Move house with Contact

In most instances, yes, your electricity and piped gas will be on when you step in the door of your new property. However, if there are any issues or the property has been empty for a while, it may have been disconnected. If a reconnection is needed, we can arrange this for you - see 'Reconnections'.

Already moved into your new house and forgotten to tell us? Not a problem! Please get in touch, and we'll get your account switched over to the new address. See 'Billing end and start dates' for more info.

We'll ask you the following dates when we process your move request:

• Move out date (old address) - Billing for your old address will stop on this date.
• Move in date (new address)

We'll use the final meter reading from the people that lived there before you as your start reading. If it's been vacant for a while, we suggest taking a note of the reading on the meter when you move in. If energy has been used at the property when it was vacant, we will request a Tenancy Agreement to confirm your move in date and ensure you only pay for energy used after you move in.

If you have been in the property for some time and have just called to complete your move in, you are responsible for any energy you have used plus the daily charges since you moved in. If the property has a smart meter, you don't need to record the start reading when you move in, as we will use the readings we get remotely.

Electricity

Standard meter

• We will send a meter reader out regularly to gain a meter reading.
• For urban properties, this is usually every second month. For rural properties, this is usually done quarterly.

Smart meter

• If you have a smart meter, we'll use the remote readings it sends to create your bill each month. If a reading is not received from the smart meter, we'll bill on an estimate reading.

Piped gas

Standard meter (only)

• We will send a meter reader out regularly to gain a meter reading.

Standard meter

Standard meters require a manual meter read. These can be switched out with a smart meter for a cost of $190 (except for a gas meter), please see our service fees.

Smart meter

These are the most common meter types across NZ. We can automatically record a reading from your smart meter so there is no need to give us a reading. As at November 2023, 89.3% of all our electricity ICPs use communicating smart meters.

Access to your meter

If your meter is inside, we'll check whether we hold a key for access.

In most instances, electricity will be ready for use the moment you step into your new property.

Please check your meter type - See 'Meter types and Access' 

If a reconnection is needed, please see 'Reconnections'

In most instances, piped gas will be ready for use the moment you step into your new property.

If you have any issues with your piped gas connection or a reconnection is needed, please see 'Reconnections'

All piped gas connections require a manual meter read - See 'Meter types and Access'

Are you a new Contact customer?

You may have a few questions so you can find out more here. We’d love to supply your broadband, and help make life simpler by combining your services.

Are you already with Contact?

• If you already have broadband and want it at your new property, please remember to take your modem with you.
• If you don’t have broadband with us at the moment, but have asked for it at your new place, we’ll deliver the modem straight there for you. Your connection date will depend on a few things, such as whether you need fibre installed.

Electricity and Piped Gas

In most circumstances, we will know that the new address has been disconnected so can let you know before you move in.

If your electricity connection has been disconnected, we can arrange a reconnection.

If you haven't been disconnected and there is no power at the property, you may have a network outage or fault.

If you have already moved in and don't have any power or gas, please call us on 0800 224 424 or email us [email protected]. We need a responsible person over the age of 18 to be present at the property for the reconnection.

Standard meter checks: 

• Check the mains switch is turned on.
• Depending on how the meter is set up, it may not work if the mains switch is off.
• If you haven't been disconnected and there is no power at the property, you may have a network outage or fault.
• Contact us: [email protected] or 0800 224 424.

Smart meter checks:

• In most circumstances, we can remotely reconnect your electricity through your smart meter.
• Check the mains switch is turned on. Depending on how the meter is set up it, may not work if the mains switch is off.
• If you haven't been disconnected and there is no power at the property, you may have a network outage or fault.
• If there is a message on your smart meter asking you to call a retailer, it may be the property has been disconnected.

For more information on meters, please see 'Meter Types and Access'.

Do you or anyone at your address depend on electricity and/or piped gas for critical medical support? Please refer to the following Support FAQ.