Moving in or out?

The do's and don'ts of moving

The energy industry does not publish clear, easy-to-find guidance on the best way to move into or out of a commercial site in the UK. We pride ourselves on knowing the process inside out and on being responsive at every step.

And one thing to know: there is no rush — no matter what anyone says. You may receive calls from brokers claiming a supplier gave them your details so they can register your meter. That is not how it works; suppliers do not hand out customer data to anyone. Such firms typically pay offshore researchers to harvest details from public posts — yes, that celebratory post about your new premises is how they found you.

Moving into a new location

1. 1

   Photograph the meters the moment you have the keys

   Make sure all four corners of the meter are visible and the image is clear. If the meter has more than one reading, keep pressing the display button (orange, blue, red — whatever colour yours is) until a screen like R1/H1, R2/H2 or R3/H3 appears, and photograph every one.

2. 2

   Send those photos to the landlord yourself

   Hand the readings over directly and give them the pictures too. This protects you if the supplier has already been told — and the wrong readings were passed on at that stage.

3. 3

   Find out who the inherited supplier is

   You need to identify which supplier currently serves the site. Any consultancy can find this out quickly — and it can often be faster to appoint one to help at this point.

4. 4

   Include your photos with every submission

   Whenever you send your proof documents, attach the meter photos from step 1 as a matter of good practice.

5. 5

   Contact the supplier and ask how they run the process

   Every supplier handles change of tenancy differently. Most will take your details over the phone but then ask for proof in writing — typically a copy of your purchase or lease agreement fully signed by every party (a partially signed copy will only slow things down), and/or a business rates bill and/or an insurance certificate. Some may request more.

6. 6

   Then it is a waiting game

   Suppliers vary in how long the changeover takes, but most average between 30 and 60 days from the point they hold all of the supporting evidence.

Can I set up a new contract while the changeover is pending?

In short, yes. Most people prefer to wait for written confirmation from the supplier before they switch, and you should be aware that acting early can create out-of-contract priced usage. If you do secure a new contract, tell your chosen supplier that you have done everything needed to put the supply in your name but have not yet received confirmation that the changeover has completed.

Moving out of a location

Follow steps 1 and 2 above, then contact your supplier, give them the date you moved out, ask how they prefer to receive the readings and request written confirmation of the account close date and the readings used. They will also want the landlord's details — or those of the incoming occupants.