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Electric/Gas/Water

How do I get electricity, gas and water services?

Choosing and getting hooked up to electric, gas and water service is comparatively easy, although deregulation and competition in those utility industries are beginning to make it more complicated. You can do the easy thing and register with the former monopolists (London Electricity, British Gas, Thames Water), or you can spend some time on researching competitive service providers, many of which should offer cheaper rates. Good websites to compare the different electric and gas service providers areTheEnergyShop and www.UKenergy.co.uk. Nowadays, most electric companies offer gas service, too, and vice versa.

What about electricity?

There are many competitive electricity suppliers. Prices depend heavily on various factors:

• do you want to get electricity and gas from separate companies are both from one (dual fuel)
• your payment method
• your usage profile

Here is a selection of major suppliers:

It is highly advisable to go to uSwitch for a neutral comparison of suppliers. Just enter your postcode and usage profile and receive quotes of the cheapest offers available. A great tool to uncover potential enormous savings.

What about gas?

The former monopolist British Gas is now facing competition from all kinds of "multi-utility" companies, who are supplying power and gas (some even water). Reliability is very similar, differences are in price and customer service.

Check out the electricity suppliers listed above plus:

The question is: Do you perceive it as an advantage to have all services from one company with one monthly bill?

What about water?

Often, there are no meters in individual flats, only a central meter to measure the amount of water for a whole building. Each tenant's share is estimated. If you think you are paying more than you should, you may be able to ask for an individual meter to be installed in your flat.

Again, you might want to see which multi-utility offers electric, gas and water service on one bill. Alternatively, go to the website of Thames Water (now part of German multi-utility RWE) or call them on 0845 9200 800.

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