Moving house electricity checklist
Two weeks before
Compare plans for your new address. Prices and networks can be different, even in the same city. Use our comparison guide.
At least three business days before
Ask your current retailer to close the account at the old address on your move-out date. Arrange connection with your chosen retailer at the new address from your move-in date.
On moving day
Take a dated photo of both meters. It settles any dispute about the final and first readings.
In the first week
Give your new retailer any concession card and life support details. Update or cancel direct debits.
When the bills arrive
Check that the final bill at the old home stops on your move-out date and that the first bill at the new home starts on your move-in date.
Connecting power at your new home
Most homes are already connected to the grid, so moving in is a change of account rather than a new connection. Your new retailer arranges a reading on your move-in date. With a smart meter this is done remotely. Without one, someone may need to visit.
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Power is on | The new retailer takes over from your move-in reading. There may be a move-in fee. |
| Power has been switched off | The network reconnects it. Leave the main switch off and make sure the meter is accessible. Some areas need a safety check first. |
| Brand new home | A new connection, arranged with your builder, electrician and the network well ahead of time. |
Life support equipment
If anyone in your household relies on life support equipment, tell your new retailer before you move in so the address is registered. Registration is what protects you from planned outages without notice and from disconnection.
Closing the account at your old home
You are responsible for the electricity at your old address until your account is closed. If you forget, you keep paying the daily supply charge and any power used after you leave. Ask for the final bill to be sent to your new address or email.
If you have solar panels at the home you are selling, the feed-in credits go with the account. The next owner or tenant signs up for their own plan.
Moving into a rental or apartment
Tenants usually set up the account in their own name. In some apartment buildings and caravan parks, power is supplied through an embedded network, where the building operator or its agent bills you. Our guide to electricity in rental properties covers your rights as a tenant.
Questions about moving house
Aim for at least three business days. Many retailers can connect a home that is already on the grid faster, especially with a smart meter, but a power supply that has been switched off can take longer and may need a site visit.
No. Moving is a good time to compare plans. You can choose any retailer that sells in your new area, and you may be on a different network with different prices.
The power stays on, and you are supplied by whichever retailer was supplying the property, at its standing offer prices. Set up your own plan as soon as you can, as standing offers are usually more expensive.
Often there is a move-in or connection fee, which mostly covers the network's charge for reading or reconnecting the meter. It is usually higher for same-day or after-hours requests. Ask your retailer before you book.
You do, until your account is closed. Ask your retailer to close it from your move-out date and take a photo of the meter as you leave.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.