Connecting Your Electricity When Moving House: An Econnex Guide

If you’re moving into a new property, we can help switch the lights on.  

It’s a fact of life: Electricity is essential in (practically) every Aussie household. It can help keep you warm in the dead of winter and cool come December. It keeps your phones charged, laundry cycling, and TV streaming. So, it naturally follows that connecting your new abode to the grid would be a priority when you’re on the move.  

Other tasks can wait. Unpacking can be done over a few weeks; everything will eventually find its place in your new space. The fridge, however, needs to start doing its job (or things could get complicated). We know it’s not always so easy to identify where to start, though.  

Fear not; we have the steps you need to power up a new property with our comprehensive electricity connection guide.

Connecting Electricity in a New Home: The Short Version  

If you want to cut to the chase, there are two actions that you need to take when connecting a new property to the grid to avoid disruptions or additional costs: 

1. Tell your current electricity provider - You don’t want to get double-billed. It’s best to notify your current provider ahead of time so they can disconnect your soon-to-be previous property at the appropriate moment. 
2. Arrange a new electricity connection before you move - This could be with your existing energy provider or a new one (it may depend on where you’re moving to). The more notice they have, the more likely it is that you’ll be powered up on move-in day.  

Step 1. Know Thy Electricity Market 

The states and territories sometimes like to do things their own way.  

You might be surprised to learn that Australia has a few energy markets, each operating under its own rules. This is out of necessity, really, as more remote parts of the country are effectively forced to have their own market, such is their separation from other electricity infrastructure.  

You need to know where you fit before you connect electricity and gas. Depending on where you are, you may have one choice or several. Some locations are more deregulated than others, resulting in a higher level of competition between individual energy providers.  

• The National Energy Market (NEM) - This one’s the big bopper. The NEM is one of the largest interconnected electricity networks in the world, covering all of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. It’s a more deregulated market, relatively speaking, allowing multiple energy providers to compete for your business.  
• Western Australia and the Northern Territory - Due to their remoteness, these areas have to do things a little differently. They operate independently of the NEM, with a mixture of more tightly regulated regions, where there may only be one provider, and sub-networks like the South West Interconnected System.  

Step 2. Read Over Your Old Bills 

If you don’t know how much energy you use and when you use it, it’s hard to find a plan that fits.  

Some electricity plans charge a different rate for energy usage at different times of day (known as a time-of-use tariff). How do you know if that suits your household? Here’s a trick: look over a few recent energy bills to help you break it all down.  

This may give you some insight into how much electricity you’ve been using lately and how that usage increases or decreases with a change in the seasons.  

• Top tip: Consider any additions to the new house - Of course, moving into a new house may mean more housemates or a partner gets added to the mix. That means the energy consumption of your new home may not match that of your old one. The key is communication. If you know their patterns and they know yours, you have a better chance of finding a suitable option.  

Check Tips to Save Energy bills

Step 3. It Pays to Compare Electricity  

By this point, you know where your new abode is located (hopefully), the relevant energy market, and your general energy use habits. When put together, that’s a valuable dossier of information to help inform your decision on an electricity connection to a new house. 

Now, it’s time to gather your options. If your new home is located within the NEM, you’ll likely have at least a few choices. “That’s all well and good”, I hear you say, “but how do I actually find the options available to me for an electricity connection?”.   

Well, we’ve done some of the legwork for you. Using the Econnex energy comparison platform, you can compare plans available in your postcode from several reputable energy retailers on our panel, including Energy Australia, AGL, Alinta Energy, Powershop, Red Energy and more.  

When you compare electricity with Econnex, your application can be submitted at no extra cost to you. Moreover, we promise no ads, sponsored products, or third-party links. That allows you to find a suitable electricity option in three easy steps: 

1. Enter your postcode. 
2. Compare the options.  
3. Submit the application for your preferred choice.  

That’s it! One, two, three, and you can lock in the plan from the panel of providers that best fits your usage, budget, and service requirements. 

This convenience is invaluable when you’re on the move. You don’t have time to waste, what with everything that needs to be packed into boxes, old rooms that need cleaning, and moving vehicles that need booking. It needs to be sorted, and soon.  

• Top tip: A brand-new home may have extra hoops to jump through. Requirements for an electricity connection can vary, particularly for new builds or areas previously off-the-grid. If that refers to you, we recommend engaging with potential providers early to clarify any conditions, inspections and additional infrastructure that may be required.   

Step 4. Have ‘The Talk’ with Your Old Energy Provider 

Your energy provider at your soon-to-be old address needs to know that the relationship may be reaching its end.  

Of course, you might decide to stick with that provider for your new home, assuming they’re available at that location. Either way, you must inform them of your planned move so that they can disconnect your old property at the appropriate time.  

Notifying your previous provider is important to avoid paying utility bills for two separate properties at the same time. The same applies to your gas plan. A little bit of preparation can go a long way.  

