To transfer utilities when you move, contact each provider separately: schedule service to stop at your old address and arrange service at the new one for the dates you need. Ask whether the provider can handle both locations as a transfer or requires separate stop and start requests. Give the old provider a forwarding address for the final bill, and confirm who is responsible for utilities at the new property.
How do I transfer utilities when I move to a new address?
There is no single form that moves every utility. Electricity, natural gas, water and sewer, internet, and other home services may have different providers and billing arrangements. Handle each service independently, and do not assume your current provider serves the new address.
- Inventory services at both homes. List the services you use, including water and sewer if billed separately. If you rent, check the lease and ask the landlord or property manager which utilities are included or remain in the owner’s name.
- Identify providers for the new address. Check which providers serve that specific location. If your current provider also serves the new home, ask whether it supports a transfer or needs separate requests.
- Contact each provider early. Give your planned move date and ask about notice requirements, available start dates, identity checks, deposits, meter access, and any documents needed.
- Schedule the old stop and new start. Confirm a stop date and a start date for each service. Save confirmation or reference numbers, and contact the providers if the move date changes.
- Close out the old account. Provide a forwarding address for the final bill and ask whether a final meter reading is needed. If the meter is safely and legally accessible, a dated photo may help document its reading; follow provider instructions and never access unsafe or restricted equipment.
- Confirm responsibility at the new home. Ask the owner or manager and provider who holds each account and the date responsibility changes. Existing service does not necessarily mean the account is yours or that the cost is included in rent.
- Update your mailing address separately. Notify each utility provider directly; postal forwarding does not change utility service or account records.
When should I schedule utilities before moving?
There is no nationwide deadline. Contact providers as soon as you know your move date, then confirm the available dates and notice period with each one. The Missouri Public Service Commission recommends notifying providers as soon as possible and suggests contacting them several weeks before a move as sensible lead time, not as a binding rule.
Local requirements and provider scheduling windows differ. For example, the Maryland Public Service Commission says most utilities require at least 72 hours’ notice to start, stop, or transfer service; that is Maryland guidance, not a national guarantee. PG&E says residential customers can, in most cases, start or stop service the same day they submit a request and can arrange a start up to 60 days in advance. That scheduling window applies to PG&E, not every provider. Check with the utility, municipality, or service provider for the new address.
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What information do I need to start or stop utility service?
Have these details available when you contact each provider:
- Your name and contact information, plus your account number if you have one.
- The old and new service addresses, and the dates service should stop and start.
- A mailing or forwarding address for the final bill.
- Any information the provider requests for identity verification, meter access, a deposit, or supporting documents.
Requirements vary. For instance, PG&E’s online residential start flow asks for the new service address, meter-access confirmation, a date within its available scheduling window, and identity verification. PSE&G asks customers transferring within its service area for both addresses and the stop and start dates. Use your own provider’s instructions rather than treating one company’s checklist as universal.
How do I handle the final bill and meter reading?
Ask the old provider whether it needs a final reading for electricity, natural gas, water, or sewer meters where applicable. The Missouri Public Service Commission recommends requesting final readings so the bill can use an actual reading rather than an estimate, and advises customers to give the utility a forwarding address. PSE&G offers customers a provider-specific option to enter a final meter reading online or submit a photo.
Close the old account explicitly and keep confirmation. The Missouri Public Service Commission’s consumer guide, Changing Utility Service When Moving (publication date not shown), puts the responsibility plainly: “Do not rely on others to take utility service out of your name.” The guide states that a customer remains responsible for an account that has not been closed.
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Who is responsible for utilities at a rental or home with service already on?
Billing arrangements depend on the property, lease, provider, and service. Ask the landlord or property manager and the utility who holds each account, whether a service is included in rent, and when responsibility changes. Do not assume an account has transferred to you just because service is on.
Some provider arrangements are specific to participating properties. PSE&G, for example, describes an owner-allocation agreement under which its electric and natural-gas services automatically transfer to the participating owner’s account when tenants vacate. That does not establish how another provider, property, or lease handles responsibility. If a past-due balance is raised, confirm the circumstances with the provider and ask what documentation is required before paying a bill associated with someone else.
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Does USPS mail forwarding transfer utility accounts?
No. A USPS Change of Address request forwards eligible mail; it does not stop service at the old address or start it at the new one. Submit the postal request separately, notify senders of your new address and move date, and contact each utility provider directly about service dates and billing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should I check if the new address offers a choice of provider or plan?
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- Whether the provider serves your specific address and can meet your requested start date.
- Total rates and fees, along with any deposit requirement.
- Contract and cancellation terms.
- How the provider handles final readings, bills, and account changes.
Internet setup is a separate home-service task; check address availability and arrange it with the relevant provider rather than assuming it is included in a utility transfer.
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