How to Set Up Utilities When You Move

So you’ve picked out the perfect new home, started packing your belongings, and hired a moving company. What’s left on your moving checklist? Handling your utility transfers.

Don’t forget – just like your boxes and furniture, you also have to move or set up your utilities to your new home. Forgetting to transfer, cancel, or turn on utilities could leave you with stress on moving day, or worse, expensive past-due bills.

It only takes a few phone calls and a little bit of organization to quickly and efficiently set up your utilities – we’ll show you how.  

Jump to:

• What utilities to set up when you move
• Transferring utilities when renting
• Additional tips
• Frequently asked questions

What utilities to set up when you move

About three to four weeks before move-in day, you’ll want to start thinking about what utilities you’ll need to shut off in your old place and have transferred to your new home. 

Items that make it onto many people’s utility list include:

• Internet & TV
• Electricity
• Water & sewer
• Gas
• Trash collection
• Home security
• Solar power

Make a list of all the utilities your new home needs, and order them by priority. Having power, water, and internet & TV is a must on moving day. Internet & TV may not seem like a priority now, but trust us, you’ll be happy you have it set up after a hard day of moving. 

Note: certain utilities provided by your town or city will often be paired together on the same bill. For example, since water, sewer, and trash services are often serviced by your town or city, they may be billed together. These are still separate services with separate charges, just on the same bill. 

Moving inside your current city limits

If you’re moving within your current town or city limits, you’ll likely be able to keep your current utility providers. Just contact your providers and inform them of your new address and which dates you would like service to start at your new address and end at your old one. You should inform each of your current utility providers that you’re moving at least two weeks in advance.

If you’re unhappy with any of your current utility providers or you want to try something new, moving is the perfect opportunity to switch providers. Do a little research and see which providers service your area. 

Moving outside your current city limits

If you’re moving outside of your current town or city limits, your current utility providers may not service your new area, especially for any utilities provided by your city or town. But this isn’t always a bad thing – you may find that you’ll be paying less for certain utilities at your new address. 

Take the time to research and compare providers in your new area. There may be a better internet, TV, or home security plan out there for your new home.  

Here are some questions you should ask the utility service provider when discussing service:

• What are the charges for canceling or starting service?
• Will someone need to be present at the home when utilities are switched on or off?
• If you paid a deposit when starting service, how do you get that money back?
• Do you have any outstanding bills that require payment?
• How should you deal with leftover equipment? (Think: A cable box or internet modem)

Internet & TV

When to set up internet & TV:

Two weeks before your move-in day.

What you’ll need:

• Your new address
• Your exact move-in and move-out dates
• Chosen internet service provider (ISP)
• Modem (most likely provided by your ISP)
• Router (can be provided by your ISP) 

Moving is the perfect excuse to switch internet or TV providers if you’ve been unhappy with their services. Plus, your current internet and TV providers may not service your new address, meaning you’ll need to pick a new provider. And don’t forget that bundling your internet and TV services may be an option to explore if you’re looking to save a little on internet and TV.

Transferring your internet service

Make sure to compare multiple internet providers in your area so that you get the right internet plan for your new home, and potentially save while you’re at it.

Don’t forget to contact your current internet service provider to let them know you’d like to cancel the service and the exact date of cancellation. If your current internet service provider covers your new area and you’d like to stay connected with them, you have that option too. Just give them a call, let them know your new address and move-in date, and they can help you get your internet set up at your new address. 

Transferring your TV service

The same thing applies to your cable TV provider as well – you can either switch or continue going through your current cable TV provider if they service your new area. If you choose to continue with your current cable TV provider, contact them to let them know your new address and move-in date, and they’ll be able to assist you with the transfer. 

If you are switching cable TV providers, do a little research and compare multiple providers in your area to get a feel of what’s out there. Once you’ve decided on a provider, you’ll need to contact them, and they’ll be able to help you get cable TV set up for your new address.

Electricity

When to set up electricity:

Three weeks before your move-in day.