Step 5. Lock in the Connection, Eddie 

Once your chosen retailer has (hopefully) approved your application, it’s time to schedule the connection so you and your appliances can hit the ground running in your new home. As mentioned above, newly built houses and apartment blocks may require you to meet additional criteria or provide more information to arrange your connection. 

Ideally, you want the day of connection to be the same day you move. That way, you can plug and play your appliances as soon as you cross the threshold. Giving your new energy provider (or existing one if you’re sticking with them) at least five business days’ notice is worthwhile to make for a more seamless transition.  

Step 6. Stay Aware of Your Consumer Rights 

Ok, so this isn’t exactly a requisite step to connect electricity at a new property, but it may help in the event that something goes wrong. As a consumer, you have certain rights and responsibilities that you should keep in the back of your mind. You’re entitled to reliable service and accurate billing in return for making timely payments and maintaining a safe property in case access is required.  

You should familiarise yourself with any financial hardship programs or dispute resolution processes provided by your selected electricity retailer so that you know what resources are available should things take a turn for the worse. We’re not saying that scenario will eventuate, but it’s always advisable to be prudent.   

Top tip: Keep an eye out for rebates. In a similar fashion, you should always keep an ear to the ground to listen out for available rebates or incentive programs that you might qualify for. The Federal and State governments in Australia are often exploring different programs to provide to consumers that may assist in dampening costs (as do the retailers, sometimes). To take advantage of these programs, you have to know they exist. So, it could pay to stay informed.  

The Post-Move Checklist 

Well, we’ve covered a lot of ground here.  

If you follow each step that we’ve provided, you should be well-placed to arrange an electricity connection for your new home with minimal fuss or hassle. That’s not the end of it, though. There are a few extra points to consider if you want to eke every last bit of value out of your energy plan.  

• Continue to monitor energy use - If you have a smart meter installed, this one’s relatively straightforward, as you should be able to monitor consumption via the relevant app. Check how your usage varies across different periods of the day or from one season to another. The more you know, the easier it should be to switch to a more suitable plan as new products come to market.  
• Explore the potential of renewables - With every passing year, more Aussie households are looking into solar panels as a means to reduce their bills and carbon footprint simultaneously. There are various government rebates or incentive programs that might help you purchase a solar system, so it’s recommended that you keep an eye out for any announcements or releases to stay informed.  

A Few Frequently Asked Questions About Connecting Electricity 

Can I get an electricity connection on the same day I request it? 

The short answer is maybe. It all depends on the specifics of your request and the property itself: Is it a newly built home? What plan are you requesting, and from whom? Do they have the resources to accommodate your request immediately?  

Some providers may be able to provide a same-day electricity connection if you submit your request before a specific time of day (assuming the property has the requisite infrastructure). However, it very much depends on where you are, your chosen retailer, and the state of the property you’re moving into, and there may be an electricity connection fee. 

Generally speaking, the odds of a same-day electricity connection increase if you’re arranging it for an older property as opposed to a new build. This is because an older property is more likely to have all of the necessary infrastructure in place. Similarly, it may be easier to accomplish a same-day connection if you stay with the same retailer you had for your previous address.  

How do meter readings work? 

A meter reading provides the retailer with accurate information regarding your energy consumption so that they can bill you the right amount.  

Previously, all meter readings had to be conducted manually by a technician visiting your property. However, the introduction of smart meters now allows retailers (and you) to access that information off-site, where they are installed. 

If you request the electricity at your previous address be disconnected, the relevant retailer will conduct a meter reading to tie up any loose ends and provide a final bill for that property. If a manual reading is required, you should ensure that the technician has appropriate access to the property.  

Any top tips for moving house? 

Here in the writing team at Econnex, we’ve moved house once or twice before. That means we might have a few tricks up our sleeves. Want some of our insider info? We can spill the beans.  

• Early birds catch worms - The earlier you plan your move, the better. It makes it easier to pack, arrange utilities, shop, and hire vehicles. You might be tempted to procrastinate for a week or two… but it’s not worth it. Ultimately, using the available time well and taking proactive action will make for a more stress-free move.  
• A label machine can be your friend - You might think you know which box has what in it, but that’s unlikely to last long. Label everything. There’s no good reason not to. It will make the unpacking process on the other side that much easier.  
• Read removalist reviews - Not all removalist companies are created equal, and that’s important when they’re hauling some of your most precious items. Taking a little bit of time prior to the move to read a few reviews and pick a more reputable removalist may save you excess repair costs and hassle.  

Power Up Your Electricity Connection with Econnex

That’s it! That’s our comprehensive guide to connecting your electricity the right way, helping you find the service you need at the price you want. Of course, you could try and arrange your new connection independently, but that could take significantly more time and effort than is required.  

Why not visit Econnex Energy Comparison and allow our transparent, ad-free platform to assist you in finding a suitable plan from our extensive panel of retailers? It’s a fully contained, end-to-end journey from comparison to application, helping you submit your details to the chosen provider at no extra cost to you.  

That’s a smarter way to switch electricity. Let’s get started.