When you move into a home in Australia, you have to sign up for electricity, gas, water and internet yourself and choose your plans. This guide covers the sign-up steps, comparing and switching plans, NBN internet and money-saving tips. Prices and discount rates change often, so check the latest figures on the official comparison sites below.
In Australia, electricity, gas, water and internet are usually billed separately, and because the energy and telco markets are open to competition, consumers choose their own provider and plan. For the same usage, your bill can differ depending on which company and plan you pick, so it's worth comparing around the time you move in. In a stand-alone house, the resident usually opens the accounts directly, while in a share house or some apartments part of the utilities may be included in the rent, so check the contract first.
Note: Utility policies and who is billed differ by State, building and tenancy agreement. Before moving in, always ask the real-estate agent or landlord exactly which of electricity, gas, water and internet you sign up and pay for yourself.
You sign up for electricity and gas directly with a retailer around the time you move in. Sign-up usually takes 10–15 minutes online or by phone, and you book the connection for your move-in date. Bundling electricity and gas with one company makes it simpler, but you can also sign up separately to pick a cheaper combination.
Charges are made up of a 'usage charge plus a daily supply charge', and some plans give a discount for paying on time. For the same usage, the total can differ due to differences in the supply charge and unit rate.
Note: For contracts pushed via door-to-door or phone sales claiming to be 'definitely cheaper', always check the exit fees and terms. For accurate unit rates and conditions, it's safest to check each retailer's Energy Fact Sheet (basic information document) and the government comparison sites below.
In Australia you can switch retailers freely, so comparing regularly can cut your energy bills. Enter a recent bill into the free government comparison site (Energy Made Easy, etc.) and it'll find cheaper plans based on your usage pattern.
Switching is mostly handled automatically just by signing up with a new retailer, and usually applies within a few days to a billing cycle or two. Your electricity isn't cut off — only the account changes.
Unlike electricity and gas, water is supplied by a regional water authority (e.g. Sydney Water, Yarra Valley Water) as a monopoly, so you can't choose a provider. How it's billed and what the resident pays differ by state and tenancy agreement.
Whether and on what terms a tenant pays water usage differs by each state's tenancy law and the contract. Before signing, explicitly confirm whether you pay the water usage charge, and if a dispute arises, contact your state's tenancy dispute body (e.g. NSW Fair Trading).
Home internet in Australia is mostly provided over the government broadband network, the NBN (National Broadband Network). NBN Co lays the network, and the actual plans are sold by various internet providers (ISPs). First check your home address's connection type and available speeds on the NBN Co site, then pick an ISP plan.
| Tier | Listed speed (download) | Suitable use |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 25 | ~25 Mbps | Web, social media, basic video; 1–2 people |
| NBN 50 | ~50 Mbps | General household, HD streaming, video calls |
| NBN 100 | ~100 Mbps | Several people at once, 4K streaming |
| NBN 250+ | 250 Mbps+ | Large up/downloads, heavy users |
The listed speed is a maximum, and actual speed depends on your address's connection type (FTTP, FTTN, etc.) and the 'typical evening speed' during peak times. Check the typical evening speed the ISP advertises before signing up.
Note: A new installation can take a few days to a few weeks via a booking and technician visit, so sign up before you move in. For a short stay, a no-contract plan or mobile data (5G home internet/hotspot) is also an option.
To reduce moving stress, prepare your utility connections in advance. Having electricity or internet cut off on move-in day is a hassle, so signing up 1–2 weeks ahead is recommended.
Note: Some residents — students, low-income earners, certain visa holders — may be eligible for a State government energy concession. Check eligibility and how to apply on your State's official government site.
Free Australian government electricity/gas plan comparison (supports most states)
Victorian government energy comparison site
Australia's energy regulator — consumer rights and pricing information
Check your home address's NBN connection type and available speed
Internet and mobile plan comparison site
With electricity, gas and internet, signing a contract isn't the end of the story — you need to be able to read the plan structure and your bill to stop money leaking out every month. This guide focuses on the practical side: reference prices and time-of-use rates, your right to protection when you can't pay, state rebates and emergency support, the traps of apartments and rentals, connections and final bills when you move, and NBN in depth. Specific figures like rebate amounts, price caps and NBN speeds vary by your visa status and the state you live in and change every year, so before you apply, always confirm the current settings on each authority's official site (energy.gov.au, AER, your state government, nbn.com.au and so on).
