Understanding your energy rights can be confusing and lengthy, but knowing just the basics can put you in a good position. We’ve put together this easy-to-understand guide to help you manage your energy bills more confidently. As a trusted student bills company, we know how important it is for students to understand their rights and avoid unnecessary costs.
Why Knowing Your Energy Rights Matters
By knowing the rules, you can prevent overcharging and unfair bills, while knowing where to turn if you need support. If you find something’s gone wrong, you can be ready to take the necessary steps and make it right.
What You’re Entitled to as an Energy Customer
Accurate Bills Based on Real Readings
Energy suppliers can use estimated readings if they can’t obtain your meter readings. But by law, they should take “all reasonable steps” to obtain meter readings at least once a year. If you’ve sent them your meter readings, then your bills should be based on these, which is why it’s important to do so regularly! If you have a smart meter, this process will be done automatically.
Fair and Transparent Pricing
There are several regulations in place to impose fair and transparent pricing. For example, the energy price cap sets limits on how much suppliers can charge you for energy usage. If your energy increases, you must also be given 30 days’ notice of this.
Access to Clear Contracts and Account Details
Energy suppliers should also provide easy-to-understand, transparent, and clear information about your energy bills, including pricing, billing history, and tariffs. It should also be easy to access your energy account.
Your Rights When You Move Into a New Student House
Avoid Paying For a Previous Tenant’s Usage
On the day you move in, take readings of your electricity meter, along with your gas and water meters. Photograph them, and send the readings with the date to your utility suppliers. This way, you can make sure you don’t pay for the previous tenant’s usage.
Setting up Your Account Correctly
If bills aren’t included in your rent, it’s your responsibility to set them up correctly. Doing this as early as possible not only reduces stress but also prevents issues. Make sure all your information is correct, such as your bank details and address, and that everyone living in the house has their name on the bill.
Deposits, Credit Checks, and Switching Options
You have the right to know whether a deposit is required, and landlords have a 30-day deadline to place this deposit into a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) scheme. If the landlord wants to run a credit check, they must get your permission, and they cannot charge you for it. It’s also important to note that you have the right to switch energy providers at any time if you pay the bill, along with the tariff you’re on.
How to Handle Unfair or Incorrect Bills
A lack of transparency, inaccurate charging, or not receiving your bills are just some examples of unfair or incorrect billing. If you find yourself in this situation, get in touch with the energy supplier’s customer services or complaints team. You’ll need evidence to support your complaint, such as account numbers, photos of meters, and call logs. Under UK regulations, they have eight weeks to resolve the issue, and if they don’t, you can complain to the Energy Ombudsman. This is a free, impartial service that works to resolve energy-related issues between suppliers and consumers.
What to Do if You Can’t Afford Your Energy Bills
Payment Plans and Support Schemes
A payment plan is an agreement with your supplier that helps you manage your energy costs, often in smaller, more manageable instalments. Support schemes can also be helpful if you’re struggling to pay your bills, and involve grants, discounts, and other forms of financial support.
Grants and Student Energy Assistance Funds
Both of these provide financial aid to help with energy bills and usually don’t need to be repaid.
How to Switch Suppliers Safely and Fairly
If you pay your energy bill, you have the right to switch energy suppliers and change tariff if you’d like. If you’ve found a better deal, switching can save you money on your energy bill. There are several websites you can use to compare deals, but make sure you use reputable ones. Once you’ve chosen a deal, you’ll need to give your new supplier information about your current energy bill, such as the current tariff you’re on and who your current energy supplier is. You’ll then be contacted by your new energy supplier and told when your energy will be switched. You won’t need to tell your current supplier that you’re switching.
Know Your Rights, With The Student Energy Group
We’re student bill providers with no hidden fees, no nonsense, and absolutely no confusing technobabble! We’ll also combine all your household bills into one monthly statement so you can share them equally amongst your housemates, with no joint liability. For every property that signs up, we plant a tree to help build a better tomorrow. Get a free, no obligation quote today; it takes under two minutes!
