Electricity Connection

Most Australians set up their electricity connection without comparing plans first, which often means starting on a standing offer and paying more from day one. GoSwitch helps you compare retailers and organise your connection across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, and the ACT before your move-in date, free of charge

Connect electricity when you move home

Who Handles Electricity Connections in Australia?

Written by Clint Robinson, GoSwitch CEO
Published 7 May 20269 mins read

Two parties are involved in getting electricity to your home: the distributor and the retailer. Your distributor owns the powerlines and electricity network, manages outages and disconnections, and handles all types of connections physically. You cannot choose your distributor, as it is determined by your location.

State distributors include:

  • NSW: Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy
  • VIC: AusNet, CitiPower, Powercor, and Jemena
  • QLD: Energex and Ergon Energy
  • SA: SA Power Networks
  • ACT: ActewAGL

Your electricity retailer is separate. They sell you an energy plan, issue your electricity bill, and lodge connection requests with the distributor on your behalf. Because you can choose your retailer, switching to a competitive plan can reduce your annual energy bill by $200 or more, depending on your usage and postcode, compared to a default standing offer.

We compare energy retailers across all five states, so you can lock in a competitive plan before your connection goes live.

How To Connect Electricity to a New Home

Most existing residential properties can have power activated within one to three business days. The connection process moves quickly when you have a retailer organised before your move-in date.

Follow these steps to get your new connection sorted:

  1. Enter your postcode on GoSwitch to compare available energy plans in your area.
  2. Select a retailer and confirm your plan details.
  3. Provide your new house address, preferred connection date, and personal identification.
  4. Your retailer lodges the connection application with the local distributor on your behalf.
  5. The distributor activates your electricity meter. Properties with a smart meter can often be reconnected remotely on the same day the request is processed.
  6. Power goes live and your billing starts from the connection date.

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Connecting Electricity When Moving Into a Rental

Renters can choose their own electricity retailer, provided the account is in their name, and the property is not part of an embedded network. An embedded network is a private electricity system used in some apartment buildings and residential complexes, where the building owner manages supply internally. If your rental is on an embedded network, your retailer options may be limited to one provider.

For standard rentals with an existing connection, the process is the same as any move. Compare plans through GoSwitch before your move-in date, select a retailer, and provide your new house address and start date. If the property has a smart meter, your new retailer can often arrange remote activation before your move-in date, meaning power is live when you arrive.

Avoid arriving at a new rental without a plan in place. Without one, you may default to a standing offer, which is rarely the most competitive rate available. If you are unsure where to start, our guide on how to compare electricity plans walks you through what to look for before you commit.

Connecting Electricity to a New Build

A new build requires a full electricity connection rather than a simple reactivation, and the process involves more steps than a standard move. Planning early prevents delays that can push back your move-in date.

New build connections typically move through these stages:

  • A licensed electrician or electrical contractor must complete all internal wiring and provide a certificate of compliance before the distributor will energise the property.
  • If your site has no existing electricity supply during construction, a temporary connection is set up by an accredited service provider to give trades access to electricity on site.
  • Subdivision developments may require additional infrastructure, such as new powerlines or transformers, before individual lots can be connected.
  • Your retailer lodges the connection application with the distributor once electrical work is certified.
  • An electricity meter is installed, and the supply is activated after distributor approval.

New home energy connections typically take several weeks from application to live power, depending on your location and how quickly compliance certificates are submitted.

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How Much Does It Cost To Get Electricity Connected?

Connection costs depend on your property type, location, and how much notice you give your retailer. GoSwitch’s comparison and connection service is free, but the distributor and your current retailer may charge fees depending on your situation.

Common costs to be aware of:

  • A standard scheduled connection costs up to $100, covering the distributor’s activation fee. Ausgrid, Energex, and SA Power Networks publish connection fee schedules on their websites if you want to confirm the exact charge for your area.
  • An urgent same-day connection can cost up to $400, depending on your postcode and distributor.
  • If you are switching retailers mid-contract, your current provider may charge an exit fee, which varies by plan and remaining contract length.
  • Late payment fees and paper billing charges can add to your ongoing energy bill, so reviewing plan conditions worth the extra few minutes.

There are no fees to compare plans or arrange your connection through GoSwitch. Any distributor or retailer charges are separate and will be outlined clearly in your plan’s terms before you commit.

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    How Long Does It Take To Get Electricity Connected?

