Moving can be a stressful time. Use these tips to help reduce stress and prevent unexpected expenses.
Before moving
Consumers should notify their electricity, natural gas, and water retailers about their moving date. They may be able to transfer accounts from one billing address to another with the same retailer if their retailer also serves the area they are moving to; they can confirm this by contacting their retailer.
Contact each retailer to give them the date to discontinue billing for the service. If a consumer is selling their property, that date will be the day the sale of the home closes. Consumers should also give them the new address for forwarding the final utility bill.
Different retailers have different notification periods. Default retailers may only require 3-5 days' notice while competitive retailers may need up to 45 days.
If a consumer moves but still owns the property, they are responsible for all monthly utility charges associated with the vacant location, including transmission and distribution charges, and local access fees. Learn more about idle billing charges and how to avoid them.
Moving day
On moving day, set the thermostat so the house is not too cold in winter or too hot in summer.
To avoid frozen pipes in winter, turn off the water if the house is empty for a few days.
Shut off all lights, close doors in rooms, and make sure all windows and doors are closed to ensure electricity and heat are not lost.
Consumers can also take a picture of their different utility meters and send it to the distribution company, so they have an accurate reading to apply to the final bill.
After moving
Consumers need to ensure they have paid monthly charges for all utilities they were responsible for up to the move out date. Keep in mind that utilities do not bill until several weeks after the actual usage. Consumers can expect a final bill within a month of the move out date and they should contact their retailer if they do not receive this bill.