What you’ll need:

• Your new address to set up electricity in your new home
• Your current address to cancel electricity after you’ve moved
• Your exact move-in and move-out dates
• Government-issued identification (to check your credit history and confirm identity)

If you’re moving outside of your current town or city limits, you’ll need to figure out who provides electricity provider is. 

To determine who your electricity provider is, you have a few options:

• Do an internet search for “electricity in my town/city/county”
• Ask your real estate agent or landlord 
• Visit the local town or city hall

Once you’ve obtained your new electricity provider’s contact information, you’ll need to let them know your new address and the exact date you’ll need your electricity to start. So in this case, your move-in date.

Moving to a deregulated energy state

One thing to remember when researching utilities: some states have deregulated electricity and natural gas services. This means you may have a choice of multiple providers and service plans, allowing you to shop around for a new provider. If this is the case where you live, make sure to compare offerings in your area. 

Water & sewer

When to set up water & sewer:

Two weeks before your move-in day.

What you’ll need:

• Your new address to set up water & sewer in your new home
• Your current address to cancel water & sewer after you’ve moved
• Your exact move-in and move-out dates
• Government-issued identification (to check your credit history and confirm identity)

Similar to your electricity, if you’re moving outside of your town or city limits, you’ll need to find and contact your new water and sewer provider. Normally, your water and sewer is serviced by the town or city you live in. But it’s always good to check for yourself to make sure.

To determine who your water and sewer provider is, you have a few options:

• Do an internet search for “water and sewer in my town/city/county”
• Ask your real estate agent or landlord 
• Visit the local town or city hall

Once you’ve found out who your provider is, they’ll need to know your new address and the date you need your water service to start, which should be your move-in day. Don’t be too surprised if your trash collection service is set up with your water and sewer. These utilities are usually both provided by your town or city, so it’s pretty common to see water, sewer, and trash collection set up at the same time and billed on the same form. 

Gas

When to set up water & sewer:

Two weeks before your move-in day.

What you’ll need:

• Your new address to set up gas in your new home
• Your current address to cancel gas after you’ve moved
• Your exact move-in and move-out dates
• Government-issued identification (to check your credit history and confirm identity)

Your new gas provider may be the same as your new electricity provider. If that’s the case, you’ll be able to get your gas and electricity set up at the same time. But if your gas provider is not the same as your electricity provider, you’ll need to find out who provides gas services to your town/city/county.

To determine who your gas provider is, you have a few options:

• Do an internet search for “gas provider in my town/city/county”
• Ask your real estate agent or landlord 
• Visit the local town or city hall

Getting your gas set up through your gas provider should be pretty similar to your electricity. Like with most utilities they’ll need to know your new address and the date you want service to start. 

It’s also important to note that some states have deregulated gas as well, meaning you’ll have multiple gas providers and plan options. If you are moving to a deregulated state, get to know a few of your options beforehand. 

Trash collection

When to set up water & sewer:

Two weeks before your move-in day. If you set up your trash collection service while setting up water & sewer, you can skip this step.

What you’ll need:

• Your new address to register trash collection for your new home
• Your current address to cancel trash collection after you’ve moved
• Your exact move-in and move-out dates

Trash collection is definitely going to be something you’ll want to have ready as soon as possible. However, it’s not as high a priority as electricity and water, so this should be one of the last utilities to get taken care of on your list.

Your trash collection is most likely going to go through your town or city. And don’t be too shocked if your town or city set up your trash collection during the water and sewer transfer process. But if they didn’t, then you’ll just have to do it separately. 

If your town or city doesn’t provide trash collection, you’ll likely have to contact a third-party trash service in your area and sign up with them if you want curbside trash and recycle.   

Home security

When to set up home security:

One to two months before your move (if you have wired home security equipment). If you’re not able to make that timeframe, contact them as soon as you can, so they can help you transfer and install equipment and services.  

What you’ll need:

• Your new address to transfer and install equipment in your new home
• Your exact move-in and move-out dates
• A secure place to pack and transport your equipment

Being able to bring your home security system with you when you move is all dependent on your monitoring service or company. With most companies, the answer is yes. However, you should still contact your monitoring company to make sure, and so that they can assist you with reinstalling your home security equipment in your new home. If you don’t have a home security system set up in your current home, consider having one installed in your new one. 

