Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.

Personal Finance > Products & Services

Products & Services

How To Transfer Utilities When Moving

By Susan Doktor MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE

February 27, 2023

You have to have your wits about you when you move. Probably more wits than usual. So many tasks to accomplish both before and after you arrive at your new home, from packing to paperwork!

You probably don’t think about your utilities much during an average day. The lights come on, your rain head shower delivers its steamy stream when you turn the faucet. But you can’t take your electricity and natural gas with you. You have to re-up them when you move into your new home.

So we’ve put together a utility checklist and instructions on how to shut off your utilities when you leave your old home — you’ll avoid unnecessary charges that way — and what to do when you arrive at your new residence to keep your house humming along. That way you can avoid taking cold showers or sweating buckets in an overheated house the first few days you arrive at your new home.

How to Transfer Utilities When Moving

Plan the transfers of your utilities ahead of time

Proper planning — you could also describe it as exhaustive planning and be on the mark — is the way to make moving less complicated. You’ll probably make many moving checklists as you complete the process of moving. Transferring your utilities is just one of many planning tasks you’ll have to take on.

The best way to avoid gaps in your utility services is to get ahead of the task. While you should only turn off services at your old home at the last minute and start services just before arriving at your new location, good planning will help make the process go more smoothly.

Create a list with all the utilities of your home

As a first step, make a list of all of your utility providers and your account numbers. Or you can use our list to make life simpler:

Natural gas service
Electric companies
Telephone companies (landline)
Water service
Internet service providers
Cable companies
Home security companies

If you’re a renter whose landlord pays for some or all of your utilities, you may not need to contact quite as many providers. On the other hand, this certainly isn’t an exhaustive list of organizations you’ll need to contact when you move.

Filing a change of address form is imperative. But you’ll also want to proactively notify your bank, your credit card companies, retail credit card providers, government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, and the Social Security Administration if you’re retired. If you receive government medical benefits or food assistance, those service providers will need to know you’ve moved, too. And don’t forget to change your voter registration when you arrive at your new home. Take note of your new polling place, too, so you’re not caught off guard on Election Day.

Find the same or equal utilities in the area you are going to move

Take the time to research utility providers in your new neighborhood. Don’t leave it to the last minute or you may experience gaps in service. If you’re buying a new home, your real estate agent can help you with some of that contact information and help you set up new utility accounts. Don’t be shy about relying on your realtor: he or she earned a hefty commission on the purchase of your new house.

Jot down the names and phone numbers of the primary utility companies you’ll be dealing with to get your basic needs met. You may have some choices to make. Depending on where you live, you may have the option of several electric service providers, for example. Prices will vary, so look for the best rate per kilowatt you can. And most cities are served by multiple cable TV companies. Find the one that offers you the channels you want at a price you can afford.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad

Write down prices and terms they offer

If you’ve ever shopped for TV streaming or wifi services, you know how complicated these tasks can be. Comparing services apples-to-apples can be a challenge. But you’ll do your budget a favor if you take the time to be a smart shopper.

Dare we suggest you create a spreadsheet as you explore your options? Trust us, it’s not overkill and doing so can really help you make the most cost-effective decisions.

Many ISPs and TV providers offer special deals for new customers. By all means, take advantage of them. But also take note of when special promotional pricing ends and what you’ll be paying a year from now. Do the math. You may discover that the lowest price you find today doesn’t represent the best long-term cost.

Return the company equipment (if any)

Most utility company equipment is located outside your home: your water and electric meters for example. But in a couple of cases, you may have some equipment belonging to one of your service providers inside your house. Modems and TV streaming consoles are among them.

Before you leave your old home, be sure to call your service providers and find out whether the equipment you’ve been using belongs to you or must be returned. The easiest way to return equipment is by dropping it off at a provider’s local office. But you may be required to ship the equipment back. There may also be a deadline for returning equipment after you cancel service. You don’t want to miss that date and incur non-return fees. So call your ISP, and any other provider that may have given you equipment to use. Find out how and when the equipment must be returned. Some providers will allow you to return items for free. Directv and ATT are among them.

Pay your utility balances

Each utility company you deal with has its own billing cycle. If you know you’ll be moving shortly, stay ahead of your utility bills and pay your outstanding balances promptly.

After your cancellation date, you can expect your utility companies to do final gas, electric, and water meter readings. It’s a good idea to call your utility companies and make a service request that these meter readings happen on or around your move-out date so you won’t pay for services used by the new occupants or your residence. You’ll be responsible for any final charges at that point.

Your final bill may include fees to transfer utility service if you’re sticking with the same company in your new home. Such transfer fees seem particularly unfair and may, in some cases, be negotiable If you’re starting up with a new utility company, generally speaking, your current utility company won’t charge you for stopping service.

Don’t neglect your final bills. If you allow them to go into collection, this may have a negative impact on your credit score.

Confirm the end of the service with your old company

Utility companies can make mistakes. So be sure to follow up with each utility company you’ve done business with to make sure your utility services actually stopped on your move-out date. You can do this as soon as a few business days have passed. You may save money on your utility costs that way.

How To Transfer Utilities When Moving FAQs

How should I cancel my old service providers?

The best way to cancel utility services depends on the specific utility service and company you are dealing with, but generally, the following steps can be helpful:

1. Check the terms of your contract or agreement with the utility service provider — this is especially important if you've signed a contract with a TV streaming service. Look for any specific guidelines or requirements related to cancellation, such as the notice period or fees that may apply.

2. Contact the utility service provider directly. This is usually the easiest and most effective way to cancel your service. You can typically do this by phone, email or online. Provide the company with your account information and the date you want your service to end.

3. Return any equipment or property. If you have any equipment or property rented or leased from the utility service provider, make sure you return it as required. This can include things like cable boxes, routers, or smart thermostats.

4. Confirm the cancellation. After you have canceled your service, it's a good idea to call your utility companies to confirm that cancellations have been processed and your account has been closed. This can help you avoid any unexpected bills or fees in the future.

What are the charges for canceling my services?

When you cancel your service with a utility company, you will be responsible for any remaining balance you owe on your bill. Your utility company will take one final reading of your utility charges after you move, and you'll be responsible for those charges, as well.

Some companies do charge modest fees for transferring existing service to a new location. However, if you're starting service with a new utility company, there is generally no cost to you as a new customer.

How do I set up utilities in my new home?

Ask your realtor for a list of public utility companies for such services as gas, electric, and water and sewage. The list should include contact information for these companies. Be sure to contact local utility providers at least a week before your move-in date so service and associated charges can begin the day you move in.

How We Chose the Best Way to Transfer Utilities When Moving

To come up with our list of tips, we organized the steps that need to be taken to transfer your utilities and put them in chronological order. We prioritized tips that result in money savings, or at least prevent unnecessary fees. We checked with various utilities and TV streaming companies to see how they recommended discontinuing service and setting up services in your new home. We also advised our readers on how to make transferring utilities a simpler, smoother process.

Summary of Our Guide to Transferring Utilities When You Move

Utility services typically aren’t top of mind after you’ve lived in the same place for a long time — except, perhaps, when you have to pay your bills. Many people don’t consider the many steps involved in transferring utilities when they move because they have so many other things on their minds. And sometimes, that leads to unpleasant gaps in service. So we created a checklist to help you get organized. Our last bit of advice: don’t wait until the last minute. Approach the task of stopping and starting services well before your move date for the smoothest moving experience.