Everyone is talking about cost of living in London. Every penny costs. I've spent considerable time understanding various aspects of utility management. Here's what I've learned:
Finding Utility Providers
Start by researching providers in your area. Many platforms are available through a simple Google search. I used Uswitch (https://www.uswitch.com/) when moving to my new flat.
Electricity and Gas🔋
Bill Validation 🤨🧮
Daily standard charge applies, even when you're away
Be aware of back billing (limited to 1 year): https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/what-do-if-you-get-back-bill
Choosing providers 👀
Different tariffs suit different needs
Various suppliers available
If you want to reduce carbon footprint, you might want to choose green energy supplier. Understand green energy certificates: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/renewable-energy-guarantees-origin-rego
Smart Meters🔢
Free installation available
Book an engineer for setup
Monitor usage via app for better understanding of habits
Ofgem complaints process😔😡🗯️
🗯️Always communicate via email for documentation📝, escalate issues to the Energy Ombudsman if necessary
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/complain-about-your-energy-supplier-0Always
I did once. The form took me a while to complete and I shared all the email records. (I waited for 8 weeks before filing the complaint.) They handled it very well and I got my supplier taking my request seriously and got some credits back. Energy Ombudsman would make sure the issue have been resolved and both parties are happy with the result before closing the case. 🙂
WiFi 🛜
🛜Check coverage: https://checker.ofcom.org.uk/en-gb/broadband-coverage
🛜Research popular providers in your area
🛜Major providers include Now Broadband (Sky), Virgin Media (O2), and BT
🛜Self-installation vs. engineer setup
🛜Be aware of annual price increases 📈
🔖Check government programs for additional support: https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living/bills-housing-health
By understanding these aspects of utility management, you can better navigate living costs when residing in London 🇬🇧
Water 💦
💧Provider depends on location (Thames water in London)
💧Fixed pricing structure