Water, Gas & Electricity

Water

In the UK, mains water is supplied to all homes except homes that move, such as caravans and boats.  Water will be supplied by Wessex Water in the Poole area and Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water in the Merley and Bournemouth areas. Water out of the cold tap is safe to drink, unless there is a sign that says otherwise. If you have a water meter, you will pay for the amount you use. If there is no meter, you will pay a fixed amount called water rates. Wessex Water deals with the waste water and sewerage for the whole area.

Gas & Electric

Heating and cooking is usually powered by either gas or electricity. There are several companies who supply gas and electricity and you can choose your supplier; you can compare their prices at various comparison websites such as USwitch or comparethemarket.

For advice on energy supply issues you can telephone Consumer Direct on 08454 040506. They can also give you advice on changing your supplier.

If you move into a new property and the landlord, previous tenant or owner cannot tell you who the gas and electricity suppliers are, you can find out. To ask who your gas supplier is, call the Meter Point Administration Service line on 0870 608 1524. To find out who your electricity supplier is, call the local distribution company Southern Electric on 0870 905 0806.

If you live in rented accommodation, your tenancy agreement should show if your landlord will pay the water, electicity or gas bills. If not, you are responsible for these and you may be disconnected and/or fined if you do not pay these on time.

You can pay for the water and energy you use every quarter or every month. There is information on the bill about how to pay. When you move into a new home or leave an old one, you should make a note of the electricity and gas meter readings, and of the water meter reading if you have a water meter.

You should contact the suppliers and tell them you are moving house or that you have moved house. Give them the meter readings and your new address and they will send you final bills on the old accounts. The UK Government encourages people to save water and energy.

If you smell gas, call the National Grid Emergency Service anytime on 0800 111 999.

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes a number of accidental deaths every year when gas appliances are installed incorrectly, badly maintained or poorly ventilated. It is so deadly as you cannot see, smell it or taste it. All appliances should be safety checked and maintained and it is especially important if you live in rented accommodation that the landlord checks and maintains any gas appliances. This is a legal requirement. To keep your house safe and check for the presence of carbon monoxide you can use a carbon monoxide detector. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include: headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pains, chest pains and erratic behaviour. You may notice the symptoms lessen when away from the house but then return again when you are back in the property.