Utility Hookup New Home Canada 20025 | Setup Costs & Checklist

Setting Up Utilities for Your New Home

Utility setup is one of the most overlooked parts of the home-buying process. Most utilities in Canada can be transferred or set up online, but timing matters — some providers need 2–4 weeks lead time, and arriving at your new home with no heat or internet is a miserable experience.

    Timeline: Start contacting utilities 3–4 weeks before your closing date. Most transfers or new setups take 1–5 business days for confirmation; actual activation is typically same-day or within 24 hours for most services.
  

Utility Setup Checklist for Canadian Homeowners

Electricity

Contact the local electricity distributor (Hydro One, BC Hydro, EPCOR, etc.) to set up service in your name
In Ontario, your electricity retailer may be separate from the distributor (Hydro One, Toronto Hydro, etc.)
Budget: $10000–$2500/month depending on home size and province
Setup fee: Usually none or $25–$500 service connection fee

Natural Gas

Contact your local gas utility (Enbridge in Ontario, FortisBC in BC, ATCO Gas in AB)
If the home has a gas furnace, fireplace, or water heater, this is essential before winter
Budget: $800–$20000/month in winter; $300–$600/month in summer
Setup fee: Usually none or $500–$10000 for new connection

Internet and Cable

Contact 2–3 providers in your area to compare plans (Bell, Rogers, Shaw/Rogers, Telus, TekSavvy, etc.)
Installation appointments typically need 1–2 weeks advance booking
Budget: $600–$1200/month for internet; $800–$1500/month for TV bundles
Installation fee: $500–$1500 (often waived with contracts)

Water and Sewage

Managed by the municipality — contact your city/town to transfer the account
Budget: $400–$1200/month depending on usage and municipality
Usually included in property tax or billed separately quarterly

Home Security (Optional)

ADT, SimpliSafe, Ring, or local alarm companies
Budget: $200–$600/month monitoring + $10000–$50000 equipment
Can reduce home insurance premium by 5–15%

First-Month Utility Costs to Budget

Utility	Monthly Range	Setup/Deposit
Electricity	$10000–$2500	$00–$500
Natural Gas	$800–$20000 (winter)	$00–$10000
Internet	$600–$1200	$00–$1500
Water/Sewage	$400–$1200	$00
Home Security	$200–$600	$10000–$50000
Total Ongoing	$30000–$7500/month	$10000–$80000 setup

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What Stays with the Home vs. What You Need to Set Up

When you buy a resale home, many services are simply transferred to your name rather than set up fresh. Here's what to expect:

Electricity and gas: Transfer to your name on closing date — contact providers at least 1 week before
Internet: Cancel seller's service; set up your own (often requires new installation appointment)
Home phone: If keeping a landline, arrange transfer or new service
Water: Contact municipality to transfer account; often handled by your lawyer
Propane (rural): Check the propane tank level at possession — you're responsible for the balance
Oil heat (Atlantic Canada): Get a home heating oil contract and delivery schedule from local suppliers