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Buying in Melbourne is exciting, then you hit the practical question every buyer asks a week or two out: Can I switch the power on before settlement so the final inspection actually works, and the fridge is cold on moving day?
Short answer: Usually yes for electricity and gas if you organise it with a retailer, water normally stays on and transfers to you automatically, and internet may need more lead time. The longer answer matters, because you still don't have possession until settlement, so access has to be handled the right way.
What Changes at Settlement in Victoria
Settlement is the moment you pay the balance, the title changes, and you get possession unless the contract says otherwise. Before that moment, you are not entitled to occupy the property, so anything that needs access on site (an NBN technician, a new gas meter, a mains re energisation that requires attendance) must be coordinated through the vendor or agent. Adjustments for outgoings like council rates and water are calculated in the statement of adjustments at settlement.
The Big Question: Can You Connect Utilities Before Settlement?
In practice, buyers commonly set electricity and gas to commence on, or shortly before, the settlement date. Retailers handle the account and ask you for a 'move in' date, then they liaise with the distributor to energise if needed. Power is usually reconnected within one business day after you ask a retailer to connect, which is why booking ahead is smart. The crucial caveats are access and consent for any on site works, plus the risk that if settlement slides, you may pay for a few days' usage.
Vendor Cooperation for the Final Inspection
You're entitled to one pre settlement inspection in the week before settlement. Most vendors leave electricity and gas connected until handover so you can test appliances, lights, hot water, and heating properly. If a seller insists on disconnecting, ask the agent to keep services on until after your inspection, or, with the vendor's consent, set up your own electricity and gas to start a day or two earlier.
Electricity: How Early Can You Switch It On?
What you can do: Choose a retailer, set the start date, and request connection ahead of moving day. Retailers advertise next business day connections if you book by the cut off, and the Essential Services Commission confirms power will usually be reconnected within one business day after you ask a retailer to connect. In most Melbourne suburbs the physical network is run by one of five distributors (CitiPower, Powercor, United Energy, Jemena, AusNet). Your retailer arranges work with the right one, you don't need to pick it.
How to check your distributor: Use the Victorian Government 'find your distributor' tool or a distributor's postcode lookup (handy if an outage SMS refers to a name you don't recognise).
Timing Tip for Melbourne Buyers
Book electricity for the day before settlement if the vendor agrees to you energising early. If not, set the start date for settlement day, then attend the pre settlement inspection while the vendor's account is still active. If power has been off, allow a buffer in case the reconnection happens the next business day only.
Fees: Distributors charge reconnection or special service fees that retailers pass through, and these change from time to time. As an example, Origin lists moving fees for Victoria that apply to reconnection and disconnection, current at 1 July 2025. Check your chosen retailer's schedule.
Gas: Similar Process, with 2025 Changes for New Connections
For existing homes that already have a gas meter and service, you set your start date with the gas retailer and they coordinate with the local gas distributor. If the property's gas supply was disconnected, a technician may need access to turn it back on safely. For brand new connections, note that the Essential Services Commission's updates to the Gas Distribution Code mean new Victorian gas connections attract upfront charges from 1 January 2025. Melbourne's gas distribution is handled by three distributors (Multinet Gas, Australian Gas Networks, and AusNet).
What This Means for You
If you're buying an established home, you can generally start gas on or just before settlement with vendor consent for any site access. If you are buying a newly built home that has never had gas, allow extra lead time and budget for the new connection charges introduced from 1 January 2025. Your retailer will submit the connection service request to the relevant distributor.
Water: Usually Stays On, and It Follows the Title at Settlement
Water and sewerage services in Melbourne are not typically switched off between owners. You usually do not 'connect' water like electricity or gas. Instead, your conveyancer requests an information statement and any special meter read from the water authority for settlement adjustments, then after settlement the account is transferred to you. Yarra Valley Water says 'water and sewerage services are never switched off' and that your solicitor or conveyancer handles the changeover. South East Water and Greater Western Water publish similar guidance for buyers.
Which Authority Is Mine?
In greater Melbourne, the big three are:
- Yarra Valley Water (north and east)
- South East Water (south and bayside)
- Greater Western Water (west and inner north west)
Your conveyancer's water information statement request will make it obvious, and GWW's 'information statements' page shows the process used for settlement.
Practical tip: At settlement, outgoings are adjusted so you pay only from the day you become owner. If you capture a photo of the water meter on your final inspection, it gives everyone a clean handover point for usage.
Internet and NBN: Start Earlier Than You Think
Internet is the one that catches people out. If the property already has active NBN equipment, a transfer can be fast, sometimes within one to five business days. If a technician is required, timeframes are commonly five to twenty business days depending on availability. NBN Co's moving checklist recommends contacting your provider weeks ahead to arrange a start date and any appointment, and it may require you (or an authorised adult) on site. For brand new builds, a pre installation process can be arranged so you are ready closer to move in.
Before Settlement Warning
A technician generally needs access inside the property, so you must line up appointments through the agent or wait until you have the keys, unless the vendor agrees otherwise. Because you do not have possession before settlement, respect that boundary and avoid booking appointments that assume you can enter freely.
Apartments, Owners Corporations, and Embedded Networks
If you're buying an apartment, ask two quick questions: is the building on a standard electricity network, or an embedded network, and who is the owners corporation manager. Embedded networks supply electricity within a private network and then on sell to residents. In Victoria, consumer protections apply, including a cap at the Victorian Default Offer price for residential embedded network customers, and there has been a ban on compulsory embedded networks in new apartment buildings from January 2023, improving choice for many buyers. You can check embedded network information via Consumer Affairs Victoria and the Essential Services Commission.