The DMO (Default Market Offer) is both the standing-offer cap applied to customers in NSW, south-east QLD and SA who haven't chosen any plan, and the reference price used to compare every market offer. For the 2025-26 financial year, DMO 7 rose by roughly 2.5-8.9% for households depending on the region, while VIC uses a separate VDO (Victorian Default Offer) set by the ESC. Ads that say 'X% below the reference price' are measuring against exactly this benchmark, which lets you compare different plans on the same yardstick. Standing offers are generally more expensive than market offers, so if you've left one running for a long time, be sure to switch — and check the latest increase on the AER and ESC official sites.
Once a smart meter (interval meter) is installed, you can sometimes be switched automatically from a flat (single) rate to Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing. TOU is expensive during the weekday evening peak (usually somewhere between 3pm and 9pm, varying by distribution zone) and cheap during the off-peak of the day and late night. If you work from home or bunch up your cooking and heating in the evening, your bill can actually go up. When you receive a switch notice, weigh it against your daily routine and ask your retailer directly whether you can stay on a single rate.
A demand tariff charges separately for your 'highest 30-minute instantaneous usage (kW)' during peak times in the billing period, on top of your total consumption. A single moment of running the air conditioner, dryer and oven all at once can push that month's bill up sharply. If you see a 'demand' or 'kW' item on your bill, don't run large appliances at the same time during peak hours — spread them out. If the structure doesn't make sense or doesn't suit your household, it's worth asking your retailer whether you can move to a single-rate plan.
Electric hot water systems and underfloor heating are often connected to a separate circuit called controlled load (off-peak 1 or 2), which mostly runs late at night, shows as a separate line on your bill and has a much lower unit rate than normal usage. Checking whether your hot water system is on this circuit can open up room to save. In share houses, hot water is sometimes heated on the expensive standard rate, so check the meter and wiring. Whether it's connected and any change can be confirmed and requested through your retailer and distributor.
If the meter reader can't get to the meter, your bill comes out as 'Estimated', which creates a gap from your actual usage, and any over- or under-charge is squared up at the next actual read. On your bill, the read type A means actual and E means estimated, so check it. If estimates keep repeating, give the reader access to the meter or submit a self-read photo. Smart meters are read remotely so estimates drop, but your first bill after moving in can especially come out as an estimate, so take care.
The feed-in tariff (FiT) that pays you for selling surplus power from rooftop solar back to the grid has dropped sharply going into 2025-26. From July 2025 the VIC ESC stopped setting a minimum FiT, leaving it to retailers' discretion (but not below 0), while in NSW the IPART benchmark sits at roughly 4.9-7.4c/kWh. The cause is that a daytime surge of solar has pushed down wholesale electricity prices. Rather than expecting big earnings from selling, you're better off lifting your own daytime self-consumption — running the washing and dishwasher during the day — and you can check current rates in IPART and ESC notices and each retailer's announcements.
Under the AER's Better Bills Guideline, retailers must show on the first page of your bill — with wording like 'Could you save money on another plan?' — whether the same company has a cheaper plan and how much you'd save (stating both including and excluding GST). Many migrants keep paying too much because they haven't changed plans in years, yet this one line alone signals it's time to switch. Get into the habit of checking this message first on every bill. If it says the retailer has a cheaper plan of its own, you can request the switch with a single phone call or through the app.
Your bill shows the kWh used this period, your average daily usage, a graph comparing you against the same period last year and your previous bill, and the supply charge (billing days x daily supply rate). A sudden jump in your daily average can be a sign of a faulty hot water system or fridge, a leak, or an estimated-read error. If the billing days are unusually long, the read cycle has slipped, so check the background. Splitting out usage from the supply charge lets you tell whether it's 'because I used a lot' or 'because the plan has a high supply charge'.
If you can't afford to pay, contact your retailer first — before you fall into arrears or get disconnected — and request a hardship program or a payment plan. Under the National Energy Retail Rules this is a consumer right, so a retailer can't just refuse and walk away without a legitimate reason. During the program you can pay in manageable instalments with no penalty or late-payment interest. VIC has stronger protection through its separate Payment Difficulty Framework, so ask your retailer or the ombudsman about your state's scheme.
