Does Tell Us Once notify E.ON Next when someone dies?

No. Tell Us Once only notifies government departments such as HMRC, the DWP, and the DVLA. Energy suppliers including E.ON Next are not included. You must notify E.ON Next separately using their dedicated bereavement process.

Is E.ON Next part of the Death Notification Service?

No. The Death Notification Service (DNS) covers UK banks and financial institutions but does not include energy suppliers. Gas and electricity providers such as E.ON Next must each be contacted individually.

Does E.ON Next require Grant of Probate to close an account?

E.ON Next only requires a Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration, or Scottish Confirmation) if the credit balance on the account exceeds £300. For accounts in debit or with a smaller credit balance, probate documentation is not needed to close the account.

Do I need to take a meter reading if the property has a smart meter?

No. If the property has a smart meter, E.ON Next can retrieve the reading remotely via the smart data network. You do not need to take a manual reading. The in-home display does not need to be returned – it can simply be switched off.

What happens to the Priority Services Register registration when someone dies?

The Priority Services Register (PSR) registration is linked to the account and the individual. It closes when the account closes at death and does not transfer automatically. Any new occupant who may benefit from PSR support will need to apply fresh with their own E.ON Next account.

What happens to a joint E.ON Next account when one account holder dies?

For a joint account, E.ON Next updates the account to the surviving account holder's name. The tariff, direct debit, and account number remain the same. No new account needs to be set up. The credit balance at death should be treated as an estate asset, not automatically as the surviving holder's property.

Can estate representatives complain to the Energy Ombudsman about E.ON Next?

Yes. If E.ON Next has not resolved a bereavement-related complaint within eight weeks, or has issued a deadlock letter, estate representatives (executors and administrators) can escalate to the Energy Ombudsman for free. The Ombudsman can require E.ON Next to take action and award financial compensation. Contact them at energyombudsman.org or on 0330 440 1624.

In Scotland, what document does E.ON Next need instead of Grant of Probate?

In Scotland, the equivalent of probate is Confirmation, granted by the Sheriff Court. The document is called a Certificate of Confirmation. E.ON Next's bereavement team handles Scottish estates and accepts Confirmation in place of an English Grant of Probate. See mygov.scot for guidance on the Confirmation process.

Will the energy supply be cut off during estate administration?

No. E.ON Next guarantees that the supply will not be disconnected while the estate is being administered. The account is renamed to 'The Estate of [name]' for empty properties and kept open until the property is sold, a new tenant moves in, or the keys are returned. This protects the property from damage and helps meet buildings insurance requirements.

What happens to an old E.ON account (not E.ON Next)?

All legacy E.ON residential accounts were migrated to E.ON Next by 2023. If the deceased's correspondence shows 'E.ON' rather than 'E.ON Next', contact the E.ON Next bereavement team on 0808 501 5035 – they manage all former E.ON residential accounts and the process is the same.

How to notify E.ON Next when someone dies

Q: What is the E.ON Next bereavement phone number?

The E.ON Next bereavement team number is 0808 501 5035 (freephone). Lines are open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4pm. Ask specifically for the bereavement support team when you call.

Q: What happens to a prepayment meter credit balance when someone dies?

Any credit remaining on a prepayment meter at the date of death forms part of the estate. Contact E.ON Next's bereavement team to arrange a refund of the prepayment credit balance. You will need to provide standard bereavement documentation. E.ON Next can usually retrieve the balance from their systems, though in some cases an engineer visit may be needed.

Notifying an energy supplier after a death is rarely at the top of anyone’s list, but it is worth doing promptly. The energy account continues to accrue standing charges from the date of death, and the sooner E.ON Next knows, the sooner billing is correctly transferred to the estate.

E.ON Next – the UK retail energy brand that replaced the legacy E.ON brand from around 2020 onwards – has a dedicated bereavement team and a straightforward notification process. You can notify by phone, email, or online form, and E.ON Next stops all debt collection activity immediately on notification.

Quick reference:

Phone: 0808 501 5035 (Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–4pm, freephone)
Email: bereavement@eonnext.com
Online form: eonnext.typeform.com/to/K1exhuyP
NotifyNow service: estate-notify.co.uk/eonnext (no phone call required)
Official bereavement page: eonnext.com/help/bereavements
Do not cancel the direct debit until the final bill arrives

About E.ON and E.ON Next

If the person who died was an energy customer with a company called E.ON, their account has almost certainly already moved to E.ON Next. E.ON launched E.ON Next as a new retail brand from around 2020, and by 2023 had migrated all legacy E.ON customers across to it. For most households, the supplier name on bills will now read “E.ON Next.”

The bereavement process below applies to E.ON Next. If you’re dealing with an older account that still shows “E.ON” on correspondence, start with the E.ON Next bereavement team – they handle legacy accounts too. The phone number and online form are the same.

