electricity swapping ...clueless

[what..the?]

not moved into my new house as it being renovated and will be until end of year or into next year. I have not contacted the current electricity company that the last owner used yet only just found an old letter in the house to find who they are with 'EDF'. I have used pence so far it that on the meter and it occurred to me that if I ring up EDF wont I just be signing up to be with them shouldnt I look around first for the best deal and them ring them with the meter reading? Or is that not the way it works even though it is only pence I have used on the meter since I have been owner do I have to go to EDF first and then swap or go straight to the provider of my choice?

Also they are saying prices are on the rise again at the end of the year (esp EDF) and to cut your bills by agreeing to be on fixed tariff for a year surely this is the wrong thing for me to do if the property is going to sit empty or am I miss understanding how a fixed tarriff works.

Thanks so much

[BillyBB]

You have a legal obligation to inform the current supplier within two weeks of moving in.
Nothing happens of course because so many people can't even find who their supplier is until a bill arrives!

[factor-fiction]

If you are going to be using very little energy then I suggest you need to look at a deal which has no standing charges.
Just use one of the search tools to find the best deal. They will ask who your supplier is currently. Tell them it's EDF and they will advise EDF that you are switching. You'll be asked for readings. You''ll then get a final bill from EDF saying what you owe- probably only a small bill.
The switching process is usually painless but can take 6-8 weeks.