A small unpaid amount alone isn't enough to disconnect you. In NECF regions (NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT) the minimum disconnection amount rose from $300 to $500 (including GST) from 1 July 2026. Disconnection is also restricted on Fridays, weekends, public holidays and the day before them, on days of extreme heat, and while you're keeping up a hardship arrangement or payment plan in good faith. Even if you're threatened with a cut-off, knowing these rules and the ombudsman's remedy process lets you respond calmly. VIC has different standards, so check with EWOV or your retailer.
The federal Energy Bill Relief Fund deducted $300 per household in 2024-25 and $150 in the second half of 2025 (July-December), automatically taken off electricity bills in quarterly instalments of $75 (no separate application needed). Residents of apartment embedded networks are also eligible. Whether it's extended and the amount change with each federal budget, so check the current amount and eligibility at energy.gov.au. If you see a government rebate or relief deduction on your bill, this scheme has been applied.
The NSW Low Income Household Rebate is up to $285 a year ($313.50 for embedded networks), applied for through your retailer by holders of a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card. The Family Energy Rebate is a separate $180 a year, adjusted to $20 if received together with the above rebate. In short-term crisis situations, EAPA (Energy Accounts Payment Assistance) vouchers are applied directly to your bill. Check eligibility and how to apply through Service NSW and your retailer.
The VIC Annual Electricity Concession takes 17.5% off your annual usage and service charges on your bill (calculated after discounts and solar credits are applied, and not applied to the first $171.60 of the year). There's also a separate Winter Gas Concession for winter heating. If arrears put you at risk of disconnection, the Utility Relief Grant provides up to $650 per utility type over two years ($1,300 for households using only one of electricity or gas). The enquiry line is 1800 658 521, and check eligibility requirements such as holding a concession card.
The QLD Electricity Rebate applies $386 a year to your bill in quarterly instalments and is for holders of a pensioner, seniors or concession card. In a short-term crisis or situations such as domestic violence where you can't pay your bill, the Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme (HEEAS) can provide a one-off payment of up to $720 once every two years. Other states like SA, WA, TAS and ACT have similar rebate and emergency support schemes, so check the names and amounts on your state government's site. Applications generally go through your retailer.
Some new apartments, retirement villages and caravan parks are embedded networks, where the building buys electricity in bulk and resells it to residents, meaning you can't freely choose your own retailer. Prices are usually capped within the DMO, but they fall short of the cheapest market prices and consumer protection can be weaker. Before signing, always ask 'is this building an embedded network?'. Because your prices and freedom to switch change greatly depending on whether it's embedded, it's best to check the contract and the building management office.
Even in an embedded network you're eligible for the federal Energy Bill Relief, and the on-seller (reseller) has minimum consumer protections it must observe under its AER registration or exemption conditions. Depending on the situation, you may be able to pay for a separate meter and connection cost and move out to an external retailer, or lodge a complaint with the ombudsman. If the resale charges feel excessive, check whether the on-seller is authorised or exempt and what price cap applies. You can find related information in the embedded network guidance on the AER website.
Many apartments supply hot water from a central building gas boiler, so a hot water charge comes separately in a small bill apart from your electricity account (gas is charged by MJ and the hot water volume by the litre). This bill is usually issued by a separate metering company with no choice of retailer. Confirming before you move in 'whether the hot water is electric or central gas, and how it's billed' can help you avoid unexpected charges. Central hot water can become a heavy cost if usage is high, so ask clearly when signing.
There are conditions before a tenant can be charged for water usage. In NSW, the landlord can only charge the tenant for usage if the property is separately metered and meets water efficiency standards (no leaks, tapware flow rates that meet the rules). VIC also requires a separate meter for the tenant to bear usage, while the service charge is generally the landlord's cost. Check the water clause in your lease and whether there's a meter, and if you think it's unfair, contact your state tenancy dispute body such as NSW Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs Victoria.
When you turn on electricity or gas at a new address, the retailer adds a connection or re-energisation fee to your bill (the amount varies by address and distributor). A brand-new installation is more expensive because it needs a technician visit. Handling the disconnection (final) at the old address and the connection at the new address on the same day prevents double charges and gaps. Even if power is already live on your move-in day, a re-energisation fee can still apply separately from opening the account, so budget for it.
A retailer can run a credit check when you sign up, and if you have no Australian credit history or don't pass the check, it can require a security deposit. This deposit is refunded once you build up a record of paying reliably. Concession card holders and reliable payers are sometimes exempt from a deposit. If you set up a direct debit early after arriving and pay on time to build your credit file, your sign-up terms and limits become more favourable afterwards.
