How Much Does it Cost to Transfer Utilities?

Updated on October 2, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 9 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

Transferring utilities when you move usually costs about $0 to $150 in actual transfer, activation, installation, or account fees when your new home is already connected and you remain with the same providers. The total can climb to $300 to $800+ if you need new deposits, professional internet installation, a new gas connection, or early termination charges from a contract.

The biggest surprise is that a security deposit is not the same thing as a transfer fee. A utility may require $100, $200, or several hundred dollars up front based on credit or payment history, but that money may later be refunded or credited to the account.

Article Highlights

• Many standard utility transfers cost $0.
• Actual move/setup fees commonly total $0–$150 (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 0 to 5 hours of work, before taxes) across several utilities.
• Security deposits can add $100–$500+ temporarily.
• Electric and gas deposits are often based on credit or prior payment history.
• Internet transfer fees may be $0, but professional installation can cost extra.
• Contract early termination fees can still apply if the provider cannot transfer your service.
• Utilities can sometimes remain active at both addresses during a move.
• Notice requirements vary from same-day service to several business days or weeks.

How Much Does It Cost to Transfer Utilities?

Utility	Typical Move Cost	Possible Extra Cost
Electricity	$0–$50 (about 0 to 1.7 hours of work at $30 per hour)	Deposit of $100–$500+
Natural gas	$0–$50	Deposit or reconnect charge
Water / sewer	$0–$100	Municipal account deposit or activation fee
Internet	$0–$100+	Professional installation / equipment / ETF
Cable / phone	$0–$100+	Installation or contract termination
Trash / recycling	$0–$50	Cart delivery or account setup

For many households, the actual nonrefundable moving cost is under $100. The bill becomes much larger when deposits are required or internet and telecom contracts cannot simply move with you.

Electricity

Electricity is often one of the easiest services to transfer.

Many regulated utilities do not charge a separate residential move fee when you are simply closing one account and starting another.

For example, Arizona Public Service states there is no fee to stop residential service. APS recommends scheduling new service at least three business days in advance.

PG&E allows existing customers to transfer service online and says residential start/stop requests can often be completed the same day. Customers can schedule service up to 60 days in advance.

Con Edison likewise lets existing customers move service to a new address through an online account, although its system currently limits the requested move date to within 30 days.

Utility Deposits

A deposit is the most common reason a seemingly free utility transfer suddenly requires hundreds of dollars.

APS, for example, says many new customers may be required to pay a deposit based on credit. Its residential deposit is approximately two times the average monthly bill.

If a home’s average electric bill is $180 (about 6 hours of work at $30 per hour), that formula would imply roughly:

$180 × 2 = $360 deposit

That $360 is not necessarily lost. APS says deposits can be returned, with interest, after sufficient satisfactory payment history or applied against the final bill when service ends.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also confirms that utility providers may use security deposits as part of providing utility credit.

Credit History Matters

Utilities may consider more than a traditional credit score.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that utility and telecom companies can use specialty consumer reports containing payment history when deciding whether to require a deposit.

Unpaid utility debt can also appear on traditional credit reports if it is sent to collections.

So the practical cost difference between two movers can be substantial: one customer may transfer electric service for $0 while another may have to provide a $300 deposit.

Water and Sewer

Water transfer rules are usually local because service is commonly provided by a city, county, authority, or private regulated utility.

Some municipalities simply change the account holder with little or no fee. Others charge setup, application, meter, or deposit fees.

A realistic planning range is $0 to $100 for an existing connected property.

A new home without an existing water or sewer connection is a completely different project. Installing utility infrastructure can cost thousands of dollars and should not be confused with transferring an existing account.

ThePricer separately covers the cost to bring utilities to undeveloped land.

Internet Transfer Costs

Internet service is one of the most variable moving expenses.

If your current provider serves the new address and the home is already wired correctly, the move may cost nothing.

Xfinity currently states that there are no termination or transfer fees when customers move Xfinity service to a new address or change plans, although professional installation may cost extra.

AT&T similarly says activation fees are typically waived when moving AT&T Internet, depending on the plan. If a fee does apply, AT&T says it is generally comparable to a normal installation or activation charge.

The main internet costs to watch are:

• Professional installation
• New equipment
• Equipment-return charges
• Contract termination
• A change in promotional price

Early Termination Fees

An internet or TV contract may create the largest true moving fee.

Xfinity’s current contract guidance says customers who transfer service to another Comcast-served address are generally not charged an early termination fee. But if a customer ends a term agreement instead, including because the new address is outside the service area, an ETF may apply depending on the agreement.

That means “I’m moving” does not automatically cancel every contract penalty.

Check:

• Whether the provider serves the new address
• Whether the plan has a minimum term
• Whether the company waives ETFs for moves
• Whether the current promotion transfers

Can You Keep Both Homes Connected?

Yes, in many situations.

The old claim that utility companies do not allow service at two properties is incorrect.

PG&E specifically allows current customers to add another service address to their account.

APS also supports starting service at additional properties.

Internet providers can sometimes maintain two addresses as separate accounts, although this may affect contract treatment or promotions.

The cost downside is obvious: during the overlap period you may pay two electric bills, two internet bills, or two sets of base charges.

A Moving Example

Suppose a family moves to another home in the same city.

Item	Example Cost
Electric transfer	$0
Electric deposit	$300
Water account setup	$35
Gas transfer	$0
Internet self-install transfer	$0
Trash cart setup	$25
Cash needed at move	$360

But only $60 in this example represents actual fees. The $300 electric deposit may later be refunded or credited.

