Notifying EDF after a death is one of a long list of tasks that falls to executors and next of kin. EDF’s process is email-first: they ask you to write to them with the key details, and a copy of the death certificate where you have it. The energy supply carries on in the meantime, and the account passes to the estate until it’s transferred or closed.
Quick reference:
- Email: hello@edfenergy.com (subject: “Bereavement notification”)
- Phone: 03330 069 950 (Mon–Thu 8am–6pm, Fri 8am–4pm)
- Post: FREEPOST, EDF Energy, Plymouth
- Have ready: Deceased’s name, address, date of death, meter readings if accessible
- Do not cancel direct debits until the final bill has been settled
Note on EDF’s current status: EDF Energy remains a separate supplier operating in the UK retail market as of March 2026. It is not part of British Gas or Centrica – if the deceased was an EDF customer, you contact EDF directly using the details above.
How to notify EDF of a death
EDF’s own guidance on their website directs you to email hello@edfenergy.com with the subject line “Bereavement notification” (source: EDF bereavement FAQ, verified March 2026). This is the primary channel they recommend, and it creates a written record of when you notified them – which matters if billing disputes arise later.
If you’d prefer to speak to someone directly, call 03330 069 950 (Monday to Thursday, 8am–6pm; Friday, 8am–4pm). This is EDF’s general customer service line – ask to speak to someone about a bereavement on the account. There is no separate freephone bereavement number listed on EDF’s current contact page.
Whichever method you use, you’ll need to tell EDF:
- The deceased’s full name and address
- The date of death
- Your own contact details (name, phone number, address)
- Your relationship to the deceased and whether you’re the executor or administrator
- The EDF account number, if you have it (found on any EDF bill or correspondence)
You don’t need to have everything ready before you make contact. EDF states explicitly that you can send the death certificate later if you don’t have it at the time of notification (source: EDF bereavement FAQ). The important thing is to notify them promptly so the account is flagged and billing is addressed from the correct date.
Alternative services: If you’re managing notifications to multiple organisations at once, services like Life Ledger and Settld allow you to notify EDF and other providers through a single process. Both are free to use.
Writing to EDF: If you’d prefer to put everything in writing by post, use FREEPOST, EDF Energy, Plymouth. Include the same information you’d include in an email.
What documents you’ll need
EDF’s list of required information is shorter than many utility companies.
| What EDF needs | Notes |
|---|---|
| Deceased’s full name | As shown on the EDF account |
| Deceased’s address | The supply address |
| Date of death | As on the death certificate |
| Death certificate | Copy acceptable; can be sent after initial notification |
| Your contact details | Name, phone, address |
| Executor or administrator details | Who is managing the estate |
| Account number | Helpful but not essential – EDF can locate accounts by name and address |
| Meter readings | Gas and electricity; taken as close to the date of death as possible |
Death certificate copies: You do not need to send an original. A standard copy (not a certified copy) is generally acceptable for utility companies. Each additional copy of the death certificate costs £11 in England and Wales (source: gov.uk – ordering certificates). It’s worth ordering several when registering the death, as you will need copies for multiple organisations.
Meter readings: Take readings of both the gas meter and the electricity meter on or as close as possible to the date of death. A photograph on your phone with the timestamp showing is ideal – it’s unambiguous and easy to share. These readings allow EDF to issue an accurate final bill from the correct date.
If there’s no will: EDF notes that if you’re unsure who the administrator is (because there’s no will), you should provide whatever information you have. Don’t wait until probate is resolved to make initial contact.
EDF utility accounts do not require a grant of probate to close or transfer – this is different from banks, where probate is typically required for sole accounts above £50,000.
What happens to the account
Once EDF has been notified, the account is placed in the name of the estate while things are sorted. Billing continues – the energy supply does not stop on notification.
If someone is still living at the property
If a surviving spouse, partner, or household member wants to continue the energy supply at the address, EDF can transfer the account into their name. They will take a fresh meter reading as the starting point for the new account.
Any credit balance on the deceased’s account belongs to the estate. Any outstanding debt on the account is a liability of the estate – family members are not personally responsible for energy debts unless they were joint account holders on the supply (source: Citizens Advice – debts after death).
If the property is now empty
For executors managing an estate where the deceased lived alone, the property may be empty throughout the probate process. The energy supply continues to run – and the daily standing charge runs with it – until the account is formally closed or transferred.
It’s often sensible to keep utilities running in an empty property during probate. It can prevent burst pipes in cold weather and is typically a requirement of the buildings insurance. However, make sure the account is in the name of the estate and that correspondence is reaching you.
Notify EDF promptly that the property is empty so they can note this on the account.
Direct debits
Do not cancel the direct debit immediately after notification. The account will generate a final bill, and if the direct debit is cancelled beforehand, you may be left with an outstanding balance to settle separately. Wait until you receive a final bill showing a zero balance – or a refund confirmation if the account was in credit – before stopping payments.
