5 steps to live service on move-in day
Confirm your utility
Upstate (Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany) you get electric + gas with National Grid. NYC + LI you get gas with National Grid only; electricity is Con Edison in the city or PSEG Long Island on LI.
Open the request, ideally 7 days out
Online via National Grid's Start Service form, or by phone at 1-800-642-4272 upstate, 718-643-4050 NYC, 1-800-930-5003 LI. Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET.
Have your documents ready
- ·Full name + contact details (phone, email);
- ·SSN or passport number;
- ·Full address of the new home (unit number, zip);
- ·Move-in date;
- ·Renters: copy of the lease and the landlord's contact info.
Pick: default supply or ESCO
You can start on default supply by doing nothing extra, and then switch to an ESCO later. To switch, you need your National Grid account number, which National Grid emails after the first bill or you find in your online account.
Set up online access
Register at National Grid's customer portal as soon as your first bill arrives. The portal lets you turn on DirectPay auto-pay, sign up for paperless billing, view usage history, and report outages.
Lead time: live account vs dormant meter
Live account (fast path)
If the previous tenant just moved out and the meter is still live, National Grid can reassign the account from the office with an estimated meter reading. Often same day or next business day.
Dormant meter (slow path)
If service was disconnected (previous tenant moved months ago, or there was a non-payment shut-off), a technician has to physically turn the meter on. Plan up to 5 business days, and check that the path to the meter is clear.
ESCO transfer: read the small print before signing
If you already had an ESCO at your previous NY address, contact them first; some can transfer your contract to the new National Grid account without an early-termination fee. Otherwise, plan to switch fresh from default supply once you have your new account number.
Two traps to watch:
- ·Early termination fees. Some ESCO contracts charge a fee if you cancel mid-term, even because you moved. Always check before signing.
- ·Auto-renew to variable. Many ESCO fixed-rate contracts roll into a monthly variable at the end of the term, which often drifts above National Grid's default. Set a calendar reminder for two months before contract end.
The April 2026 PSC ESCO settlement tightened these rules: residential offers now require clearer price disclosures and an easier exit from auto-renewed variable rates.
Frequently asked questions
If the meter is live, same day or next business day. If it has been disconnected, up to 5 business days for a technician visit. Give 7 days notice to be safe.
No. Default supply is automatic. You can switch to an ESCO any time after you receive your first bill and have an account number.
Some renters and customers with no NY credit history are asked for a deposit. National Grid will refund it after roughly 12 months of on-time payments.
Yes. National Grid's online Start Service form lets you submit the request without a phone call. The same documents are required.
Single call. National Grid handles stop service at the old address and start service at the new one in the same request. See our moving-out guide.
More U.S. states with energy choice
Same playbook, different utility. Pick another deregulated state to compare utilities, suppliers and switching rules.
