How to Connect Utilities When Moving in Australia (Complete 2025 Guide)

Nathan Clancy
Jun 10
8 min read

Moving to a new home is exciting — until you realise your electricity, gas, internet, and water aren't connected yet.

Disconnected utilities are one of the most common (and avoidable) stress points on moving day. This guide walks you through exactly how to connect utilities when moving in Australia, what to do first, which providers to contact, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

Why Utility Connection Matters on Moving Day

You've packed the boxes, booked the removalists, and handed back the keys. But if you arrive at your new home to find no power, no hot water, and no internet, the day quickly unravels.

Beyond the inconvenience, arriving without connected utilities can mean:

No lights or air conditioning on a sweltering Sydney summer day
No hot water for a shower after a long day of heavy lifting
No internet to coordinate with family, check emails, or work from home the following morning
Delays with appliances that need to be set up and tested

The good news: connecting utilities in Australia is straightforward when you plan ahead. Most providers only need a few days' notice — and some can connect you on the same day.

The Right Order to Set Up Utilities

When organising utilities for a new home, sequence matters. Here's the recommended order:

1. Electricity — Your highest priority. Everything else depends on it.2. Gas — If your new home has gas appliances (hot water, cooking, heating), connect this early.3. Water — Typically managed by your local council or water authority. Often already active.4. Internet/NBN — Longest lead times. Book this first, even if electricity is the priority.5. Phone — Usually handled alongside internet.

The reason internet often needs to be booked first despite being lower priority is simple: NBN installations can take 2–4 weeks, while electricity and gas connections usually only take 1–3 business days.

Electricity and Gas

How to Connect Electricity at a New Address in Australia

Australia has a deregulated energy market, which means you can choose your own electricity retailer in most states. You are not locked in to whoever the previous tenant used.

Steps to connect electricity:

Find your NMI (National Metering Identifier). This is a 10 or 11-digit number unique to your property's electricity connection. It's usually on an old electricity bill, the meter box itself, or available from your real estate agent or property manager.
Compare retailers. Use the government's Energy Made Easy comparison tool (available for NSW, ACT, SA, QLD, and Tasmania) or Victorian Energy Compare for Victoria.
Contact your chosen retailer. Give them your NMI, new address, and your preferred connection date. For a same-day or next-day connection, call in the morning.
Be home if a meter read is required. Many new connections are completed remotely via smart meters, but older meters may need a technician visit.

Same-day electricity connection is possible in most areas of Australia, but you'll need to call your retailer before midday. Some retailers charge a fee for urgent connections.

Gas Connection

If your new home uses natural gas, the process is similar to electricity:

Find your MIRN (Meter Installation Registration Number) — the gas equivalent of an NMI. It's on the meter or a previous gas bill.
Contact a gas retailer (or your chosen dual-fuel energy provider) and request a new connection.
If the gas has been disconnected for more than 12 months, you may need a gas fitter to inspect the lines before reconnection — this is a safety requirement, not a retailer preference.

In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, energy markets are regulated, so you'll deal with specific providers (Synergy in WA, Jacana Energy in the NT).

Water and Sewerage

Unlike electricity and gas, you generally cannot choose your water provider in Australia. Water and sewerage is managed by your local government or a regional water authority.

The good news: water and sewerage is usually already active at the property. You typically just need to notify your council or water authority of your move-in date so that billing is transferred to your name.

What to do:

Contact your local water authority (see the state-by-state section below) at least a few days before moving in.
Provide your new address, your move-in date, and your contact details.
Ask about any connection fees if the property has been vacant for an extended period.

In most cases, you won't need a plumber or technician — the account simply transfers. If water pressure seems low or there's a problem after moving in, contact the water authority, not a plumber, as the issue may be on their side of the meter.

Internet and NBN

This is the one that catches most Australians off guard. NBN connections can take 2 to 4 weeks — sometimes longer in areas that require a technician to run a new line.

How to Connect NBN at a New Address

Check NBN availability. Go to nbnco.com.au and enter your new address. This will tell you the NBN connection type available at your property (FTTP, FTTC, HFC, FTTN, or Fixed Wireless).
Choose an internet service provider (ISP). Popular options include Aussie Broadband, Superloop, Telstra, Optus, TPG, Belong, and Internode. Compare plans on WhistleOut or Finder.
Book an installation date. If your property has never been connected to the NBN before, a technician visit is required. Book this as early as possible.
If the property has existing NBN infrastructure, you may only need a self-install modem kit, which typically arrives within 5–10 business days.

Mobile Broadband as a Backup

If you need internet on moving day and NBN isn't connected yet, a 4G/5G mobile broadband device or hotspot from Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone/TPG is a practical stop-gap. Optus and Telstra both offer short-term prepaid broadband devices.

Phone and Mobile

Most Australians have moved away from fixed-line home phones, but if you need one:

Keep your existing number when switching providers — this is called porting and is your legal right in Australia.
Landline services are generally bundled with NBN plans.

