Notifying Utility Companies After a Death

Gas, electricity, water, broadband, and other household accounts don't stop billing on their own, so contacting each provider is one of the more time-consuming practical tasks after a death. Here's how to approach it without missing anything important.

Take Meter Readings First

Before you contact any energy supplier, take readings from the gas and electricity meters, ideally on the day you make the call, or as close to the date of death as possible. It's worth photographing them too. This ensures the final bill is calculated accurately rather than estimated, which can otherwise lead to disputes later.

Decide: Close, or Transfer?

What happens to an account depends on whether the property will stay occupied:

• If someone will keep living there (a surviving spouse or partner, for example), accounts can usually be transferred into their name rather than closed.
• If the property will be empty, even temporarily, it's often worth keeping essential services running rather than cancelling everything immediately. An empty property still needs heating in winter to prevent frozen pipes, and non-essential subscriptions (streaming services, memberships) can be cancelled separately from core utilities.

A Word About Insurance

This is easy to overlook: a standard home insurance policy can become invalid once a property is left unoccupied, often after as little as 30 days, depending on the insurer. If the property will be empty for a while, check the policy terms and consider specialist unoccupied property insurance if needed, this is a genuinely different product from standard home cover.

Who to Contact

• Gas and electricity supplier. Regulated by Ofgem, most major suppliers have a dedicated bereavement team.
• Water company. Regulated by Ofwat. If you're not sure who supplies the property, the Consumer Council for Water lists providers by area.
• Broadband and phone provider
• TV licence. This can usually be cancelled or refunded if the property will be unoccupied.
• Mobile phone contract
• Council Tax, if this wasn't already covered when you used Tell Us Once, some councils pick this up automatically, others need a separate call.

Each provider will typically ask for a certified copy of the death certificate and your relationship to the person, executor, administrator, or next of kin.

Cancel Direct Debits Only After the Final Bill

It's worth resisting the urge to cancel direct debits straight away, doing so before a final bill has been calculated can complicate settling the account. Most providers will guide you through this when you notify them, letting them know is usually enough to pause billing until things are sorted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tell Us Once notify utility companies?

No. Tell Us Once only covers government departments and, in some areas, Council Tax. Gas, electricity, water, broadband, and mobile providers all need to be contacted separately.

What if I don't know which supplier they used?

Check a recent bill or bank statement for the company name. If you genuinely can't find it, Ofgem's website lists licensed energy suppliers, and the Consumer Council for Water lists water companies by area.

Can anyone notify the utility companies, or does it have to be the executor?

Unlike some financial matters, this task can usually be handled by any close family member or friend, it doesn't strictly need to be the executor, which is why it's often a job shared between several people.

What happens if a final bill can't be paid straight away?

Let the provider know the account is part of an estate that's being administered. Most will wait for probate or letters of administration before pursuing payment, rather than pressing for immediate settlement.

Related reading: Using the Tell Us Once Service After a Death