How to transfer utilities when moving
Transferring is fast and familiar. Switching is usually cheaper. Here’s how to decide, and how to avoid the two-bills-at-once trap.
Transfer vs. switch: the decision
Texas electricity rates move every quarter. Whatever plan you signed 12 or 24 months ago is almost certainly above today’s market rate. A move is the cheapest moment to renegotiate — you can switch with no early-termination fee in most contracts because of the address change.
The five-minute online transfer
If you’re staying with the same provider and same transmission territory (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP, TNMP):
- Log in to your provider’s account portal.
- Find “Move my service” (often buried under Account › Settings).
- Enter new address and move-in date.
- Confirm. Done in five minutes.
Avoiding double-billing
- Disconnect at old address: one day after move-out.
- Connect at new address: one day before move-in.
- Final bill: arrives 4–6 weeks after disconnect. Watch for a refund of any deposit on file.
Cross-territory moves
If you move from Oncor to CenterPoint (e.g. Dallas to Houston) you can’t transfer — the underlying transmission utility is different. You close the old account, open a new one, and shop fresh. Use the move-out date as your contract-end-date negotiation point: most REPs waive early-termination fees if your new address is outside their service area.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer my electricity service to a new address in Texas?
Yes if both addresses are in the same TDSP (transmission utility) territory — Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP, or TNMP. If you cross territories, you must close the old account and open a new one with whichever REP serves the new address.
How do I avoid double-billing when transferring utilities?
Schedule the disconnect at the old address for one day after move-out, and the connect at the new address for one day before move-in. The 1-day overlap is intentional — it prevents service gaps during the actual move day.
Should I transfer or shop for a new plan when I move?
Shop. Texas electricity rates change every quarter; your existing plan is probably 10–30% above the current market rate. Transferring is convenient but costs more. Use the move as a forced contract renegotiation.
Can I transfer my internet service to a new address?
Sometimes. ISPs check serviceability at the new address — if they don't serve it, you have to cancel (often early-termination fee) and start fresh. If they do serve it, transfer is free and takes 7–14 days.
Images via Wikimedia Commons (Moving company boxes, CC BY-SA 4.0; Residential service entrance, CC BY-SA 4.0; Austin skyline, CC BY-SA 4.0).