Here is the short answer: organise your utilities at least three business days before you move, and ideally one to two weeks ahead. Electricity needs to be on the day you arrive, gas too if your home uses it, water is usually already connected, and internet should be booked as early as possible because it has the longest lead time. Below is exactly which services to sort, who to contact, and when, plus a move-day checklist you can work through.
Which Utilities You Need to Sort
Not every home uses every service, so start by working out what your new place actually has. A quick call to the real estate agent or the previous owner can confirm whether the home runs on mains gas, bottled gas, or electricity only.
- Electricity: every home needs it, and it is the one you cannot move in without
- Gas: only if the home uses mains or bottled gas for cooking, hot water, or heating
- Water: usually stays connected, but confirm who pays the supply and usage charges
- Internet and phone: book early, as connection can take days or weeks depending on the network
- Extras to check: bottled gas swap-and-go, solar feed-in, and any pay TV or streaming billed to your address
When to Organise Each Connection
The biggest mistake people make is leaving utilities until moving week. Internet in particular can leave you without a connection for days if you book late. Use this rough timeline: two to four weeks out, choose or notify your energy retailer and book your internet; three or more business days out, lock in the exact connection date; on moving day, confirm the power is actually on before the truck is unloaded.
Book internet first
Internet has the longest lead time of any utility. Book it as soon as you have a confirmed move-in date so you are not stuck without a connection in your first week.
How Electricity and Gas Connections Work in Australia
It helps to know that two different companies are involved. You choose a retailer (the company that bills you), but the physical poles, wires, and meters are run by a distributor that is fixed to your area and cannot be changed. In South East Queensland the distributor is Energex and you can pick from retailers like AGL, Origin, or EnergyAustralia. In regional Queensland, including Cairns and Townsville, the network is run by Ergon Energy, which is also the main electricity retailer for the area. Either way, you contact a retailer, give them your move-in date and new address, and they arrange the connection through the distributor on your behalf.
Step by Step: Connecting Your New Home
- Choose a retailer, or simply ask your current one to move your service to the new address
- Have your details ready: the new address, your move-in date, photo ID, and a concession card if you have one
- Find your NMI (electricity) or MIRN (gas) on a recent bill or from the agent to speed things up
- Book the connection for a few business days before you arrive so it is live on move day
- Arrange disconnection at your old home for the day after you leave, not before
- Record the final meter readings at both properties so your closing bills are accurate
Take meter photos
Photograph the meter readings at both your old and new homes on the day you hand over and move in. It is the simplest way to dispute an incorrect final bill later.
Do Not Forget Water, Internet, and Your Address
Water supply is usually already connected and, for renters, the owner generally pays the supply charge while you may cover usage, so check your lease. For internet, book early and ask which network technology the home uses so you order the right plan. While you are at it, redirect your mail and update your address with everyone who needs it. Our change of address checklist walks through exactly who to notify.
Moving-Day Utilities Checklist
- Power is on and working at the new home
- Gas is connected and appliances light correctly
- Hot water is running
- Internet modem is set up or an appointment is booked
- Final meter readings recorded at your old home
- Old accounts closed and new accounts confirmed in your name
“The families who have the smoothest first night are always the ones who sorted power and internet a week early. It is the cheapest insurance against moving stress there is.”
, R2G Moving Team
A Week-by-Week Utility Timeline
If you like a clear plan, here is the countdown most organised movers follow. Adjust it to your own dates, but the order rarely changes.
- Three to four weeks before: choose your electricity and gas retailer, and book your internet so the connection date lands on or just before move day
- Two weeks before: confirm your move-in date with the retailer, lock in the connection, and arrange disconnection at your current home
- One week before: check you have your NMI or MIRN, your ID, and any concession details ready, and confirm your internet appointment
- Moving day: take final meter readings at the old home, confirm power and gas are on at the new one, and set up your modem
- The week after: check your first bills show the right address and that your old accounts have closed
Setting Up the Internet Without a Gap
Internet is the utility most likely to leave you stranded, because a new connection can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on the network and whether the property has been connected before. Start by finding out what network technology the new home uses. Where you can, transfer your existing plan to the new address rather than cancelling and starting fresh, and ask the provider for the earliest available connection date. If there is going to be a gap, a prepaid mobile broadband modem or your phone's hotspot can keep you online for the first few days. If you work from home, treat the internet booking as the very first thing you do once your move-in date is locked.
