Fees to Connect Electricity And Gas When You Move

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. 

The connection fee should not be confused with installation or metering charges, which are the costs involved in connecting the physical infrastructure to your property. Even if your home has an existing power supply, you will need to 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

Fees correct at July 2021

Natural Gas Connection Fees

Fees correct at July 2021

Connection fees for moving house

To establish a new electricity connection when you move home, you need to contact your preferred supplier who 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 a range of retailers to find the cheapest rates, as well as other 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 the connection fees.

Urgent connections

You should give at least 3 business days’ notice for electricity and 5 business days for gas to make sure your connection is completed on time. If you have missed these timeframes, you can arrange for an urgent connection. Urgent connections usually incur an additional fee. This varies between distributors but can be up to $400, so it’s important to plan ahead if you can.

Disconnection Fees

You may also need to pay a disconnection fee from your current home if you are the account holder. The disconnection can be arranged by calling your retailer and letting them know the date you are moving. 

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, in some areas, it could be up to $100. 

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 own reading as a time-stamped photo, in case there are any discrepancies.

As part of our moving service, we will help you arrange the disconnection. Give us a call 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 for you with an electrical contractor and it will be 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 not usually any 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, then 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 special requirements then you will usually incur additional fees. This could include an extension service, which is required if you need new power poles to be installed, or an augmentation, which is required if you need additional power lines to reinforce the existing infrastructure. 

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

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. 

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

Talk to our friendly team on 1300 786 045 or enter your details online.