What happens to any credit on the account
If the direct debit was running ahead of actual usage – which is common on monthly direct debit plans – the account may be in credit at the time of death. EDF will refund this credit as part of settling the account.
The refund will go to the bank account the direct debit came from. If that account has been closed, contact EDF to arrange an alternative – they may reissue the refund as a cheque to the estate.
The credit belongs to the estate, not to the person taking over the supply.
Taking over or closing the account
Closing the account
If the property is being sold, or if there is no one continuing to live there, the account should be closed. EDF will issue a final bill once they have the closing meter readings from the date of death (or the date the property is vacated, whichever is later).
Steps for an executor closing an EDF account:
- Notify EDF of the death (email or phone as above)
- Provide closing meter readings
- Confirm the account is to be closed
- Receive and settle the final bill (from the estate)
- Arrange refund of any credit balance
Transferring to a new account holder
If a household member is staying and wants to take over the supply, EDF will:
- Close the deceased’s account at a confirmed meter reading
- Open a new account in the new account holder’s name
- Set up new direct debit arrangements
The new account holder may be offered EDF’s standard tariff – they are not locked into whatever tariff the deceased held. If they wish to switch to a different supplier after the transfer, they are free to do so.
If the deceased rented the property
If the property is a rental and there is no executor, or if it passes back to a landlord, EDF has a separate process for landlords. This is handled via their landlord bereavement notification route – contact EDF directly for guidance.
How long does it take?
For a straightforward case – sole account, account closed or transferred, final bill issued – the typical timeline is four to six weeks from when meter readings are received. The main variables are:
- Whether meter readings were provided at the time of notification or had to be arranged later
- Whether the property is occupied or empty (empty properties sometimes take longer to meter-read)
- Whether a credit refund needs to be reissued (for example, if the original bank account is already closed)
- Whether there’s a disputed balance that needs to be agreed with the estate
EDF will generate a final bill once they have the closing readings. Note the date of your initial notification and keep any email confirmation you receive – this provides a record if billing issues arise.
There is no statutory deadline for EDF to issue a final bill, but the energy regulator Ofgem requires suppliers to settle accounts promptly. If things are dragging on beyond six weeks without explanation, contact EDF’s customer service and request an update.
Things to watch out for
Automated letters and emails to the deceased. This is the most commonly reported problem with EDF’s bereavement process. Because EDF uses email as its primary bereavement notification channel, there can be a delay between the notification reaching the company and it being processed onto the account. In the meantime, EDF’s automated systems may continue sending bills, reminders, or even payment warnings to the deceased’s email address. If this happens, call 03330 069 950 and confirm the bereavement has been logged. Note the date of your original email.
Standing charges on empty properties. Even if no energy is being used, the standing charge runs daily until the account is formally closed. A typical combined gas and electricity standing charge runs to several hundred pounds per year. Notify EDF as early as possible that the property is empty, and try to close the account promptly once the estate is in a position to do so.
No dedicated bereavement freephone number. Unlike some energy suppliers, EDF does not currently list a separate freephone bereavement line on their website. If you call the main number (03330 069 950), ask specifically to speak to someone about a bereavement on the account. The email route (hello@edfenergy.com) may be more straightforward and creates a written trail.
Fixed-rate tariff exit fees. If the deceased was on a fixed-rate tariff, ask EDF specifically whether any exit fee will be waived. Waiving early exit fees in bereavement cases is common across energy suppliers, but EDF does not publish a blanket policy on this – ask the bereavement handler to confirm in writing.
Credit refunds to a closed bank account. If the deceased’s bank account has already been closed before the EDF refund is processed, contact EDF and ask them to reissue the refund by cheque to the estate. This is common enough that EDF’s team will be familiar with the request.
Notifying EDF is separate from notifying other utilities. If the deceased had electricity with EDF but gas with a different supplier – or broadband and phone with another provider – each one needs a separate notification. For other energy suppliers, see the guides for OVO Energy after a bereavement and British Gas after a bereavement.
Summary
To notify EDF after a death, email hello@edfenergy.com with the subject “Bereavement notification”. Include the deceased’s name, address, date of death, your own contact details, and a copy of the death certificate if you have it (it can follow later if not).
If you’d prefer to call, use 03330 069 950 (Monday–Thursday 8am–6pm, Friday 8am–4pm) and ask to speak to someone about a bereavement. You can also write to FREEPOST, EDF Energy, Plymouth.
Take meter readings as close to the date of death as possible – these are needed to issue an accurate final bill. Do not cancel the direct debit until the final bill has been settled.
If the property is empty, let EDF know promptly – standing charges run daily until the account is formally closed.
Sources: EDF – how to tell us about a death (verified March 2026); EDF – reporting a bereavement (verified March 2026); EDF – contact us (verified March 2026); EDF – bereavement support (verified March 2026); gov.uk – ordering certificates; Citizens Advice – debts after death