Moving house can be a stressful time and making sure that all the essential utilities are ready when you move can sometimes be overlooked. We've put this guide together to help simplify your moving process.
Moving house checklist
Give your old provider notice
Let your current provider know as soon as possible when you're moving. If you're switching providers, settle any outstanding accounts.
Compare and sign up to a plan
Moving house can be a good time to switch to a better power deal. Let your provider know the date you're moving so you'll have power when you arrive.
Do your meter readings
Get a meter reading from your existing house when you leave and at the new address when you arrive. This way you won't be charged for power you haven't used.
Ensure your old plan is cancelled or transferred
Double-check that you're no longer paying for energy that you aren't using.
Here's what to consider when transferring your utilities
Your energy plan
Give lots of notice. You'll have the smoothest transition when your energy provider knows at least a week before you move. This ensures they can have your power and gas disconnected right after you leave and connected at your new place in time for your arrival.
Meter access. Check that your electricity and gas meters are easily accessible. Take a reading when you move in to compare to your first month's bill and make sure everything is accurate
Disconnection and reconnection fees. You'll have to pay a fee for disconnecting your old place and connecting power to your new home.
Exit fees. If you're moving and changing providers, you may be subject to heavy exit fees if you're on certain contracts.
Your internet and phone
Check your new address's connection. Check that your new address has a broadband/NBN connection that is similar to your current address. It's important to double-check the specific type of connection you can get as you may be limited to slower broadband speeds than you're used to.
Are you on a contract? If you signed up to your current Internet service on a long-term contract that hasn't ended, you will likely have to pay a relocation or cancellation charge as part of the moving process. However, if you stick with your current provider, relocating your existing service can cost as little as nothing at all depending on your provider. Check with your provider to find out how much relocating will cost you.
Will you be moving again? If you tend to be a short-term renter, you might want to look at signing up for a month-to-month contract. With month-to-month contracts, you can cancel at any time and not suffer any termination or relocation charges.
Consider bundling your energy and internet. Some brands offer cash if you bundle your energy with an internet plan. Read more about bundling your energy and internet in our guide here.
With almost every household connected to the NBN, there's a good chance your new place will fall within an area already kitted out with high-speed fibre optic cables. If that's the case, any Internet plan you sign up for will be delivered over the NBN.
However, if the NBN hasn't been rolled out to your new place yet, you'll want to be careful about which Internet plan you sign up for. Since the old copper network is being disconnected as part of the NBN rollout, any non-NBN plan you sign up for will only serve as a temporary solution for your Internet needs. To check whether the NBN is available at your new home, head to our NBN tracker page.
Make sure to pay off any leftover bills, and if you're renting ensure that the landlord has removed your name from any bills
Finder survey: What's most likely to make Australians compare energy plans?
Response
Price change notice
40.44%
Budgeting/saving money
36.33%
Moving house
13.62%
I don't/wouldn't compare
7.69%
Other
1.92%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1145 Australians, December 2023
What do I need to consider when moving to a new property?
Is a smart meter installed?
Smart meters are handy, so if there's one already set up at the property, you can take advantage of plans and features that rely on them. If a smart meter is not installed, don't worry about it. You should never have to pay for smart meter installation – that will be dealt with by the owner.
What if the property has solar panels?
This may involve having a discussion with the owner. When you pick an energy plan, there will likely be some solar feed-in tariffs for excess energy returned to the power grid. The owner may decide that they want control over these, so sort it out before moving in.
How much notice do I need to give to my provider?
Generally, a provider will only need 5 days or so to get everything set up. However, you should inform your provider (both new and old, if you're switching) of the date that you're moving as soon as you know. This will ensure that everything transitions over smoothly.
Should I switch providers when I move house?
Since you're already disconnecting your electricity, gas and Internet, it could be the perfect opportunity to find a plan with conditions more suited to your new situation and with a great sign up deal.
As long as you're not locked into a contract with an exit fee, switching providers should be free. You could switch for one of the following reasons:
Lower environmental impact
A different provider might burn fewer fossil fuels, provide carbon offsets or let you source more of your power from renewables. It might offer great incentives for solar, letting you switch to green energy more easily at your new home.
Save on bills
It's important to compare different plans to see if there is a cheaper or better option available.
Get better customer service
Some retailers are more responsive and reliable when it comes to customer feedback. If you're unhappy with your provider's service, consider switching.
Gain flexibility
Signing up for a new plan that's month to month with no lock-in contract or exit fees means you can change your mind more easily in the future or move again if you have to.
Solar power plans:
Got rooftop solar? Compare your options and save even more
Average energy bill:
Find out how your energy bill compares to the rest of Australia
Frequently asked questions
If you're renting or buying a new home, you should make sure you get an initial water meter reading to make sure you only pay for the water you use. Unlike other utilities, water is always connected and doesn't need to be turned on and off when you move.
Things can get quite a bit trickier when you move interstate, particularly when it comes to energy. Places like NSW, VIC, south-east QLD, the ACT and SA have fully competitive energy markets. This means that you can choose which provider you want and sign up for the plan that best suits you.
Elsewhere, including WA, NT and TAS, you don't have this same freedom. Instead, the government regulates energy prices, and you may notice big changes in energy costs when moving from a deregulated area to a regulated one.
Moving interstate may also force you to switch from your favourite provider: not all retailers operate in all regions or offer the same services if they do. When moving interstate, it is important to compare your options of energy providers.
Connecting your electricity and gas when moving into a rental property is similar to moving into a house you have bought. The difference for renters is that some properties can include the cost of gas and electricity into your rent payment. In this case, you only need to worry about disconnecting the utilities from your old place.
When moving, you'll usually be charged 2 fees: a disconnection fee for the address you've left and a reconnection fee for the address you're moving to. These are one-off fees that depend on your electricity distributor and may be waived on certain plans. No fee is required if power is already connected and you're just changing the account holder to your name.
In an embedded network, instead of each unit being connected to a separate energy circuit and meter, they are connected to a centralised power network for the whole building. This network is then connected to the electricity grid, with all power to the building provided by the retailer who services the building. In theory, this allows buildings to negotiate cheaper power rates by buying it in bulk, but it leaves renters without any control over their energy plan. Legally, you are still allowed to choose your own retailer even in an embedded network, but in practice, you may find that it's difficult and ends up being more expensive anyway.
Usually yes, as long as the apartments are separately metered. Most people who live in an apartment will be able to select their energy provider the same way as anybody else, provided that the distributor has easy access to the energy meter. The main exception is embedded networks. If your distributor can't access your meter, it may charge you based on estimated usage, instead. To avoid this, arrange for easier meter access or submit manual reads online or over the phone.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by David Gregory as part of our fact-checking process.
Luana Matrone is a graduate at Finder aiming to help consumers make more informed financial decisions. She has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and a Bachelor of Psychology from Macquarie University. Outside of work Luana enjoys sport, shopping and can make a mean choc top. See full bio
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