Home movers in Great Britain could get just £30 of energy use without account
Home movers in Great Britain could soon have about 2 weeks to set up an energy account before the lights go out. That’s the warning behind a new Ofgem consultation aimed at tackling record levels of gas and electricity debt and it has big implications for households, suppliers, and anyone dealing with arrears.
In this episode, we break down the proposal in plain English: when the previous resident moves out and the supplier is notified, the meter could be remotely switched into prepayment mode. The incoming occupier would get £30 of emergency credit to help them settle in but once that credit is used (roughly a fortnight on average), supply could be cut off unless the new resident has opened an account with a supplier.
Why is this happening?
Because the current home-move process leaves a big gap. Households typically take around 70 days after moving to set up an account, and the usage in the meantime is billed to “the occupier”. That delay can mean people unknowingly build up debt, then get hit with a large backdated bill which can quickly spiral into arrears or non-payment.
We also discuss the wider debt picture: unpaid energy balances are a system issue, and Ofgem has pointed to the way historic bad debt pushes costs onto everyone else’s bills. The regulator says reforming the home-move process is overdue, but consumer groups will be watching closely for safeguards especially for vulnerable households, renters, and people who move suddenly.
Key takeaways:
This is a shift from “collect later” to “identify earlier” • Expect more urgency at move-in: meter readings, fast contact, fast onboarding • There will be debate about protections, exemptions, and vulnerability checks • If you’ve moved in the last few years, you may be owed a refund: Ofgem has warned that Hundreds of millions in credit across closed accounts has gone unclaimed.
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