When small businesses have to change locations, planning ahead can prevent disruption and productivity loss. Use these tips to help avoid unexpected utility costs.
Before moving out
Understand the potential costs
If consumers get their electricity or natural gas services from a competitive retailer, they may have to pay exit fees to end the contract early.
If a consumer moves out but still owns the property, they are responsible for all monthly utility charges associated with the vacant location, including fixed costs such as administration, distribution, and local access fees. Learn more about idle billing charges and how to avoid them. Contact the retailer in advance
Schedule to discontinue or transfer services in advance. Contact the electricity, natural gas, and water utility providers with the date to discontinue billing for the services. Different retailers have different notification periods: Default retailers may only require 3-5 days’ notice, while competitive companies may need up to 45 days.
If the property is being sold, consumers should schedule to discontinue service(s) on the day the sale closes and provide the retailer(s) with a forwarding address for the final utility bill.
Confirm the utility service transfer or disconnection before the moving date. Shortly before the moving date, call each utility service again to ensure that the utility service will be discontinued or transferred to the new address as scheduled. Confirm if any appointments are needed to turn on services at the new site.
Check if the leases overlap
If a consumer is responsible for two sites at the same time – even for a short period – it is important for them to tell their retailer that there will be an overlap in billing.
After moving out
Pay the final utility bill
Consumers need to make sure they have paid monthly charges for all utilities they were responsible for up to the move out date. Remember 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 can contact their retailer if they do not receive the final bill.
