One of the quieter disasters of a poorly planned move is arriving at a new home to find the electricity isn’t on, the internet won’t be active for four days, and nobody’s sure who handles water service in this part of town. Utilities are straightforward to manage, but they require some advanced coordination and the right timing to go smoothly.
Start Earlier Than Feels Necessary
Most people know they need to transfer their utilities. The problem is waiting too long to start. Four to six weeks before moving day is a good window to begin. Internet and cable providers, in particular, often schedule installation appointments weeks out—calling early gives you a choice over when a technician comes rather than taking whatever opening is left.
This Old House recommends beginning utility setup at least two weeks before your move, with internet and cable providers contacted a full month in advance. If you’re relocating during the summer months—peak moving season—add extra lead time to everything.
Make a Complete List Before You Call Anyone
Before contacting a single provider, sit down and list every service connected to your current home: electricity, gas, water and sewer, trash collection, internet, cable, home security, and any specialty subscriptions or services. Note the provider name, account number, and phone number for each.
Some services will transfer to your new address; others require you to close one account and open a new one entirely. Knowing the difference before you start the process—rather than discovering it mid-call—keeps things moving. Also, check whether your new building or neighborhood is part of a homeowners’ association. HOA fees sometimes cover water, trash, and other utilities, which means fewer accounts than expected.
Time Your Cutoff Dates Carefully
Schedule your current services to stop the day after you move out—not the day of. That way, you still have electricity, water, and AC/heating control while doing final walkthroughs and cleaning. At your new address, set service to begin the day before you move in so everything is live when the first box comes through the door.
Take meter readings at both homes around the time of service transfer. A quick photo of each meter protects you if a billing dispute comes up later.
Know What May Be Different in Your New Area
Moving to a new city or state means your providers may change completely. In Texas, electricity is deregulated—you can shop and compare plans from multiple providers rather than being assigned one automatically. This is worth knowing before you call, because the plan you choose at the start can affect your energy bill for a year or more.
In Colorado Springs, electricity and natural gas are typically provided by regulated utilities, but rates and plan options vary. If you’re moving longer distances, look up the specific providers serving your new address before your move-in date so you’re not figuring it out on arrival.
Don’t Forget the Extras
A few services fall outside the standard utility category but still need attention around the time of your move: home security systems (which may need to be reinstalled or transferred), pest control subscriptions, mail forwarding through the postal service, and any automatic payments or deliveries tied to your current address. It’s easy to forget these in the middle of a move, but setting a reminder to handle them a few weeks out prevents the kind of small disruptions that add unnecessary friction to an already busy transition.
Also, update streaming services, subscription boxes, and retail accounts that have your old address saved. Packages sent to a previous address after you’ve moved are difficult to recover, and chasing them down adds unnecessary hassle to an already full moving week.
We’ll Help You Get There on Schedule
Arrow Moving makes relocation easier for households throughout Colorado Springs and San Antonio. We designed our residential moving services to fit your schedule and keep your belongings protected from start to finish. Get in touch today for a free estimate, and let’s plan your move together.
