Gas and electric checklist for when you move home

Setting up gas and electricity in your new home

When you move there are a few things you’ll need to do:

1. Find your gas and electricity meters

Firstly, find out where your energy meters are – they’re usually installed in the kitchen, the hall or an outside meter box. If you can't find yours, check all cupboards thoroughly.

If your home is on a new housing estate, the builders or developers will be able to show you where everything is. If you've bought from a previous owner, they or the estate agent should be able to give you all the information you need about your gas and electricity.

When you’ve found the meters, note down or take a picture of the meter readings as proof of your energy usage so you can’t be charged for any energy used by the previous occupants.

2. Locate your trip switch

You'll need to know where the trip switch is in case a faulty appliance or over-use of appliances causes the electricity to cut out.

The trip switch is in or next to the fuse box, which should be within 3m of the electricity meter.

3. Find out who supplies your gas and electricity

To find out who your new gas supplier is, you can search the national database of gas suppliers online by entering your address at Find My Supplier. Alternatively, you could ask the previous occupants who the supply is currently with during the moving process.

When it comes to electricity you can contact any energy supplier or your energy network distributor and ask them to find out on your behalf.

For more help and information, read our guide on how to find your energy supplier.

4. Contact your new energy supplier

Contact your new gas and electricity suppliers as soon as possible to tell them you've moved in.

Give them the meter reading you took when you first moved in or let them know if you're on a prepayment meter.

You might automatically be put on a standard tariff, which tends to be the most expensive

The responsibility for paying for your energy lies with you. It's no good claiming you didn't know who the supplier was in a bid to avoid a bill.

Make sure to read any gas and electricity bills you receive to avoid any surprises.

5. Find your MPAN and MPRN

There are two types of meter number - the Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) for electricity and the Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) for gas.

The MPAN is unique to your home. It has 21 digits and can be found on your energy bill. It's sometimes called a supply number but don't get it confused with your customer reference number, as this is different.

The MPRN is unique to your gas supply and is usually between six and 10 digits long. It can be found on your gas bill. Meter numbers are not printed on the meter itself, so don't waste time looking there.

6. Make sure you're on the right tariff

Whether you move into a brand new property or take over the energy supply in a house which has been previously owned, you might automatically be put on a standard tariff, which tends to be the most expensive.

With so many other things to do following a move, you might be tempted to wait until the first bill arrives on your mat before giving much thought to your tariff But this can prove expensive because your initial bill probably won't arrive until the end of the first quarter, by which time the charges will have already stacked up. So try to prioritise comparing tariffs and getting the best energy deal as soon as you're in your new home.

7. Save money on your gas and electricity

As well as being exciting, moving home is pricey! Check out our tips for saving money on your gas and electricity to make your new home as energy efficient as possible and save money on those utility bills.