The 'free' utility connection services that real estate agents recommend (for example Direct Connect, MyConnect and the like) are convenient, but they connect you only within a small panel of affiliated retailers and earn a commission, so they may not be the cheapest. Even if you use one for convenience, later compare directly with Energy Made Easy and switch to a cheaper plan. Once connected, it's easy to just leave that plan running, so don't treat the first plan as a given. Before signing, it's best to check which retailer and plan you're being connected to.
When you move out, notify your retailer of the move date so you get a final read and final bill, and don't end up carrying the next resident's usage. Smart meters are read remotely for the final read, but older meters need reader access, so book it in advance. If you leave a direct debit in place, money can still be drawn after the final bill, so cancel the account only after confirming the settlement is complete. The final bill may also include re-energisation and cancellation-related fees.
NBN uses a different connection technology at each address, which decides the maximum speed possible. FTTP and HFC, where fibre runs right up to the home, deliver the top speeds; FTTN, which uses a phone-line node, drops in speed with distance; and Fixed Wireless and satellite (Sky Muster) are for outer regions. Checking your home's connection technology and speed ceiling first with an address lookup at nbn.com.au before choosing a plan lets you avoid the disappointment of 'the speed I signed up for isn't there'. Even in the same building the technology can differ from unit to unit, so look it up by your actual address.
From 15 September 2025, NBN wholesale speeds rose sharply — Home Fast from 100 to 500/50, Home Superfast from 250 to 750/50, Home Ultrafast from 500 to about 1000/100, and the new Home Hyperfast is 2Gbps. Subscribers on those tiers are boosted automatically with no extra wholesale cost. That said, this benefit is really only felt on FTTP and HFC (and supported connections), so if you're on FTTN you need a fibre upgrade first. Check with your provider (RSP) announcements for how it's been reflected on your tier.
Through the government and NBN Co fibre upgrade program, a large number of FTTN and FTTC addresses are converted to FTTP for free. The condition is ordering an eligible higher-speed plan (generally NBN 100 or above) from a participating provider. Check your eligibility with an address lookup at nbn.com.au, and if you qualify, households that do a lot of working from home and streaming may find the fibre switch worth applying for. Eligibility has expanded to millions of FTTN households by the end of 2025, so even if you don't qualify now, look it up again later.
Instead of the provider's supplied modem, you can bring your own compatible modem (BYO) to save on upfront cost and move between providers freely. If you do a lot of video calls, cloud backups and working from home, 'upload speed' rather than download drives what you feel, so be sure to check the tier's upload figure (for example /50, /100). A month-to-month (no lock-in) plan gives you the leverage to switch with no penalty if the speed is below expectations. Signing up on no lock-in first to confirm the actual speed and then choosing a longer-term plan is one approach.
Yes. The Australian energy market is open to competition, so in most areas consumers choose their own provider and plan. For the same usage, your bill can differ by company and plan, so it's worth comparing before signing up. Note that exact unit rates change often, so check on a government comparison site.
Electricity and gas can usually be booked for connection a few days before or on move-in day, but internet (NBN) can take a few days to a few weeks for a new installation, so 1–2 weeks ahead is recommended. Prepare in advance so electricity and internet aren't cut off on move-in day.
Water is supplied by a regional water authority as a monopoly; the fixed/infrastructure charge is usually paid by the landlord, and the usage charge is sometimes paid by the tenant depending on the state and tenancy agreement. In share houses it's often included in the rent. Always confirm who pays before signing.
For basic use by 1–2 people, NBN 25–50; for a general household and streaming, NBN 50; for several people at once and 4K, NBN 100 or higher is a safe bet. Actual speed depends on your address's connection type and the typical evening speed, so check the typical evening speed the ISP advertises before signing up.
Households using life support equipment such as dialysis machines, oxygen concentrators or ventilators can register for life support with their retailer and distributor to receive disconnection protection and advance notice of planned outages. Under the National Energy Retail Rules, maintaining the register is a retailer and distributor obligation, and a medical confirmation is required. Without registering you won't get this protection, so apply as soon as you start using the equipment. This 'registration' (disconnection protection) is a separate process from the medical-usage 'rebate' covered later, so make sure you sort out both.
