If you haven’t done it already, start your moving day checklist today! A priority is to make a list of all the services at your current address. Find their contact details on your old utility bills. Send them an end of service notice and let them have the day after your move as the disconnection date so that you still have heat and light on moving day. Next, you’ll want to contact utility providers at your new home and open an account to start service. Chat with your realtor or landlord about the best utility providers for the area. Before you begin contacting utility companies, have the information they will need handy:

• Your name and contact details, including a phone number, email address, current address.
• The service address. Be as specific as possible, including unit number, street name, zip code.
• The date on which to commence service. If the unit you are moving into will be unoccupied, it is a clever idea to start services the day before you move in to make sure the lights will be on when you arrive on moving day.
• Provide your social security number or check what other proof of ID is permissible. Some utility companies might accept drivers’ license ID, alien ID number or a passport if you don’t have a social security number.
• Your banking details. Enquire about payment methods for your utilities bill. Most utility providers prefer to be paid by Direct Payment so that bills are automatically deducted from your account. You will need to provide your bank’s routing number and your check or savings account number.
• If your postal address is different from the service address, be sure to provide that to the utility company as well.
• Find out about a security deposit. Depending on the type of utility and your credit rating, a new customer might be required to pay a security deposit.

Stay in contact. As moving day gets closer, keep your list of utilities for both the old and new home handy. Give them a call during the week before you move to confirm that service providers will terminate or start services on the day you ordered them. Also keep track of your list of phone numbers on moving day, in case something goes wrong and you need to get hold of utility providers in a hurry.

Gas, Electricity, and Water in New York City

Electricity in NYC is provided by Con Edison. Open your account by calling them at 1-800-752-6633 (or 1-212-243-1900 if calling from outside the city, or apply online. If you’re renting in NYC, gas will probably be included in your rent. Discuss this with your landlord upfront. If gas is not included, you will need to get your own account. Depending on the area, you need to call either National Grid or Con Edison. Parts of Brooklyn are covered by National Grid, and ConEd provides service throughout most of the rest of the city.

• For gas by National Grid, call 1-718-643-4050
• For gas by Con Edison, call 1-800-752-6633 (1-212-243-1900)

Once you’ve opened a utility account with ConEd or National Grid, you can choose which alternate Energy Services Company (ESCO) you’d like to use as your energy provider. Shop around for the best price and service in your area. Water is included in most rental units in NYC. If you are the property owner, you may need to set up your own account. To open your water account, call the NYC Department of Environmental Protection at 718-595-7000 (Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, & Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm).

Phone, Internet, and Cable

Before you decide which cable company to choose, shop around and determine where you’ll get the best price and service. Keep in mind that you will need to be at home when a technician arrives to do the installation. If it can be arranged, it’s advisable to book an appointment to coincide with moving day, so you don’t need to schedule extra time off work.

• Time Warner Cable: 1-800-892-4357
• Verizon: 1-800-837-4966
• Cablevision: 718-975-1140

Everywhere Else in New York State

Gas, Electricity, and Water

In New York, you can decide who provides the gas and electricity your household consumes. As soon as you’ve established an account with the utilities, you can shop around for an ESCO supplier. Depending on the area, your utility provider will be one of the following:

• Central Hudson: 845-452-2700
• National Grid: 1-800-930-5003 (Long Island & Rockaways) or 1-800-642-4272 (Upstate NY)
• National Fuel: 1-800-365-3234
• NYSEG: 1-800-572-1111
• PSEG Long Island: 1-800-490-0025
• Rochester Gas & Electric: 1-800-743-2110

More than 270 companies provide water throughout communities in New York State. Your local municipality can tell you how to open an account. Alternatively, find information at the New York State Department of Public Service.

Phone, Internet, and Cable

A variety of companies operate in New York State. Some include:

• Cablevision: 631-393-0707 (Long Island) or 718-975-1140 (Westchester)
• Comcast (Xfinity): 1-800-266-2278
• Time Warner Cable: 1-888-438-3467
• Verizon: 1-800-837-4966

New Jersey

When living in New Jersey, you can choose which energy supplier to use. Once you’ve opened a utility account, shop around for the best gas/electricity price from alternate suppliers.

The four main NJ electric utilities are:

• Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-642-3780
• Jersey Central Power & Light: 1-800-662-3115
• Orange Rockland Electric Company: 1-877-434-4100
• PSE&G: 1-800-436-7734

The New Jersey Board of Public Affairs website provides a complete list of regulated utilities. Electric utility service territories can be found according to this map. To find out which utility serves your home, you can also check online directories.

Contact numbers for the four New Jersey gas utilities:

• Elizabethtown Gas: 1-800-242-5830
• New Jersey Gas: 1-800-221-0051
• PSE&G: 1-800-436-7734
• South Jersey Gas: 1-888-766-9900

A map of NJ natural gas utilities areas is here.

Water

In New Jersey, water service is run by local municipalities. You can find a list of NJ water utilities and customer service phone numbers here.

Phone, Internet, and Cable

Here are the main telecommunications companies in New Jersey:

• Cablevision:1-866-575-8000
• Comcast: 1-800-266-2278
• Service Electric Cable: 1-800-225-9102 (Hunterdon) / 1-800-992-0132 (Sparta)
• Time Warner Cable: 1-888-438-3467
• Verizon: 1-888-438-3467

TWC operates in the counties of Bergen and Hudson, while SEC is a service provider for the county of Sussex.

Connecticut

Find a full list of service utilities by town on the State of Connecticut website.

Gas, Electricity, and Water

Eversource is the largest electric utility in CT. United Illuminating services the Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas.

• United Illuminating 1-800-722-5584
• Eversource 1-800-286-2000

In some areas, you need to contact the municipality directly to connect to electricity:

• Bozrah Light & Power: 1-860-889-7388
• Groton Utilities: 1-860-446-4000
• Norwich Public Utilities: 1- 860-887-2555
• South Norwalk Electric Works: 203-866-3366
• Wallingford DPU: 203-294-2020

CNGC provides natural gas in Connecticut. An area map of their service is available here. Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation: 1-860-524-8361 (Greenwich Area Customers: 203-869-6900)

Phone, Internet, and Cable

• Cablevision: 203-870-2492
• Comcast: 1-800-934-6489
• Cox: Online Sales: 1-866-961-0027
• Metrocast: 1-888-339-3605

Moving is stressful, and there are so many things to arrange. Why not let Metropolis Moving do the fetching and carrying of your furniture, leaving your hands free to do the rest? Contact us today for a quote for your move.