I have moved out of my house and I have just telephoned Scottish electricity to cancel my account, they will not let me cancel until I give details of the new house buyers and the new house buyers give meter readings, apparently when they move in to the house in January if their readings are different to mine which I gave today, I will be liable for the difference. Cannot see how this is fair, the new buyers could wait months before they give readings and it could cost me a fortune in that case.

Scottish elec also say the new owners must be supplied by them to start with.

Is this usual practice.

Not for me - I called Npower - told them I was moving out - read the meter while I was on the phone and they sent me a final bill. Had the mail forwarded by Royal Mail.

It is usual practice, yes. They want to make sure they get the business from the new people... but you don't have to play ball with that!

SP will know the date the power starts to flow on again after you've moved out so there shouldn't be any issues.

SP may be incorrect that they are the only supplier. The new owner can have whomever they choose unless no-one else supplies to that area... which is rare, but does happen.

I would call them back.

How will they know this unless they read the meter every day? Where I lived before I was lucky if they read once a year!
I'm not aware of any "transmitting" meters going back to the supplier. Technically possible but would be very expensive.

Anyway sounds iffy to me, if you want to terminate a supply contract and you are contractually allowed to do so, its their problem what happens next surely?
If they don't trust your meter reading they should come out and read it!

Why don't you just terminate the contract? Don't say who will be taking over, send in your final readings and leave the country- let thm persue you if there is a dispute! However, if the new owners don't officially take over till January, you are liable until completion date.

To take that slightly further...
Terminate the contract and ask them to cut off the supply as at a certain date.
Surely they cannot charge for a period after you have asked to be disconnected.

Thanks for all the replies, I think I will get my estate agent to check readings and email them to me if they are willing.

They are all a big swizz !
I am currently arguing a £1300 electricity bill that they say i owe for a 6 month period

They have more chance of nailing a blamange to there front window than getting that out of me !

I say work it out yourself what you owe them on the day you leave and post them a cheque for £5 less (just to piss them off) along with the main fuse from the house, that way they know nobody is gonna be using any eleccy from that address till they come out with a new fuse !


Dougie