Moving house? Gas and electricity set-up in your new place shouldn’t cause stress if you have the right information. Find out what to do to start the process.
When you’re moving house, the list of tasks can seem endless and overwhelming. The last thing you want is to struggle with gas or electricity after you’ve moved in. Connecting gas and electricity when moving house takes a little bit of planning.
How to transfer gas and electric plans to a new home
If you want to continue with your current energy supplier in your new home, you will need to check that they operate in your new location. If they do, you need to check whether you can continue on your current plan in your new home or need to cancel it and sign up for a new one. Although many retailers promise that they will transfer your connection within one business day, it’s still a good idea to initiate this process two to three days before you move. The distributor may charge a reconnection fee for connecting gas and electricity to the new home, so it’s worth finding out upfront what you’re looking at.
If you can continue with your current contract, tell your provider that you are moving house. Gas and electricity supply should be sorted by the time you move in, provided you have given enough notice. Most retailers provide an online form for you to inform them about your plan to move. Make a note of the meter reading at your old house when you’re about to leave to make sure you’re not paying for the new owners or tenants' energy.
If you need to cancel your current plan, and it was a fixed-term plan then you may have to pay a termination fee. Make sure the cancellation process is complete by the time you leave, otherwise you may be charged for power consumed at your old house after you have left it. If you had paid a security deposit for the energy at your old home, then you should get it back from the energy retailer when you cancel your contract.
Some retailers guarantee that you will have power in your new home within a very short time frame (around 24 hours) or they will cover related expenses up to a certain limit. So if you are continuing with the same provider, find out what their best offer is. Remember that they will want to keep you as a customer, so it’s in their interest to make the process smooth and painless.
How to set up energy suppliers in a new home
If the energy suppliers to your old home don't service the region that you are moving into or if you would like to explore better deals, you will need to identify new plans and find out how to switch energy suppliers when moving. On this page about providers and plans, you will find the link to services in your state or territory. It may help with your new home gas and electric comparison.
When you move into the new place, you may find that power is connected. It’s important to make sure that the previous occupants’ contract is cancelled and your new contract has begun.
If you are moving to a new home that has just been built, then your new home energy supplier may need to provide a new connection. You may need to get gas and electricity meters, but this is often done before you get the okay to move in. Check with your new energy supplier when moving house how long it's going to take for the connection before you make the moving arrangements. This process can take days, depending on the complexity and type of connection.
