Gas, Electricity, Water in London

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Utilities are usually already established in a residence, you just need to set-up an account. You will need to inform the provider of the date that you are moving in, change the name on the account, and establish that you account is separate from the previous occupant.

If you are moving from somewhere else in the UK you may just need to transfer your account, but if moving from somewhere outside of the UK, you will need to establish an account.

In many rental situation, services will be bundled and a collective bill will be issued once a month. These costs may be incorporated into the price of rent in some places.

Connection

To find your meter serial number and what service is currently established, you can use Ecoes. Here they can tell by your postcode and property number the current account. If you stay with the company who currently supplies utilities, set-up is very quick. If you want to change service, it may take up to 8 weeks.

Utilities companies should be informed at least 48 hours in advance to moving to a new residence. Before moving in, you should register with the company in your area. On the moving day, you usually would read the meters on the property so the correct bills can be issued.

If you are registering a new account, you may need to go into the office an fill out a service application. In a new residence or if you have purchased a place, you may need to establish the system. call your preferred provider as soon as possible and a technician will be sent to set-up the utilities.

Payment

Payments can be made by automatic draft, cheque, mail debit or credit card. Cash payments can also be made by visiting the utility office. Late payments are assessed a penalty. Non-payment of fees results in haltage of service.

Gas

A credit meter is usually supplied and regular bills are sent to the customer following meter readings. For new customers, the company may ask for some form of security in the form of a cash deposit, a guarantor or a direct debit arrangement.

Providers

Utilities are privatized and there are several companies to choose from. Some suppliers deal only with electricity, but most provide both electricity and gas and to use them for both services reduces your overall bill.

  • Atlantic Electric and Gas - PO Box 7506, Perth, PH1 3QR; Tel: 0845 073 3030
  • British Gas - PO Box 3055, Eastbourne, BN21 9FE;l Tel: 0800 048 0202
  • EDF Energy - 40 Grosvenor Place, Victoria, London, SW1X 7EN; Tel: 0800 085 0000
  • Ebico Ltd - PO Box 354, Witney, OX29 7WN; Tel: 0845 456 0170
  • E.ON Energy - PO Box 7750, Nottingham, NG1 6WR; Tel: 0800 052 0346
  • Good Energy - Monkton Reach, Monkton Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1EE; Tel: 0845 456 1640
  • London Energy - Freepost 3814, London, WC1V 6AJ; Tel: 0800 096 9000
  • Npower - PO Box 93, Tyne House, Birchwood Drive, Peterlee, SR8 2XX; Tel: 0845 714 5146
  • Southern Electric - PO Box 7506, Perth, PH1 3QR; Tel: 0845 744 4555

Ofgem
The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is the regulator for Britain's gas and electricity industries. Its role is to promote choice and value for all customers.

Rates

Annually, most 2-bedroom households use about £924 of electricity.
This depends on if gas or electric is primarily used for heating and cooking, size of the house, and people's habits.

Electricity

A credit meter is usually supplied and regular bills are sent to the customer following meter readings. For new customers, the company may ask for some form of security in the form of a cash deposit, a guarantor or a direct debit arrangement.

Electrical voltage in the UK is 240 v AC, 50HZ. The 3-pronged plug (Type G) is used. Light fittings are bayonet and screw types.

Providers

The electricity transmission network in England and Wales is owned and operated by the National Grid. The National Grid provides electricity to the UK's 18 electricity suppliers. Some suppliers deal only with electricity, but most provide both electricity and gas and to use them for both services reduces your overall bill.

  • Atlantic Electric and Gas - PO Box 7506, Perth, PH1 3QR; Tel: 0845 073 3030
  • British Gas - PO Box 3055, Eastbourne, BN21 9FE;l Tel: 0800 048 0202
  • EDF Energy - 40 Grosvenor Place, Victoria, London, SW1X 7EN; Tel: 0800 085 0000
  • Ebico Ltd - PO Box 354, Witney, OX29 7WN; Tel: 0845 456 0170
  • E.ON Energy - PO Box 7750, Nottingham, NG1 6WR; Tel: 0800 052 0346
  • Good Energy - Monkton Reach, Monkton Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1EE; Tel: 0845 456 1640
  • London Energy - Freepost 3814, London, WC1V 6AJ; Tel: 0800 096 9000
  • Npower - PO Box 93, Tyne House, Birchwood Drive, Peterlee, SR8 2XX; Tel: 0845 714 5146
  • Southern Electric - PO Box 7506, Perth, PH1 3QR; Tel: 0845 744 4555

Rates

Annually, most 2-bedroom households use about £500 of electricity. Energy costs should run at about £1000 per year.
This depends on if gas or electric is primarily used for heating and cooking, size of the house, and people's habits.

Water

Thames Water provides the water for London. This means that renters are not usually responsible for setting up or maintaining service, but they will have to notify their occupancy of the property (or the landlord will do it).

Provider

There are more than 20 companies supplying water in England and Wales. A list of providers is available here.

Thames Water is the UK's largest water and sewerage company, serving 13 million customers across London and the Thames Valley.

Rates

Each person uses around 150 liters of tap water and creates around 140 liters of waste water every day. Water can be paid for at a fixed fee (un-metered) or by metered units (if there is a meter for the property). If the water is metered, payment is only made for units used. Readings are taken every six months. For those without a meter, a set charge is calculated based on the Rateable Value (RV) of the home (for Thames Water, it is based on the number of bedrooms).

As an indication only, water bills for a 2-bedroom home may cost about £300 per year. Of course this depends on if gas or electric is primarily used for heating and cooking, size of the house, and people's habits.

Update 10/05/2012


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