Moving is stressful enough without a lapse in power or water on move-in day. The key is timing: start the switch about two to three weeks before your move, not the week of. Here’s a checklist to keep everything on track.
3 weeks before: research and schedule
- Find out which utilities serve your new address — electric, gas, water, sewer, trash, and internet providers can all differ from your current ones, especially across city or state lines.
- If you’re moving to a deregulated electricity market (like Texas, Ohio, or Pennsylvania), compare provider rates and contract terms before committing to the first option you see.
- Contact each new provider to schedule service to start on or just before your move-in date.
- Contact your current providers to schedule a disconnect date for the day after you move out, so you’re not paying for two homes longer than necessary.
1 week before: confirm and prepare
- Confirm all scheduled start and stop dates with each provider by phone or email.
- Ask whether a deposit is required at the new address — this is common if you’re a new customer with no payment history with that provider.
- Set up autopay or paperless billing for the new accounts if you prefer to avoid a stack of new logins and passwords.
- Photograph your current meters (electric, gas, water) the day before you leave, in case of a final billing dispute.
Moving day
- Do a final meter reading at your old address and take a photo with a timestamp.
- Confirm utilities are actually on at the new address before the moving truck arrives — nobody wants to unload boxes with no lights or water.
- Locate the water shutoff valve, breaker panel, and gas shutoff at the new place on day one, before you need them in an emergency.
After the move
- Update your billing address with any providers that don’t automatically close out at the old address.
- Watch for a final bill from your old providers, including a possible refund of your original deposit.
- Update your address with USPS mail forwarding so any paper bills or refund checks still reach you.
The single biggest mistake people make is waiting until moving week to start this process — many providers need 5-10 business days to schedule a new connection, especially for gas, which often requires an in-person technician visit.