Do I have to have my electricity or gas meters closed if I move house?

Under normal circumstances you should not need to do this.

If you move house, the recommended procedure is to leave the meters open and fill in a energy transfer form.
This form has to be signed by the following occupier and the owner (or his authorised representative) as well.

However, if neither of them is willing to fill in this form, it is in your interest to have the meters closed.

Call Sibelga on 02 549 41 00 about ten days before you move to make an appointment.

Closing meters: not necessary

If you move house, the recommended procedure is to leave the electricity and gas meters open. You fill in the energy tranfer form, note down the meter readings and have the form signed by the new occupier, the owner (or his authorised representative) or the social housing company. However, if the occupier or owner refuses to sign this form (because the new occupier is not yet known, for instance), it is best to opt for the “special” procedure to have the meters closed. This way you can avoid being charged for subsequent consumption.

How do you have the meters closed?

• Call Sibelga customer services on 02 549 41 00 about ten days before you move to make an appointment.
• Call 0800 944 88 the day before the appointment (from 11.00 am) to find out when the technician will be coming (within a two-hour period).
• The technician closes meters and makes a note of the meter readings. Sibelga passes these on to your energy supplier, who then sends you the final bill.

If you have the meters closed, you do not need to fill in the form or send it to your supplier. Meters are closed free of charge, but a charge is made to open them again.