Setting up Electricity in Your New Home

Moving into a new home, as exciting as it is, can be a huge gamble. As much as you may fall in love with your new property, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting. Especially in terms of your electrical infrastructure. After all, we’re more reliant on electricity to power our work and our lifestyles at home. When you move into a new property, you want to ensure that your home’s electrical setup is safe, efficient and fit for purpose. Here we’ll look at some things you should do when setting up electricity in your new home. Find a new energy plan as soon as possible Many assume that when they move to a new home they can take their old energy plan with them. But as the folks at Switch-Plan will tell you, this isn’t always necessarily the case. Depending on the type of property you’re moving to and what kind of meter it uses, you may or may not be able to switch to the same plan you as in your new home. And even if you can. It may not necessarily be the cheapest option. Especially if you’re moving to a new area. Setting up electricity in your new home starts with choosing the right energy plan for the property. As soon as you move in, you are automatically put on a standard variable tariff with whatever supplier the previous occupant used. You can virtually always save money by switching from this contract as soon as possible. We recommend looking over your options before you move and making the switch as close to your moving day as possible. Be sure to advise your current supplier that you’re moving at least 2 days before your moving date to ensure that your final bill is accurate. It’s also important to get meter readings in your old and new properties on moving day to ensure that you aren’t charged for any energy you haven’t used. Get to know your homebuyer’s report When buying a property, it’s essential to get a Homebuyers Report to get a clear idea of the property’s condition beneath the surface. This includes the state of your wiring and electrical infrastructure. Whether you get a full Homebuyer Report or a less extensive Condition Report, both will give you a clear idea of the state of your wiring, its apparent age and condition as well as any potential investigation that may need to be carried out. It’s usually advisable for a property to be rewired after its first 20 years and every 10 years thereafter to ensure that it is as safe and efficient as possible. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is also recommended every 5 years. Stay alert! As you settle into your new home, it’s important to stay alert and vigilant. Look out for discoloration or sunny smells coming from plug sockets. Look out for flickering light bulbs that could point to wiring issues. And be sure to switch energy plans every 12-18 months to ensure that you’re getting the best possible value for money.

For more information on Setting up Electricity in Your New Home talk to Expert Electrical Supplies Ltd