    Connection timeframes vary depending on your property type and how much notice you give. Providing at least one to three business days’ notice avoids urgent fees and reduces the risk of delays.

    Scenario Timeframe
    Existing connection reactivation 1 to 3 business days
    Same-day urgent connection Same day, if requested before 11:30am
    New home build Several weeks, subject to inspections and distributor approval
    Subdivision or commercial connection Multiple weeks to months

    A smart meter can speed up reconnection for existing properties, as the distributor can activate supply remotely without sending a technician for a meter reading. Properties without a smart meter may take longer if a physical visit is required. Some property types, such as those on unmetered supply, follow a different activation process and timeframe entirely.

    Life support customers (households where a registered medical device depends on continuous power supply) have additional protections under Australian energy rules. Retailers and distributors must be notified of life support eligibility during the connection process to ensure supply is never interrupted without prior notice.

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    What Documents and Information Do You Need?

    Having the right details on hand before you contact a retailer makes the connection process faster and avoids back-and-forth delays. Most retailers ask for the following:

    • Your new property address and postcode, so your retailer can confirm which distributor services the area and what energy plans are available.
    • Your preferred connection or move-in date, giving the distributor enough notice to schedule activation.
    • Personal identification, such as a driver’s licence or passport, to verify your electricity account.
    • Your NMI (National Meter Identifier) is a unique number assigned to your electricity meter that helps the distributor locate the correct connection point. You can find it on a previous electricity bill or by asking your property manager.
    • Concession card details, if applicable, to ensure eligible rebates are applied to your account from the first bill. Our guide on energy concessions and rebates covers what you may be entitled to.
    • Life support documentation, if a registered medical device in your home requires uninterrupted power supply. Notifying your retailer at this stage ensures the correct protections are applied to your account.

    GoSwitch collects the details needed to match you with available plans in your area. Once you select a retailer, they handle the connection application from there.

    Can You Get Electricity Connected on the Same Day?

    Same-day electricity connection is available in most metro areas across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, and the ACT, but the request must be submitted before 11:30am on the day. Missing that cutoff means the earliest available connection is the next business day.

    Same-day connections carry a higher fee than a standard scheduled connection, up to $400 depending on your postcode. They suit situations where a move date changes at short notice or a property needs power activated urgently.

    We partner with retailers who offer urgent connection services across all covered states. Rather than calling multiple providers individually, GoSwitch lets you compare plans and arrange your connection through a single free service.

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    Should You Bundle Electricity and Gas?

    Bundling electricity and gas with the same retailer can simplify billing and sometimes delivers a modest discount. But it does not always produce the lowest combined cost. A retailer with competitive electricity rates may not offer the sharpest gas plan, and overpaying on one service can cancel out any bundle savings.

    GoSwitch lets you compare gas plans alongside electricity, including renewable energy options and plans with electric vehicle charging tariffs, so the total annual cost is clear before you commit. If a bundle delivers better value, it will show in the results.

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    FAQs

    GoSwitch handles the entire process online. Enter your postcode, select a plan that suits your usage, and your new retailer manages the connection request with the distributor from there.

    Properties with a smart meter can usually be activated remotely, so you do not need to be home. If your property requires a physical meter installation or a technician visit, your retailer will confirm whether access is needed on the day.

    Connecting to a new property is one of the best times to review your plan. Comparing options through GoSwitch before your connection date means you start on a competitive rate from your first bill rather than defaulting to a standing offer.

    Contact your current retailer before your move-out date to arrange a final meter reading and close your electricity account. Comparing plans through GoSwitch at that point means your new address starts on a competitive rate, not a default offer.

    Your NMI (National Meter Identifier) appears on your electricity bill, usually near the top alongside your account details. If you do not have a recent bill, your property manager or the outgoing tenant may be able to provide it.

    A cooling-off period gives you ten business days after signing up with a new retailer to cancel the contract without penalty. If you change your mind after connecting, you are entitled to switch electricity providers again without an exit fee during this window.

    2 responses to “Connect Energy”

    1. Brett Partridge says:
      January 16, 2026 at 3:55 pm

      Need a rate for power and off peak, flat rate if possible

      Reply
      • GoSwitch says:
        February 5, 2026 at 12:58 pm

        Hey Brett, you’ll have to complete our form on the home page. You can see plans online or our energy specialists can contact you to discuss plans that are suited for you.

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