That distinction is important when building a moving budget.

The Hidden Price

The hidden price of utility transfers is usually overlapping service.

Suppose the old apartment remains connected for seven days while the new home is already active.

If your combined electricity, gas, internet, water, and trash average $420 per month, one extra week of duplicated service represents roughly:

$420 ÷ 30 × 7 = $98

Overlap may still be worth paying for because it protects against arriving at a home without power, water, or internet.

A few days of duplicate service can be a cheap form of insurance during a complicated move.

Past-Due Bills

Past-due balances can complicate service, but the effect varies by utility and state rules.

PG&E says customers whose service was shut off for nonpayment must pay the full past-due amount before restoration.

Other providers may offer payment arrangements, require a deposit, or handle old debt separately from service at the new address.

The CFPB notes that utility debt sent to collections can also affect consumer reports.

So the safe strategy is to address outstanding balances before move day, but it is too broad to claim that every unpaid bill automatically prevents all new utility service.

How Much Notice?

There is no universal four-week requirement.

Current examples demonstrate how different providers can be:

• APS: about 3 business days
• PG&E: often same-day, with scheduling up to 60 days ahead
• Con Edison: current online move requests can be scheduled within 30 days

Internet installation can take longer when a technician is required, particularly during busy moving periods.

A practical rule is to begin checking utility requirements 2 to 4 weeks before moving, while recognizing that many actual requests cannot or need not be submitted that early.

Moving Checklist

Start by making a list of every service attached to the current home:

• Electricity
• Natural gas
• Water / sewer
• Internet
• Cable or streaming hardware
• Landline phone
• Trash / recycling
• Security system
• Propane or heating fuel if applicable

Then record the provider, account number, current balance, contact information, contract status, and equipment that needs to be returned.

Check the New Address

Before canceling anything, confirm which providers actually serve the new property.

Electric, gas, and water providers are often dictated by geography, but internet can have several choices.

If the same internet provider serves both homes, transferring rather than canceling may protect a promotional rate or avoid an early termination fee.

If the provider cannot serve the new address, ask for written confirmation and check whether the contract has a moving exception.

Landlords and HOAs

Renters should ask the landlord exactly which services are included.

Water, sewer, trash, heat, or even electricity can sometimes be included in rent or billed back through property management.

HOAs may also include trash, water, landscaping, or shared services in dues.

Do not open a separate account until you know which services are already covered.

Final Meter Reads

A final meter reading is useful because it reduces disputes over consumption after you leave.

Many smart-meter utilities can produce a final reading automatically, so a technician may not physically visit the property.

Take your own date-stamped photos of accessible electric, gas, and water meters on move-out day when practical.

Keep them until the final bills are settled.

Automatic Payments

Utility transfers can create a quieter financial problem: old autopay instructions.

After the final bill clears, verify that automatic payments linked to the old account have ended.

If changing banks at the same time as the move, the CFPB recommends keeping enough money in the old account until outstanding automatic payments have cleared.

This can prevent overdraft charges and missed utility payments during the transition.

How to Spend Less

The biggest savings come from avoiding unnecessary new-account costs.

First, transfer rather than cancel when the same provider serves the new home.

Second, ask whether prior good payment history can eliminate a new deposit. APS, for example, accepts certain letters of credit from another electric company as an alternative to a deposit.

Third, self-install internet equipment when available rather than paying for professional installation.

Fourth, schedule a short overlap rather than several weeks of duplicate service.

Finally, return modem, router, cable boxes, and other leased equipment on time. Unreturned-equipment charges can easily cost more than the utility-transfer fees themselves.

For related moving and property costs, ThePricer also covers getting utilities on land and private utility locating.

What We Verified

Answers to Common Questions

How much does it cost to transfer utilities when moving?
Many moves cost only $0 to $150 in actual setup or transfer fees. Deposits can temporarily increase the cash needed to $300 to $800 or more.

Do electric companies charge to transfer service?
Often not. Major utilities such as APS and PG&E provide residential move-service options without a universal transfer charge, although deposits can apply.

How much is a utility deposit?
There is no universal amount. APS, for example, says its deposit is roughly twice the average monthly electric bill.

Can I keep utilities on at two homes during a move?
Often yes. Some providers allow an additional service address or separate accounts, although you will pay for both locations during the overlap.

Will unpaid utility bills stop me from getting service?
They can cause problems, including deposits, collections, payment requirements, or service delays, but policies vary by provider and jurisdiction.

How early should I transfer utilities?
Start researching the move about 2 to 4 weeks ahead. Actual notice requirements vary from same-day or several business days to longer scheduling windows.

Does internet cost money to transfer?
Not always. Xfinity currently says there is no transfer fee for moving service, while AT&T says move-related activation is often waived. Professional installation can still cost extra.

Can an internet company charge an early termination fee if I move?
Potentially. It depends on the contract, whether the company serves the new address, and whether the service is being transferred or canceled.

For most households, the useful 2026 budget is therefore $0 to $150 in true utility-transfer and setup fees, plus enough cash to cover any deposits. A move can easily require $300 to $800+ upfront, but much of that may be refundable rather than permanently spent. The cheapest move is usually a transfer within existing service territories, while switching providers, breaking contracts, or failing a utility’s deposit screening creates the biggest added costs.