Water, Council Rates and Apartments
Water is usually already connected, so you rarely need a new connection. Who pays is the part to check. In most rentals the owner pays the water supply charge and you may be billed for water usage, while owners pay council water and rates directly. If you are moving into an apartment or townhouse, some services such as water or hot water can be billed through the body corporate or an embedded network rather than a standard retailer, so ask the agent or building manager how utilities are handled before you sign anything up.
Solar, Hot Water and Bottled Gas
A few extras catch people out. If the home has solar panels, tell your electricity retailer so your feed-in tariff is set up correctly, otherwise you will not be credited for what you export. Check whether the hot water is electric, mains gas, or bottled gas, because it changes who you call and how quickly you will have hot showers. And if the property runs on bottled LPG for cooking or heating, organise a swap-and-go or a bottle delivery so you are not caught short on the first night.
Common Utility Mistakes When Moving House
Most utility headaches come from a short list of avoidable slip-ups:
- Leaving the internet booking until moving week and then waiting days for a connection
- Disconnecting the old property too early and losing power before you have finished cleaning or handing over
- Forgetting to give a final meter reading, then arguing about an estimated final bill
- Not declaring solar at the new home and missing feed-in credits
- Assuming water or hot water is included when it is billed separately through a body corporate
- Paying for two properties longer than needed because the old accounts were never closed
Disconnecting Your Old Home the Right Way
It is easy to focus on the new place and forget the old one, but a clean disconnect saves you money and hassle. Book the disconnection for the day after you hand over the keys, not the day you leave, so you still have power for last-minute cleaning. Give a final meter reading for both electricity and gas, and confirm the account is being closed rather than just transferred. If you are renting, your final reading and closing bill also help you avoid being charged for the next tenant's usage. Keep a copy of your closing statements until the final payment has cleared.
Concession Cards and Energy Rebates
If you hold an eligible concession or pension card, you may qualify for an electricity rebate or other energy concessions, and a move is the right time to make sure it carries across. These rebates are generally applied through your energy retailer, so when you set up the account at your new address, tell them about your concession card and ask for the rebate to be applied. Do not assume it transfers automatically when you switch addresses or providers, because it often does not, and you could miss credits you are entitled to.
Moving In Over a Weekend or Public Holiday
Plenty of moves happen on a Saturday or a long weekend, which is exactly when connections can be slower. Energy retailers may not process same-day or weekend connections as quickly, and internet appointments are scarcer. If your move lands on a weekend or public holiday, book your connections a few extra days earlier than usual so everything is live before you arrive, and double-check the dates in writing rather than just over the phone.
Find Your Meters and Mains on Day One
Before the crew leaves on moving day, take two minutes to find the things you will want in a hurry later. Locate the electricity meter box and the main switch, the water shut-off valve, and, if the home has gas, the gas meter and isolation valve. Check that the lights and power points work, that the hot water is running, and that the cooktop lights if it is gas. Note where the hot water unit and the air conditioning or heating controls are. Knowing where everything is on the first day means that if a switch trips or you need to turn the water off, you are not hunting through cupboards in the dark on your first night in a new home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long before moving should I connect the electricity?
Aim for at least three business days before move day, and ideally one to two weeks. Connecting electricity is usually quick, but booking early means the power is definitely on when you arrive rather than relying on a same-day connection that may not happen.
Can I keep the same energy provider when I move house?
Usually yes. In most cases you can move your existing electricity and gas accounts to the new address with a single call or online form, as long as your retailer services that area. Moving is also a natural time to compare plans, since you are contacting them anyway.
Do I need to be home for the electricity to be connected?
For a standard electricity connection, usually not, because the meter can often be activated remotely or externally. For a new gas connection, or where the meter is inside a locked area, someone may need to provide access, so confirm with your retailer when you book.
Who connects the water when I move house?
Water supply is generally already connected to the property, so there is rarely anything to switch on. For owners, the water account sits with the local council. For renters, the owner arranges supply and you may simply be billed for usage, so check your lease.
How long does it take to get the internet connected when moving?
It varies widely, from a couple of days if the home is already wired and you are transferring a plan, to a few weeks for a brand-new connection. Book as early as you can, and keep a mobile hotspot handy as a backup for the first few days.
Let R2G Handle the Heavy Lifting
Once your utilities are sorted, the only thing left is getting your belongings there safely. R2G Transport & Storage moves households across Queensland every week, whether you need removalists in Brisbane, removalists in Cairns, or an interstate removalist. Pair this guide with our ultimate moving day checklist and get a free quote to lock in your date.
