supplier

There are several ways you can contact your energy supplier:

Visit their website and look for a “Contact Us” or “Customer Support” section. This will usually have a phone number or email address that you can use to get in touch with them.
Check your monthly bill or your contract. Your energy supplier’s contact information should be listed there.
Look up the company’s phone number online or in a phone directory.
Contact your local utility company. They may be able to put you in touch with your energy supplier if you’re having difficulty finding their contact information.

Once you’ve contacted your energy supplier, you can ask them any questions you have about your account, billing, or energy usage. They should be able to help you with any issues or concerns you have.

Locate your fuse box and trip switch

To locate your fuse box and trip switch, you can try the following steps:

Look for a metal box, usually gray or white, with a hinged door. It may be mounted on a wall or located in a utility room, basement, or crawl space.
Open the door of the fuse box and look for a panel with switches or fuses. The trip switch is a switch that can be turned off and on to reset the electrical circuit in your home.
If you can’t find the fuse box or trip switch, check your home’s electrical panel. This is a box that contains the main circuit breaker and may also have fuses or trip switches.
If you still can’t find the fuse box or trip switch, you can try checking the main electrical panel outside your home. This is usually located near the meter box and may have a separate circuit breaker or fuse panel for your home.

It’s important to know where your fuse box and trip switch are located in case you need to reset the circuit or turn off the power in an emergency. An estate agent should have this information and will show you when moving into a new home.

Find your meter number

Your MPRN, or Meter Point Reference Number, is a unique number that identifies your gas meter. You can use your MPRN to set up a new gas account, switch suppliers, or check your gas usage.

To get an accurate first bill, your supplier will likely tell you to provide this information the day you take ownership of your new home.

To find your MPRN, you can try the following steps:

Look for a bill or statement from your gas supplier. Your MPRN should be listed on the bill or statement.
Check the gas meter itself. Many meters have the MPRN printed on a sticker or label attached to the meter.
Contact your gas supplier. They should be able to provide you with your MPRN if you’re having difficulty finding it.
If you’re still having trouble finding your MPRN, you can try looking for it online. Some gas suppliers have a tool on their website that allows you to search for your MPRN by entering your address.

It’s important to have your MPRN handy in case you need to set up a new gas account or switch suppliers.

Find out what energy tariff you are on

To find out your electricity tariff, you can try the following steps:

Look for a bill or statement from your electricity supplier. Your tariff should be listed on the bill or statement.
Contact your electricity supplier. They should be able to provide you with information about your current tariff and any other tariffs that may be available to you.
Check your contract with your electricity supplier. Your tariff should be listed in the contract.
If you’re still having trouble finding your tariff, you can try looking for it online. Some electricity suppliers have a tool on their website that allows you to search for your tariff by entering your address or account number.

It’s important to know your electricity tariff so that you can understand how much you’re paying for your energy and how you can potentially save money by using less energy or switching to a different tariff. You can find a better deal, and quotes for first time buyers online when you look for gas and electricity. Energy Problems has everything you need to know about uitilities when moving into your first new build property.

Find the best deal on utilities for you

To find the best gas and electricity tariff for you, you can follow these steps:

Determine your energy usage. Look at your past energy bills to get an idea of how much gas and electricity you use each month.
Compare tariffs. Look at the different tariffs offered by different energy suppliers and compare the rates and fees. You can use an online comparison tool or contact the suppliers directly to get this information.
Consider any additional benefits. Some tariffs may offer additional benefits, such as discounts on certain appliances or services, or rewards for using less energy.
Choose a tariff that fits your needs. Based on your energy usage and any additional benefits you’re interested in, select a tariff that meets your needs and budget.
Switch to the new tariff. Once you’ve chosen a new tariff, contact the supplier to switch to the new rate.

By comparing tariffs and selecting one that fits your needs, you can potentially save money on your energy bills and find a rate that works best for you.