Moving Out: How to Turn off Electricity Service in New York State

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This article details how to terminate your electricity service when moving out in New York.

Instructions depend on your utility company

The process for terminating your electricity service varies according to your utility company. Select your utility from the list:

Contacting Your Utility Company

No matter whether you are supplied by an ESCO or by your utility, you will need to call in advance to terminate your electricity service. Most companies need around 3 to 5 business days advance notice in order to turn off your electricity in time for your move. This helps you to avoid being charged for extra days.

Your utility company will need information to close your account, including things like:

  • Name
  • Account number
  • Move out date

You may be charged a termination fee if you are ending the contract before the agreed period, if you are signed up with an ESCO on a fixed plan (but not always). Be sure to look at your ESCO plan’s terms & conditions to know whether you’ll be charged or not.

Transferring Service

If you are moving to another home within the same utility company's service area, you can normally cancel current service and start up new service during the same call through an account transfer. You should call your utility's customer service line as soon as possible, although most companies require around 5 to 7 business days to start new account service.

You will need to provide information to transfer service, usually including things like:

  • Account number
  • Move out date
  • New address and move-in date

Starting Electricity and Gas Service in Your New Home

If you are moving to another home in Texas, whether in your current utility's service area or your ESCO's service area or not, you can read more about the process for starting new electricity service.

Terminating ESCO service

New York's energy markets are deregulated, which means that utilities (which physically deliver electricity to your home) and providers (which purchase the electricity on wholesale markets and supply you with retail offers) are separate companies. Nevertheless, not all of New York is deregulated, and also many customers let both the supply and the delivery be performed by their utility company.

If you have electricity supply with an ESCO, you do not need to take any extra steps with them, since stopping service with your utility company will cancel your ESCO's service as well. Nevertheless, you must be careful for termination fees, and therefore it is recommended to contact your ESCO to make sure the moving-out date does not create a termination fee.