Solar power

Solar power is a great alternative to standard power. Installing solar panels can help decrease the cost of your energy bill, reduce your carbon footprint, and increase the value of your home. If you’re looking to invest in your home for the long-term, solar power is a great start.

Before signing up for a standard electricity provider, consider seeing if solar power is right for your new home.

Transferring utilities when renting

If you’re moving into a rental apartment or home, the leasing office or landlord should be able to provide you with a list of which utilities service your new place. Remember to ask your landlord if utilities are included in your rent. If services like water, gas, and electricity are included, chances are you’re not responsible for setting them up.

If they aren’t included in your rent, make sure to ask your leasing office or landlord if they mandate or prefer certain utility companies.

Additional tips to help you save money and avoid stress

The process of switching your utilities to a new home isn’t complicated, but there are actually some ways to make it go even more smoothly – and save yourself some money in the process. 

Make sure to pay any outstanding balances

You don’t want any overdue bills before you move, especially if you’re canceling the service. Having outstanding balances could hurt your credit score, so you want to make sure everything is paid off before moving day.

Be sure to give your new address to the utility company for any final bills or notices. While you’re in the process of transferring utilities, complete the necessary change-of-address forms in case anything does get sent to your old home. You don’t want to miss out on important statements or get charged late fees.

There’s also a chance you could get a refund for services not used. Keep in mind that your utilities could be prorated, meaning that you only pay up until the final day of use. When you go to shut off utilities at your old place, the company could end up owing you money.

Do a gut check on the utilities you currently pay for

Is there anything you can cut out of your monthly expenses by opting out of a utility completely or settling for a lower package? Does your internet package meet your family’s needs? Maybe it’s a good time to add services you didn’t have before. Do you want that cable subscription now that you’re settled into a new home? Maybe you just moved into an area that offers fiber internet, and you can’t wait to get connected.

Take a look at your monthly budget and shop around. Moving is the perfect time to reevaluate your needs and, perhaps, change providers.

Ask if there are discounts available for movers

Does the preferred provider in certain condo communities offer a deal for new residents? Are there any specials for new customers? Will they waive certain fees if you sign up for auto-bill-pay or paperless billing? Many providers have these offers available, but they aren’t always advertised. It never hurts to ask since you’re already on the line!

The bottom line

Setting up utilities is a necessary to-do item on your moving checklist. The last thing you want on moving day is to settle into a new place that doesn’t have electricity or running water. But setting up service requires time and planning. Make it easy on yourself — start early, and you’ll be checking off this task in no time.

To help make your move even easier, here are a few MYMOVE resources: 

• Change your address
• Pre-move checklist
• Packing checklist
• Home security guide
• Compare internet plans and providers

Frequently asked questions 

Can I keep my same utilities and other services when I move?

Maybe, it depends on whether you’re still in the same service area as your previous provider. If you’re buying a house, your real estate agent can tell you the providers in your area — or it is likely included in your closing paperwork. If you’re renting, your landlord can tell you.

How much does it cost to transfer utilities? 

That depends on the utility and the service provider. Some utility companies may have a transfer fee, a processing fee, or may charge for a new service setup. Make sure to ask what charges are associated with installing the utility in your home when you talk with a representative. You can try to look up an answer on their website, but this may be a time when getting someone on the phone is preferable.

Will I have to pay a deposit when I transfer my utilities?

If you’re keeping your same providers, probably not. If you’re signing up for new service, you might – depending on your credit and other factors. Make sure you have a credit card or other payment method in hand when calling to set up a utility service.

How do I transfer utilities to a roommate? 

You can transfer your utility bill to your roommate or another member of the household by contacting your provider. Like anything with utilities, you’ll want to do this as soon as possible to avoid a mix-up when it comes time to pay the bill. Remember that whoever’s name is on the bill will be the one charged for the service.

The person requesting that the bill be put under their name will need to show personal documentation to the utility company — usually, some proof of identification (i.e. ID, passport, birth certificate) and proof of the billing address (i.e. the lease agreement with the person’s name and new address on it or an addressed piece of mail).