Tenants who move into council properties will get connected to electricity and gas supplies more quickly thanks to an agreement between Leicester City Council and an energy company.

Leicester City Council has appointed a single energy supplier, Scottish and Southern Energy, to help get gas and electricity supplies connected to council properties in time for the arrival of new tenants.

The aim is to avoid delays which can occur when people move home and cannot set up energy supplies in advance. The contract with Scottish and Southern Energy means in most cases power supplies will now be connected prior to tenants moving into their new homes.

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Leicester City Council's Property Lettings Manager, Juliet Howells, said: "Tenants often face delays when they arrange for gas and electricity supplies to be set up in their new home. They can't sign to say they are taking over the gas and electricity accounts for a property until they have a date for moving in, so they can't organise for supplies to be set up in advance."

Customers who use pre-payment electricity meters will pay the same rate for their power as credit customers under the new system. Tenants will also be able to switch to any other energy supplier after 28 days.

(CD/JM)