Setting Up Utilities in a New Melbourne Rental: Electricity, Gas and Internet ?
The trick is timing. Call early, compare plans, check what your landlord allows and keep your paperwork. Do that and the first bill will hold no surprises. If this guide helped, share it with a housemate or a friend who's moving, and read our other Melbourne guides on rental scams, bonds, suburbs and furniture.
Melbourne Sphere editors · Editorial team
6 min read
In this article
You've signed the lease, collected the keys and carried the last box upstairs. Then comes the first night: do the lights work, is there hot water, and where's the Wi-Fi?
Setting up utilities in a new Melbourne rental isn't hard, but the order matters, and a few small mistakes can quietly cost you money for months. Here's how to get electricity, gas and internet sorted, in plain language, and how to avoid the common traps.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Prices, rules and offers change, so check the official sources linked below.
Start early: when to make the calls
Victoria's energy ombudsman advises contacting your chosen electricity and gas company, as well as the water company, at least two business days before you move in. When you move out, give them at least three business days' notice.
Why the rush? If the power or gas is already on when you arrive and you haven't set up an account, you're generally placed on a standard (default) tariff, which tends to cost more than other offers available. And if you ignore the bills, you could be chased for debt or even have your energy cut off.
Step 1: Check what your lease and landlord cover
Before opening accounts, find out:
Does the property have gas, or is it all-electric?
Is the electricity on an individual meter, or is it part of an "embedded network"? (More on that below.)
Is water billed separately, and who pays?
Is there an existing NBN connection box in the property?
Your rental agreement and a quick chat with the property manager can answer most of these.
Step 2: Electricity
How connection works
In Victoria you get to choose your electricity retailer. Contact the retailer you'd like to use and ask what plans they can offer for your address. The Victorian Government's independent comparison website, Victorian Energy Compare, lists retailers and their offers for free.
Power is usually reconnected within one business day of you asking a retailer to connect it, according to the Essential Services Commission.
What is the Victorian Default Offer?
The Victorian Default Offer is a standard electricity price set each year by the Essential Services Commission, not by the energy companies. It applies to standing offers, which cover people who move into a new address and use electricity without signing a contract. It gives everyone access to a fair, reasonably priced deal, but it isn't necessarily the cheapest option, so it's worth shopping around.
How to compare plans
Use Victorian Energy Compare. It's independent and free.
Keep a recent bill handy if you have one, because it helps you compare based on real usage.
Compare electricity and gas separately. Different retailers can be cheaper for each.
Check the details. Look at the daily supply charge, usage rates, any discounts and exit fees.
Read the contract. Know what you're agreeing to, including whether discounts are conditional.
Beware of connection services
When you move in, you may be offered a "utility connection service" that connects your utilities for you. These can be convenient, but check what they charge and which retailers they use, because you can usually contact a retailer directly for free.
Apartments and embedded networks
Some apartment buildings use an embedded network, a private electricity network where the owner buys power and sells it to the tenants. If that's your building, your options and the way you switch retailers can be different, so ask your property manager and check the energy ombudsman's guidance.
Step 3: Gas
If your rental uses gas for heating, hot water or cooking, you'll need to set up a gas account too. Many people choose the same company as their electricity provider for convenience, but compare offers separately, since the best deal can differ.
Safety tip: If you smell gas, leave the property and call your gas distributor or emergency services from outside. Don't switch lights or appliances on or off.
Step 4: Internet (NBN)
Most Melbourne homes connect to the internet through the National Broadband Network.
Check your address
Before you pick a provider, use the nbn Check Your Address tool to see whether your address can connect and which nbn technology it uses. That affects which speed plans you can get.
Choose a provider and plan
Find a provider that offers a plan suiting your needs at the new address. Compare:
Monthly price, and what it is after any intro discount ends
Speed tier (the faster tiers matter most for households with many users or lots of streaming and gaming)
Modem cost, setup fees and any early-termination fees
Contract length, since many providers offer no-contract plans that suit renters or anyone who might move soon
What about the landlord?
If the property already has an nbn connection point, you can generally organize your own service without a landlord's involvement. But if the installation needs drilling, digging or other changes to the property, such as a fibre upgrade or a fixed wireless install, ask your landlord or agent for permission in writing first.
Leave the nbn box behind
The nbn connection box belongs to nbn and is registered to the address. When you move out, you must leave it and the cables, because taking them can lead to a charge for a replacement.
Moving with an existing plan
If you already have an nbn plan, tell your provider you're moving. Check whether the same speed plan is available at the new address, and if not, shop around.
A simple move-in timeline
When | What to do |
|---|---|
1 to 2 weeks before | Check the address on nbn, compare energy plans, and ask the agent about meters and embedded networks. |
At least 2 business days before | Contact your chosen electricity and gas retailers (and the water company) to connect or transfer accounts. |
Move-in week | Book internet installation, test the power and gas, and take meter photos. |
After a month | Review your first bills and make sure the plan and rates are what you expected. |
Before you leave | Give at least 3 business days' notice to utilities, leave the nbn box and take final meter readings. |
Mistakes that cost renters money
Doing nothing. If the power is on and you don't set up an account, you may land on a standard tariff.
Choosing on price alone. A cheap rate with a big discount that ends after a year can cost more later.
Forgetting to move or close accounts. Tell your provider when you leave, or you may keep paying.
Signing a long internet contract you can't transfer. A no-contract plan can be easier for renters.
Taking the nbn box. It stays with the property.
Ignoring your bills. Overdue accounts can lead to debt collection or disconnection.
Skipping the lease check. Ask who pays for what before you sign up.
Quick answers
How long before moving in should I contact my energy retailer?
The energy ombudsman advises at least two business days.
What happens if I don't set up an account?
If the power is on, you may be placed on a standard tariff, which can be more expensive.
Can I choose my own provider as a renter?
Generally yes. You can choose your electricity, gas and internet providers.
Do I need my landlord's permission for internet?
Not for a standard connection using what's already installed. For drilling, digging or upgrades, ask in writing.
Where can I compare energy plans?
Victorian Energy Compare, the Victorian Government's free comparison site.
Do I take the nbn box when I move out?
No. Leave it behind with the cables.
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