Electricity and Gas Connections Fees When Moving Home

New connection fees are a one-off payment from your retailer that will be charged in your first bill. The connection charge is the cost from the gas and electricity distributor to ‘switch on’ the power supply to your home.  Essentially, the electricity connection fee covers the price of the electricity distributor to ‘switch on’ the power supply to your home. In contrast, the gas connection fee handles the same for gas.

The connection fee should not be confused with installation or metering charges, which are the costs of connecting the physical infrastructure to your property. Even if your home has an existing power supply, you must pay a connection fee when you set up a new account in your name.

The connection fee varies depending on which distributor supplies your power. Your distributor is determined by the area you live in, and unlike energy retailers, you cannot choose your distributor.

Below is a guide to the connection fees for electricity and gas by the distributor. It’s important to remember that there may be additional fees if your property has special requirements. You can check with the team at Move-In Connect to see what your final cost will be.

ELECTRICITY CONNECTION FEES

NATURAL GAS CONNECTION FEES

Connection fees for moving house

To establish a new electricity connection when you move home, you must contact your preferred supplier. They will arrange to connect electricity and gas on your behalf. You do not need to speak to your distributor directly.

Usually, unless you are moving to a property that has been vacant for a long time or to a new build, your new home will have a pre-existing connection but has been ‘disconnected’, meaning the power has been turned off. Your retailer will contact the distributor to have the power supply reconnected. 

The distributor sets the price for the connection (see table above). It is pre-determined and cannot be controlled by the retailer. 

However, it is important to compare energy plans from various retailers to find the cheapest rates and features that suit your needs, such as solar feed-in tariffs, rewards programs, or incentives. Using a comparison service to find the best deal can save you money in the long run and help offset the cost of Energy Australia connection fees.

Urgent connections

To ensure your connection is completed on time, you should give at least three business days’ notice for electricity and five business days for gas. If you have missed these timeframes, you can arrange an urgent connection. Urgent connections usually incur an additional fee. This varies between distributors but can be up to $400, so planning is essential.

Disconnection Fees

If you are the account holder, you may also need to pay an Energy Australia disconnection fee from your current home. You can arrange the disconnection by calling your retailer and letting them know your moving date. 

The distributor will set the disconnection fee, so it is non-negotiable. Your retailer will pass on the cost to you. It is usually between $10 and $50; however, it could be up to $100 in some areas. 

Make sure you also take a meter reading at your current property on the day you move. Your retailer will use this to calculate your final bill. It’s a good idea to take your reading as a time-stamped photo in case of any discrepancies.

As part of our moving service, we will help you arrange the disconnection. Call us at 1300 786 045 to confirm the disconnection fee applicable to your area.

Connection fees for a new property

When you move to a new build, the ‘connection’ refers not only to the switch on the gas supply but also to the physical connection of the cables connecting the property to the power lines.

Usually, your builder will arrange this with an electrical contractor, who will provide an underground cable connection to the grid.

In some states, such as New South Wales, you will need an accredited service provider to complete the connection, whereas in other states, the distributor can do the work.

There are usually no upfront costs because the distributor will recoup the expense on your initial bill through the connection and network charges. 

If you are required to use an accredited service provider, you might need to pay upfront. Depending on the complexity of the work, this could be several hundred dollars.

Additional fees

If your new home has unique requirements, you will usually incur additional fees. These could include an extension service, required if you need new power poles installed, or an augmentation, required if you need additional power lines to reinforce the existing infrastructure. 

If you pay for these services and other properties using the poles and power lines in the future, you can claim a ‘pioneer rebate’ on your electricity bill.

But what do these fees cover?

Electricity and gas connection fees cover a variety of costs, including:

• Administrative fees for setting up your account and transferring your service to your new address/new home;
• Physical costs for installing and connecting meters and other equipment at your new home or new business;
• Any necessary upgrades or repairs to the existing infrastructure to accommodate your service and
• Any taxes or government fees.

Can I Avoid Paying Electricity and Gas Connection Fees?

You may be able to avoid paying electricity and gas connection fees. Here are some tips and tricks to prevent increasing your energy bill when moving home:

Transferring Service Within the Same Provider

If you are moving home or business in the same distributor area, using the same energy provider could reduce or eliminate your transfer cost. Energy providers can connect your new home without charging you a connection fee. However, you will still have to pay service fees, including security deposits and installation fees. 

Using a Move-In Special Offer

Many energy retailers have move-in specials; they waive or reduce connection fees for new customers. When moving home, check with your energy provider to see their available promotions to help you save on your energy bill. 

Negotiating with Your Energy Provider

If you are moving home, there may be multiple energy providers. When multiple energy providers are available, you can negotiate, asking if they can reduce or waive any connection fees. It never hurts to ask; the worst they can do is say no.

Next steps

The first step to getting connected is to choose your retailer. Move In Connect’s comparison service can compare electricity plans for you and recommend the cheapest deal. 

We can help you consider all the moving essentials, to matching you with the best utility provider and compare energy companies. We consider: 

• Gas plans
  • Gas prices and gas rates
• Electricity plans
  • Electricity prices and electricity rates
  • Energy usage considerations
• Power connection timeframes
• Additional Fees:
  • Exit fees
  • Connection and disconnection fees
  • Smart meter or metre fees
  • Customer service
  • Billing fees

Once you have chosen your retailer, our 100% free moving service can arrange to disconnect you from your current home and connect you to your new home—all in one easy phone call! 

Make moving day a breeze:

Contact our friendly team at 1300 786 045 or enter your details online.