Tell Us Once and the Death Notification Service – energy suppliers are not covered

If you have used Tell Us Once (the government service that notifies multiple departments when someone dies), it is important to know that energy suppliers are not included. Tell Us Once notifies government departments and public bodies – HMRC, the DWP, the DVLA, the Passport Office – but it does not contact banks, energy suppliers, or any private company. You will need to notify E.ON Next separately.

Similarly, the Death Notification Service (DNS), which lets you notify multiple UK banks and financial institutions in one step, does not cover energy suppliers. Gas and electricity providers are not DNS members. Each energy supplier has its own bereavement team and its own notification process.

This distinction matters in practice. Many executors complete Tell Us Once and assume their obligations to utility companies are covered. They are not. Outstanding energy accounts can accumulate standing charges for months if left unnotified.

How to notify E.ON Next of a death

There are three ways to notify E.ON Next.

By phone is the most direct route. Call 0808 501 5035 – a freephone number – and ask for the bereavement support team. Lines are open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4pm. The team is separate from general customer service, so ask specifically for bereavement support when you get through.

By email at bereavement@eonnext.com. Include the deceased’s name, address, account number (if you have it), and a brief explanation of the situation. Attach a scanned copy or clear photograph of the death certificate if you have one ready – otherwise follow up with it separately.

Online via NotifyNow at estate-notify.co.uk/eonnext. E.ON Next has partnered with this service specifically so bereaved people can notify them without having to speak to anyone. You complete a short form, upload a copy of the death certificate, and the service handles the rest. This is a good option if you’re not ready to make phone calls.

Alternatively, E.ON Next accepts notifications through third-party services like Settld and Life Ledger, which let you notify multiple companies using a single submission. These services are free to use (Settld is free; Life Ledger offers a free tier for most notifications).

Note: some bereavement debt management for E.ON accounts is handled by Phillips & Cohen Associates, a specialist third-party firm. If you receive a contact from them, verify they are acting on E.ON Next’s behalf before sharing information.

Contact method	Details
Phone (bereavement team)	0808 501 5035, Mon–Thu 9am–5pm, Fri 9am–4pm
Email	bereavement@eonnext.com
Online form	eonnext.typeform.com/to/K1exhuyP
NotifyNow (no phone call)	estate-notify.co.uk/eonnext
Multi-company	Settld (free), Life Ledger

What documents you’ll need

E.ON Next does not require original documents. A scanned copy or clear photograph of the death certificate is sufficient.

Core documents:

A copy of the death certificate (from the register office). An interim death certificate – issued by a coroner if the inquest is still ongoing – is also accepted.
The deceased’s full name and date of death
The property address

Helpful to have ready:

The account number – found on any E.ON Next bill or in the online account portal
A meter reading taken on or as close as possible to the date of death. For smart meters, E.ON Next can pull the reading remotely, so this is less critical
Your own name and contact details, and your relationship to the deceased (executor, next of kin, or other)
The status of the property: whether someone is still living there, it’s empty, or it’s been sold

Only required in specific circumstances:

Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration – E.ON Next requires this documentation only if the credit balance on the account exceeds £300. For most accounts, this is not needed.
Scotland only: In Scotland, the equivalent of probate is Confirmation (granted by the Sheriff Court). If the estate requires Confirmation, the document is called a Certificate of Confirmation rather than a Grant of Probate. E.ON Next’s bereavement team handles Scottish estates; refer to mygov.scot for guidance on the Confirmation process.

If you’re ordering death certificates from the register office, each copy costs £11 in England and Wales (gov.uk). For energy companies, a standard copy rather than a certified copy is fine.

What happens to the account

Once E.ON Next receives notification, they flag the account as under bereavement support. Debt collection activity stops immediately – no further collection letters, late payment fees, or interest will be applied.

What happens next depends on the property’s situation.

If someone is still living in the property

Joint account: E.ON Next simply updates the account to the surviving account holder’s name. The tariff, direct debit, and account number remain the same.

Sole account with a new occupant taking over: E.ON Next closes the deceased’s account and opens a new one in the occupant’s name. The tariff transfers across, a new direct debit is set up, and any credit balance from the old account moves to the new one.

If the property is now empty

E.ON Next renames the account to “The Estate of [name]” and keeps it open until the property is sold, a new tenant moves in, or the keys are returned to a landlord. The gas and electricity supply stays connected – E.ON Next guarantees this, as it prevents damage to the property and is normally required by buildings insurance.

Bills continue to be issued to the estate. E.ON Next is clear that you do not need to pay ongoing bills during this period – you settle the balance when the account is eventually closed, not month by month while the estate is being administered.