For mobile phones, moving house doesn't affect your plan. You may simply want to check coverage at your new address using your provider's coverage map — particularly relevant if you're moving to a regional or semi-rural area.

State-by-State Utility Guide

New South Wales

Electricity/Gas: Deregulated market. Compare via Energy Made Easy. Major retailers: AGL, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia, Red Energy.
Water: Sydney Water (Greater Sydney). Hunter Water, Essential Water, or your local council outside Sydney.
Same-day electricity connection: Available through most retailers if requested before noon.

Victoria

Electricity/Gas: Deregulated. Compare via Victorian Energy Compare. Major retailers: AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia, Powershop, Momentum Energy.
Water: Melbourne Water and local water corporations (City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water). Regional areas vary.
Note: Renters in Victoria have specific rights around utility connection fees — landlords cannot pass on a connection fee if it relates to a failure of the premises.

Queensland

Electricity/Gas: Deregulated in South-East Queensland. Compare via Energy Made Easy. Outside SEQ, Ergon Energy (now part of Energy Queensland) is the default provider.
Water: Queensland Urban Utilities (Brisbane, Ipswich, etc.), Unitywater (Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay), or your local council.

South Australia

Electricity/Gas: Deregulated. AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia, Momentum, and Simply Energy operate here. Compare via Energy Made Easy.
Water: SA Water. Contact them to transfer the account into your name.

Western Australia

Electricity: Regulated market. Synergy is the default retailer for Perth and the South West. Horizon Power services regional WA.
Gas: Kleenheat and Alinta Energy both supply natural gas in Perth.
Water: Water Corporation WA.

Australian Capital Territory

Electricity/Gas: Deregulated. Compare via Energy Made Easy. ActewAGL is the dominant local provider.
Water: Icon Water.

Tasmania

Electricity: Aurora Energy is the primary retailer. Regulated market.
Gas: Tas Gas Networks operates in major centres.
Water: TasWater.

Northern Territory

Electricity: Jacana Energy (retailer), Power and Water Corporation (network).
Water: Power and Water Corporation.

Checklist: What to Do Before, During, and After Your Move

6–8 Weeks Before Moving

Book your NBN/internet connection at the new address
Research electricity and gas retailers for your new area
Confirm whether your new home uses natural gas or LPG

2–4 Weeks Before Moving

Contact your chosen electricity retailer with your NMI and move-in date
Contact your gas retailer with your MIRN and move-in date
Notify your local water authority of your incoming address change
Confirm your NBN installation date

1 Week Before Moving

Confirm all utility bookings are in order
Set a disconnection date at your old address (usually your last day there)
Set up mail redirection via Australia Post

On Moving Day

Take meter readings at both your old and new property (photograph them)
Check that electricity, hot water, and gas are working at the new property
Have a 4G hotspot or mobile data ready in case internet isn't live yet

After Moving In

Check your first bills to confirm correct meter readings
Update your address with Medicare, ATO, banks, and vehicle registration
Register your new address on the electoral roll at aec.gov.au

How Far in Advance Should You Organise Utilities?

Utility	Recommended Notice	Reason
Internet/NBN	4–6 weeks	Technician availability and infrastructure
Electricity	2–5 business days	Usually remote connection via smart meter
Gas	2–5 business days	May need technician if disconnected
Water	2–3 business days	Account transfer only
Phone (landline)	With internet booking	Bundled with NBN plan

If you are cutting it close, electricity and gas can often be arranged with as little as 24–48 hours' notice — but don't rely on this. NBN is the variable that can genuinely leave you in the dark (figuratively).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving internet until last. It seems like a luxury compared to power and gas, but NBN installations require the longest lead time. Book it first.

Not taking meter readings on moving day. Without a photo of your meter on move-in day, you have no proof of your opening reading. If your first bill seems too high, this is usually why.

Assuming water is automatically in your name. Water often stays in the previous occupant's name until someone requests a transfer. Contact your local water authority to make it official.

Not knowing if you have natural gas or LPG. Properties in suburban and metro areas usually have reticulated natural gas. Regional and rural properties may use LPG bottles — which is a separate arrangement entirely and not managed through standard gas retailers.

Forgetting to disconnect utilities at your old address. You'll keep being billed until you formally end the account. Give your old retailer a disconnection date before you hand back the keys.

Not comparing energy plans. Many Australians default to whatever plan the previous occupant had. Even a 15-minute comparison on Energy Made Easy can save hundreds of dollars per year.

Need Help Coordinating Your Move?

At Super Move Sydney, we know that moving is about far more than packing boxes and loading trucks. We help Sydney residents plan their entire move — including timing your utility connections around your moving day to make sure everything runs smoothly.

If you're moving in Sydney and want a removalist who actually thinks about the full picture, contact our team today or call us on 0413 204 103. We'd love to help you move without the stress.

Super Move Sydney is a professional removalist servicing greater Sydney. We offer moving, packing, storage, and relocation services for homes and businesses.