Urgent Electricity Connection and
Same-Day Power Options

Not all urgent electricity connections work the same way. The term covers a few different service tiers, and knowing which one applies to your situation saves you time on moving day.

• Same-day electricity connection – Power is activated at your new address within the current business day, provided the property has an active meter and your request meets the distributor’s cut-off time.
• Next business day connection – Follows the same process but activates the following weekday, which is the standard fallback when a same-day request comes in too late.
• After-hours and weekend connections – Available through some distributors but cost significantly more and are not guaranteed across all areas.
• Temporary power connection – A short-term construction supply used during builds and major renovations, not a residential energy connection. If you’re moving into an existing property, this one doesn’t apply to you.

If you’re not sure which connection type applies to your address, GoSwitch can work that out for you before you commit to a plan.

Electricity, yes. Gas, no. That’s the short answer, and it’s worth knowing before moving day so you’re not caught off guard.

A same-day electricity connection is possible for most existing properties if your request goes in before the cut-off. Gas services work differently. Natural gas requires a physical meter read at your new property, which means a technician visit has to be scheduled in advance. Gas connection typically takes a minimum of three business days, even if your gas plans are confirmed and ready to go.

Disconnection at your old address runs on a separate timeline, too. You’ll need to arrange a final meter read for your gas meter and electricity supply before you leave, or billing continues beyond your moving day.

GoSwitch arranges same-day electricity connections across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria, but availability is not identical across all four states. Each state runs on its own distributor network, and cut-off times, pricing, and after-hours options vary depending on where your property sits.

Regional areas within each state can be trickier. Same-day availability is generally stronger in metro areas like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide than in outer regional zones. If you’re in a regional area, next business day is a more realistic expectation.

Public holidays are worth factoring in early. Connection requests submitted on or around a public holiday follow business day rules, so a last-minute request over a long weekend can push your connection out further than expected.

Before you start, have your new address, move-in date, and NMI (the unique identifier on your electricity meter or current bill) ready. If you’re switching from your old address, check whether exit fees apply with your current energy retailer before you commit to anything new.

From there, the process is straightforward:

1. Enter your new property’s postcode on GoSwitch to compare electricity plans and energy plans from available providers in your area.
2. Select the plan that suits your usage and confirm your connection date with your chosen energy retailer.
3. GoSwitch submits the connection request to your new electricity provider and manages the paperwork on your behalf.
4. New customers typically receive confirmation within a few hours, along with a meter reading schedule if a technician visit is required.

Connection services are handled end to end, so you’re not left chasing anyone.