What to Do
Ask the agent or owners corporation if the building uses an embedded network, then contact the operator early to set up your account or arrange a market offer where available. For common areas, the owners corporation keeps power on, so your final inspection should still be possible, but embedded network rules may change who you call to energise your lot.
A Melbourne Friendly Timeline You Can Copy
Three Weeks Out
- Shop around for electricity and gas plans, then book your connection to start on settlement day, or a day earlier if the vendor consents to early energisation. Have your distributor details handy.
- If the property needs NBN appointments, contact your preferred provider now to lock them in. If you already know the technology type (FTTP, HFC, FTTN, FTTB), tell them.
Ten Days Out
- Confirm your pre settlement inspection time with the agent, ideally within the week before settlement. Ask the agent to ensure electricity and gas remain on for the inspection.
- If buying new and planning to use gas, check whether any new connection fees will apply and whether the meter is already installed.
One Week Out
- Reconfirm electricity and gas start dates with your retailer. If the vendor has disconnected early and agrees to you energising before settlement, set your start date one or two days prior and keep the agent in the loop.
- Your conveyancer requests the water information statement and any special meter read for adjustments. You do not need to 'connect' water.
Final Inspection Day
- Take phone photos of meter readings for your records, test hot water, stove, lights, heating and cooling, and any inclusions in the contract.
Settlement Day
- Expect electricity or gas reconnection within one business day of your scheduled start, noting retailer cut offs and distributor processing. If you booked for today and settlement happens before lunch, you might still see power late afternoon, otherwise the next business day.
- Water account will change over automatically following settlement when your conveyancer notifies the authority. Your first bill will arrive within roughly one to three months depending on the cycle.
Common Scenarios and What to Do
'The vendor has already disconnected electricity. My final inspection is tomorrow.'
Ask the agent to get the vendor to leave the main switch on and reinstate supply for the inspection. If they decline, with the vendor's consent you can book a retailer for an earlier start date so the power is on when you arrive. Build in a one business day buffer for reconnection.
'I'm buying a brand new townhouse. Can I get gas connected before keys?'
You can lodge the application early through your retailer. For new gas connections in Victoria, allow extra time and budget for the upfront connection charges applying from 1 January 2025. Any technician access before settlement needs the vendor or builder to let them in.
'Water is off at the tap.'
That's unusual in Melbourne. Water services are typically left on, with ownership and billing handled at settlement. If pressure is low, it may be a stop tap issue rather than a disconnected account. Your conveyancer's information statement request covers the billing handover.
'The apartment is in an embedded network.'
Contact the embedded network operator or building manager to open your account and check whether you can choose a market retailer for your lot under the Victorian rules. Pricing is capped at the Victorian Default Offer for residential customers within embedded networks.
'I need fast internet for work on day one.'
If the property already has an NBN connection box, transfers can be quick. If a technician is required, book as early as possible, and arrange access via the agent if before settlement. Timeframes of one to five business days for activation are possible for NBN ready premises, and five to twenty business days if an appointment is needed.
Who Does What in Melbourne
You (the buyer): Choose electricity and gas retailers, set start dates, and book NBN early.
Your conveyancer: Arranges council and water authority notifications, owners corporation notifications where applicable, and prepares outgoings adjustments.
Retailers: Manage your electricity and gas accounts and instruct distributors to reconnect or carry out service work.
Distributors (poles, wires, and pipes): CitiPower, Powercor, United Energy, Jemena and AusNet for electricity, and Multinet, Australian Gas Networks, and AusNet for gas. Use the government lookup to confirm yours.
Water authorities: Yarra Valley Water, South East Water, Greater Western Water. They handle information statements and transfer the account when title changes, you don't usually open a new 'connection'.
Risks, Fine Print, and Sensible Work Arounds
Possession and access: Until settlement you do not have possession, so don't book technicians assuming you can attend without the vendor's consent. Use the agent as your coordinator, and put everything in writing.
Cut off times: Most retailers have same day or next business day rules with cut offs; miss them and you may wait until the next business day.
Fees: Budget for reconnection or special service fees per the retailer's schedule, and note 2025 changes for any new gas service connection.
Apartments and embedded networks: Identify early, because you may have to set up with an embedded network provider first, even if you later exercise market choice.
NBN lead times: If the home has never had NBN, activation can take longer and needs access; for complex installs, consider interim mobile broadband so you are not stuck.
Quick Melbourne Utility Checklist
Electricity: Book with your chosen retailer for settlement day; bring one business day buffer if power is currently off. Use the distributor lookup tool to identify your network.
Gas: Same approach as electricity; if it is a brand new service, allow for the 2025 connection charge and extra time.
Water: Your conveyancer handles the transfer; services are not normally switched off between owners.
Internet: Check NBN technology and book any appointment early via the agent if before settlement.
Final inspection: Ensure utilities are on so you can test everything properly.
So, Can You Connect Before Settlement?
Yes, in most cases you can arrange electricity and gas to commence just before settlement if the vendor consents to early energisation and any site access. Water typically remains on and transfers after settlement. Internet may require you to wait, unless the vendor will facilitate an appointment. The safest approach is to book services for settlement day, confirm the vendor will keep power and gas on for your final inspection, and build in a one business day buffer in case a reconnection takes that long.
Need Help with the Timing, or with Reading the Fine Print?
Pearson Chambers Conveyancing helps Melbourne buyers plan connections without tripping over possession rules or settlement delays. If you'd like us to sanity check your timeline or to line up water authority statements and owners corporation notices, get in touch for a complimentary Section 32 contract review.