If you can't resolve overcharging, an unfair disconnection, a refused hardship request and the like with your retailer, you can lodge a free complaint with your state's energy and water ombudsman (NSW EWON, VIC EWOV, QLD EWOQ, SA EWOSA, WA EWOWA). They're independent bodies that can make decisions binding on the retailer, and in many cases the retailer's attitude changes just from a case being lodged. The order is to raise a formal complaint with the retailer first, and go to the ombudsman if it stays unresolved. You can lodge by phone or online, and it costs nothing.
Most regular rebates are unlocked by a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, or a DVA (veterans') Gold Card. International students and working holiday makers usually don't have these cards and so aren't eligible for regular rebates, but emergency support like EAPA, HEEAS and the Utility Relief Grant can sometimes be applied for on low-income or crisis grounds without a card. The important point is that rebates are generally applied for through 'your retailer' rather than the government, and are applied to your bill. When you change plans, also check whether your rebate carries over to the new plan.
Several states have separate medical rebates for households with a condition that makes heating and cooling essential, or that use more electricity for life support equipment (for example the NSW Medical Energy Rebate, Life Support Rebate and so on). A medical confirmation and a concession card are required, and in many cases you can receive them on top of a regular rebate. As explained earlier, the life support 'registration' (disconnection protection and advance outage notice) and this 'rebate' (a discount on your charges) are separate processes, so apply for both. Names and amounts differ by state, so check with your state government and retailer.
In an apartment, the electricity and water for common areas like corridors, lifts and pools are included in the strata levy (body corporate fee) and paid separately from your individual bill. Share houses split utilities by number of people or room size, and if you're pushed to 'split evenly' with no itemisation, ask to see the actual bills. When signing, the key to preventing disputes is putting in writing 'which utilities are included in the rent'. Vague verbal agreements easily turn into arguments later at move-out settlement.
Tenants can't install rooftop solar themselves, and embedded network or strata rules often block feed-in tariff benefits or an individual solar account. EV charging in an apartment car park also needs body corporate approval and separate wiring and metering. If you're considering solar or an EV, check your lease and strata rules in advance, and if it's difficult, look at the alternative of using time-of-use (TOU) pricing to self-consume and charge during the cheap daytime or late-night periods. Whether the landlord and owners corporation consent is the deciding factor.
Transferring your existing retailer to a new address is easy, but if the new address is in a different distribution zone, the network charges and unit rates change, so the same plan can produce a different bill. When you move, don't take 'carrying over the old plan as is' for granted — compare again against the new address. The transfer itself may be free, but a re-energisation fee can apply separately. It's a good moment to search again on Energy Made Easy for the plan that suits your new address.
Update the address on your utility accounts, direct debit accounts, myGov/Centrelink/Medicare, bank and insurance, and set up Australia Post mail redirection (paid), so your final bill and cards don't leak to the old address. Line up your electricity and internet connection dates with your move-in day, but leave a day or two of buffer because connection can slip. If you don't cancel the account at your old address, you can end up paying the supply charge (daily fixed rate) at both places twice over. Making an address-change checklist and ticking off items one by one prevents anything being missed.
When you move, you request a relocation with your provider, and if the new address has a different connection type, your speed and price change and reinstallation can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. New builds and new developments can attract an NBN new development fee (about $300), which is usually the developer's or builder's cost but always needs checking. If you need internet right away, apply 2-3 weeks before moving in, and for the gap period have a 5G home internet or mobile hotspot ready as backup. Connection delays are common, so it's best to prepare with plenty of time to spare.
If you can't resolve internet and phone problems (connection delays, billing disputes, frequent dropouts) with your provider, you can complain to the free independent body TIO (Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman). The order is to lodge a formal complaint with the provider first, and take it to the TIO if it stays unresolved. Households with a life-threatening condition can apply for Priority Assistance to be guaranteed priority connection and faster repairs for a landline. Since in many cases just lodging speeds things up, don't let it drag on — follow the formal process.
No. Even if you change retailers, the electricity or gas itself isn't cut off — only the account changes. Signing up with a new retailer mostly handles cancelling the old one automatically, and it usually applies within a few days to a billing cycle or two.
Electricity and gas often have no contract, and internet has no-contract (month-to-month) plans too. For a short stay, mobile data, 5G home internet and hotspots are also options. Always check for an exit fee before signing up.
Compare plans on a government comparison site at least once a year and switch to a cheaper one, take advantage of pay-on-time and direct-debit discounts, and choose internet at the speed you actually need. Students, low-income earners and certain visa holders may be eligible for a State government energy concession, so check on your State's official site.