Direct debits

Do not cancel the direct debit immediately. If it is cancelled before the final bill is produced, there may be an outstanding balance that needs to be paid separately. Wait until E.ON Next issues a final statement showing a zero balance before stopping payments. For more on how direct debits work in bereavement, see our guide to what happens to direct debits when someone dies.

Credit balances

If the account was in credit – which is common where direct debits have been running ahead of actual usage – E.ON Next will issue a refund to the estate after the account is closed and final readings are processed. For credit balances over £300, they will ask for formal documentation (Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration, or Scottish Confirmation) before releasing the funds. For smaller balances, this documentation is not required.

Under Ofgem’s Guaranteed Standards of Performance, E.ON Next must issue the final bill within six weeks of account closure, and must refund any credit balance within ten working days of sending that final bill. If either deadline is missed, E.ON Next owes the estate £40 in automatic compensation, plus a further £40 if the compensation itself is not paid within ten working days (source: Ofgem Guaranteed Standards).

Debt on the account

If there was an outstanding balance when the person died, that debt becomes the responsibility of the estate. It is settled from estate assets before anything is distributed to beneficiaries. If the estate has insufficient assets to pay, the debt is written off – it does not pass to family members or friends personally unless they were joint account holders. E.ON Next confirmed this policy via their bereavement page (eonnext.com/help/bereavements).

Exit fees

If the deceased was on a fixed-rate tariff that would normally carry an early exit fee, E.ON Next waives these fees in bereavement cases.

Smart meters

If the property had a smart meter, you do not need to take a manual meter reading. E.ON Next can retrieve the reading remotely via the smart data network and will use it to calculate the final bill. This applies to both gas and electricity smart meters.

The in-home display (IHD) – the small screen that shows live energy usage – will lose its connection to the smart meter once the account is closed. It does not need to be returned to E.ON Next; it can simply be switched off. The smart meter itself stays in the property and will be connected to the new account when the next occupant or bill payer registers with E.ON Next.

If the smart meter was not communicating – a relatively common issue in older installations – E.ON Next may ask for a manual reading. A photograph of the meter display with the date clearly visible is acceptable.

Prepayment meters

If the deceased had a prepayment meter (a key or card meter that required topping up before use), any credit remaining on the meter at the date of death forms part of the estate and should be recovered.

Contact E.ON Next’s bereavement team and ask them to process a refund of the prepayment credit balance. You will need to provide the usual bereavement documentation. E.ON Next should be able to retrieve the credit balance from their systems; in some cases they may need to send an engineer to read the meter directly.

During the period the estate is being administered, whoever has access to the property should top up the meter only if the property needs to remain heated or lit – for example, to prevent damp damage or meet buildings insurance requirements. Keep receipts of any top-ups made on behalf of the estate, as these are legitimate estate expenses.

If you want to switch the property to a credit meter during the administration period, ask E.ON Next. This may be simpler if the property will be empty for some months.

Priority Services Register

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free support service run by energy networks and suppliers for customers who may need extra help – for example, those with chronic medical conditions, older people living alone, or people with disabilities. Being on the PSR can entitle account holders to priority reconnection after a power cut, advance notice of planned outages, and accessible bill formats.

If the deceased was registered on E.ON Next’s Priority Services Register, that registration is linked to the account and to the individual. It does not automatically transfer to anyone else.

When the account is closed at death, the PSR registration closes with it. If a new occupant moves in and may benefit from PSR support, they need to apply fresh with their new E.ON Next account. If a family member or carer was the reason the PSR registration existed – for example, a carer who lives elsewhere but supports the account holder – they should check whether their own energy supplier’s PSR covers them, as PSR registrations apply per account and per property.

To apply for the PSR with E.ON Next, visit eonnext.com or call the main customer service number.

Joint accounts and sole accounts – what the distinction means

Whether the account was joint or sole affects how quickly and smoothly things progress.

Joint account: Both account holders are equally liable. When one dies, the surviving holder takes on the account in their own name. The tariff, account number, and direct debit stay in place; E.ON Next simply removes the deceased’s name. There is no need to set up a new account or agree a new tariff, which removes a common point of friction.

Sole account: The account belongs to the estate. A new occupant will need to open a new account in their own name. If no one is moving in, the account is managed as “The Estate of [name]” until the property is sold or re-let. The executor is the authorised contact.

One practical point on credit: credit on a joint account at the time of death belongs to both parties proportionally and should be treated as an estate asset – it does not automatically belong to the surviving account holder. In practice, where balances are modest, E.ON Next’s standard process refunds any credit to the estate when the account is formally closed.

If you’re not the account holder

When the deceased was the sole account holder and others continue to live at the property, the most important thing is to make contact with E.ON Next quickly. The supply will not be cut off – E.ON Next guarantees this – but the account needs to be moved into a living person’s name as soon as practicable.

