Opening accounts
Electricity and gas accounts
Do I have to open an electricity or gas account?
Yes, anyone who lives in their own home, and almost all tenants (including public housing tenants) are responsible for paying for their own energy use in NSW. If you think your landlord might be responsible for your energy it will be specified in your lease. For further advice, contact your real estate agent or click here for details on a tenancy advice service in your area.
So that power will be available when you move in, try to contact the energy supplier at least two days before moving in. A list of energy suppliers and their contact details are available for electricity and gas.
Whose name should be on the account?
When you open an account in your name, you take responsibility for all future bills on that account. Even if the account is in more than one name, each person can be individually held responsible for the debt. You need to make arrangements in your household so that everyone agrees on who will be responsible for paying the account.
If the account holder moves out, the energy supplier cannot ask any of the people remaining to pay any outstanding amount. If you intend to stay in a property once the account holder has moved out, contact the supplier as soon as possible to open an account in your name.
Do I need to pay a security deposit?
In some circumstances energy suppliers require new customers to pay a security deposit. Ask the electricity or gas company if there are any ways you can have the deposit waived, such as agreeing to pay by direct debit. For further details on your rights and obligations in this area, see security deposits and other fees.
Read your meter
Find out where your meter is and check the reading when you move in. You can check this reading against the one you receive on your first bill to make sure you don't pay for the last customer's usage. Your energy company can tell you where your meter is, and how to read it.
Moving out
Usually you need to give the electricity or gas company three days notice when you want to close the account or when the name on the account changes. You may be held responsible for the energy used after the account holder moves out so let the company know if circumstances change.
Water accounts
When you move in
Find out where your meter is and check the reading when you move in. You can check this reading against the one you receive on your first bill to make sure you don't pay for the last customer's usage. Your water company can tell you where your meter is, and how to read it.
Whose name should be on the account?
In NSW, water accounts are attached to property ownership. As such, the owner of the property should always be the account holder. Responsibility for the account is transferred upon purchase, and is organised by the person who conducts settlement. If you are the property owner, check with your water supplier after purchase to ensure your details are correctly applied to the account. If ownership has not been transferred, speak to the person who conducted settlement, or click here for contact details of legal services that may be able to help.
Who is responsible for paying the account?
- Owners
You are responsible for paying your water account. If your property is currently leased, you may only bill the tenants for the water consumption component of the bill if this is specified in the lease.
- Private Tenants
Although the landlord is responsible for the water account, in many cases it is a condition of your lease for tenants to pay for the cost of water consumption. If you are responsible for this part of the water bill, your landlord or real estate agent will bill you and supply a copy of the water account for your reference. Further information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant is available from a tenants' advice service. Even if you are not the account holder, you may still be eligible for financial assistance. Special conditions apply, so visit Payment Assistance Scheme (PAS) for further information.
- Public Tenants
For more information on water charges for Department of Housing tenants, visit www.housing.nsw.gov.au
Landlord disputes
Disputes between landlords and tenants about the payment of water bills cannot be investigated by EWON. Advice in relation to these matters can be obtained from the Office of Fair Trading or your local Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service. Contact details are available at tenancy advice services.
