English speaking lesson · Home & Living

Setting up utilities

You've moved into a new place and you're calling to set up the gas and electricity. You practise it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.

A call to an energy company · you talk to the energy company agent

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Setting up utilities — English speaking practice scene

What you have to do

Ask to set up an account, give your address and meter reading, choose a tariff, and confirm it. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. Nothing is corrected while you talk; the corrections are collected and handed to you at the end.

How it opens

Hi there, thanks for calling — how can I help today?

Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the energy company agent.

The 5 steps that finish it

A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.

01
Say what you need
Say you'd like to set up gas and electricity.
“Hi! I need gas and electricity for my new house.”
02
Give your details
Give your address and meter reading.
“Here's my address, and here's the meter reading.”
03
Ask about the tariff
Ask about the price, or the contract length.
“How much a month is it?”
04
Check the setup
Check the tariff is the one you'd like.
“Yes, that's right.”
05
Confirm and finish
Say how you'd like to pay, and finish the call.
“By card, please. Thanks a lot!”

The words, at all four levels

The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the energy company agent.

Starter

A1 – A2

Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.

gas: fuel piped into homes for heating and cooking; “I need gas and electricity.”
electricity: the power that runs lights and appliances; “I need gas and electricity.”
house: a building where people live; “It's for my new house.”
address: where you live, written out; “Here's my address.”
meter: the device that measures what you use; “Here's the meter reading.”
month: a period of about thirty days; “How much a month?”
much: used to ask the price — 'how much'; “How much a month?”
right: correct; “Yes, that's right.”
card: a bank card you pay with; “By card, please.”
thanks: a short way to say thank you; “Thanks a lot!”

Conversational

A2 – B1

Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.

supply: the energy delivered to your home; “I need to set up the supply.”
account: your record with a company; “Could I open an account?”
reading: the number shown on a meter; “Here's the meter reading.”
tariff: the pricing plan you're on; “Which tariff would suit me?”
monthly: happening once a month; “What's the monthly cost?”
contract: an agreement for a fixed period; “How long is the contract?”
billing: how you're charged and sent bills; “Could I have paperless billing?”
correct: right, with no mistakes; “Yes, that's correct.”
appreciate: to be grateful for something; “I appreciate the help.”
cheers: informal thanks; “Cheers for that!”

Confident

B1 – B2

Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.

fixed: staying the same for a set period; “Is there a fixed rate available?”
variable: able to change over time; “Or is it a variable rate?”
estimate: a rough guess of usage or cost; “Is that based on an estimate?”
usage: how much energy you consume; “My usage is fairly low.”
exit: leaving a contract early — 'exit fee'; “Is there an exit fee?”
direct: an automatic monthly payment — 'direct debit'; “Could I set up a direct debit?”
smart: sending readings automatically — 'smart meter'; “Is a smart meter included?”
sorted: arranged and settled; “That's sorted, thanks.”
appreciate: to be grateful for; “I'd appreciate that.”
confirm: to say something is definitely settled; “Could you confirm by email?”

Natural

B2 – C1

Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.

switch: to change to a different provider; “I'm looking to switch supplier.”
locked: tied into an agreement; “I'd rather not be locked in.”
creeping: rising slowly and steadily; “Prices have been creeping up.”
ballpark: a rough figure or estimate; “A ballpark on the monthly cost?”
paperless: done digitally, without printed bills; “Paperless suits me fine.”
ping: to send quickly (informal); “Could you ping me the details?”
obliged: grateful for a favour; “Much obliged, thank you.”
sorted: dealt with and settled; “Great, we're sorted.”
cheers: informal thanks; “Cheers, appreciated.”
tariff: the pricing plan you're on; “Which tariff makes sense here?”

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Setting up utilities

What you have to do

The 5 steps that finish it

Say what you need

Give your details

Ask about the tariff

Check the setup

Confirm and finish