The new occupant will need to open their own account. E.ON Next will use the final meter reading from the date of death as the starting point for the new account, so there is a clean break between the estate’s liability and the new occupant’s.

If you’re dealing with the estate but don’t live at the property, you can still manage the account as executor. Ask E.ON Next to record your name as the authorised contact for “The Estate of [name]” – this makes subsequent communication simpler and means correspondence goes to you rather than to the property address.

How long it takes

E.ON Next flags the account under bereavement support immediately on notification – this part happens the same day. The supply guarantee and debt collection pause take effect straight away.

The final bill and account closure typically take a few weeks, depending on how quickly documents are submitted and whether the property situation is straightforward. The main factors that can slow things down:

Waiting on death certificate copies
Properties with no smart meter where manual readings are needed
Credit balances over £300, which require probate documentation before refund
Disputes over meter readings at the date of death

Under Ofgem’s Guaranteed Standards of Performance, E.ON Next must issue the final bill within six weeks of the account closure date and must refund any credit balance within ten working days of issuing that final bill. If these deadlines are not met, the estate is entitled to automatic compensation of £40 for each breach (source: Ofgem).

Keep a note of when you first contacted E.ON Next, who you spoke to, and any reference number. If you submitted by email, save the confirmation.

Escalation: the Energy Ombudsman

If E.ON Next fails to resolve a bereavement-related complaint – for example, an unreasonably delayed final bill, a refused credit refund, or an account-closure dispute – you can escalate to the Energy Ombudsman. The service is free and independent.

You can raise a complaint with the Energy Ombudsman if:

Eight weeks have passed since you first raised the complaint with E.ON Next and it remains unresolved, or
E.ON Next has issued a “deadlock letter” stating it cannot do anything further

Estate representatives – executors and administrators acting on behalf of a deceased person’s estate – can raise complaints on behalf of the estate. The Energy Ombudsman’s remedies include requiring an apology, directing E.ON Next to take specific action, and awarding financial compensation. Any decision the estate accepts is binding on E.ON Next.

Contact the Energy Ombudsman:

Website: energyombudsman.org
Phone: 0330 440 1624
Email: enquiry@energyombudsman.org
Post: PO Box 966, Warrington, WA4 9DF

If you want independent advice before escalating, Citizens Advice can help. Their consumer helpline is 0808 223 1133 (free to call). They can explain your rights and help you draft a formal complaint.

Tips and things to watch out for

Standing charges accumulate on empty properties. A typical combined gas and electricity standing charge is roughly 50–60p per day – around £180–220 per year – before any actual energy use. If the property is empty for several months while the estate is settled, this can add up. You don’t have to pay these charges in real time, but they will form part of the final balance.

The £300 credit threshold can catch people out. If the deceased was building up credit through direct debits and the balance is over £300, E.ON Next will require probate documentation before they release the refund. If probate hasn’t been granted yet, flag this early and ask E.ON Next to note it on the account so the refund isn’t delayed once probate comes through.

E.ON Next does not send paper bills by default. Many accounts are set up for email correspondence only. If you don’t have access to the deceased’s email, let the bereavement team know and ask them to switch correspondence to a postal address. This prevents important letters – including the final bill – from going unread.

Warm Home Discount does not transfer. If the deceased was receiving the Warm Home Discount, this entitlement ends with the account. It is a means-tested benefit tied to the account holder and cannot be passed on to a new occupant.

The Ofgem six-week clock starts at account closure. If you’re waiting on probate before the account can be formally closed, the six-week deadline for the final bill does not begin until that closure happens. Keep E.ON Next updated on probate timelines so they don’t close the account prematurely on their own initiative.

If you cannot locate an account number, E.ON Next can identify the account from the property address and the deceased’s name. You do not need the account number to start the bereavement process.

Summary

To notify E.ON Next after a death, call 0808 501 5035 (Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–4pm, freephone), email bereavement@eonnext.com, or submit a notification online at eonnext.com/help/bereavements.

Energy suppliers are not covered by Tell Us Once or the Death Notification Service – both must be contacted separately. Have the deceased’s name, address, and date of death ready, along with a copy of the death certificate and meter readings if accessible (smart meters are read automatically). Do not cancel the direct debit until the final bill arrives.

Ofgem requires a final bill within six weeks and any credit refund within ten working days of that bill. For credit balances over £300, probate documentation is required first. If the property is in Scotland, Confirmation from the Sheriff Court serves the same purpose as Grant of Probate.

If E.ON Next fails to resolve a complaint within eight weeks, estate representatives can escalate to the Energy Ombudsman (energyombudsman.org) for free.

If the deceased had a legacy E.ON account (not yet migrated to E.ON Next), use the same contact details – E.ON Next manages all former E.ON residential accounts.