How to close or transfer utilities after someone dies
Don't rush to cancel utilities. If the home will sit empty while the estate is sorted out, it usually needs power and water to stay secure, insured and saleable. The usual approach is to keep services running in the estate's name, then close or transfer them once you know what's happening to the house.
Last changed: 19 October 2026Your three options for electricity and gas
Most energy retailers offer the same three choices: (Origin Energy)
| Option | When to use it | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer to a new name | Someone will keep living there | The new account holder signs up; the old account gets a final bill sent to the estate |
| Temporary supply in the estate's name | The house is empty while the estate is sorted out | Some retailers rename the account "Estate of…"; it stays on until you set a closure date |
| Cancel | Nobody needs power or gas there | Supply is disconnected and a final bill goes to the estate |
If you're not sure of a closure date, ask the retailer to hold the account open. EnergyAustralia, for example, will agree a follow-up date rather than closing immediately. (EnergyAustralia)
Want this done for you? See the Guided Inventory ↓
Who can make changes: usually a joint account holder, the executor, the deceased's solicitor, or a trustee. If you're not on the account, a letter or document showing you're the executor speeds things up. (ENGIE)
How to notify: some retailers, including Powershop, take notifications through the Australian Death Notification Service. AGL uses an online platform called NotifyNOW, run by a bereavement specialist on its behalf. (AGL)
Water
Water works differently because the account is tied to the property owner, not whoever lives there.
- Water accounts generally stay with the property until ownership changes, rather than being closed when the owner dies.
- When the house is sold or transferred, the water account moves to the new owner automatically at settlement. (Sydney Water)
- To redirect bills or update the account in the meantime, notify the water authority. Sydney Water, for example, has an online deceased estate form that asks for the death certificate, an extract of the will and letters of administration, and responds within about 10 working days. (Sydney Water)
Other authorities have similar processes. Search "[your water authority] deceased estate".
Internet and home phone
These are handled by the telco's bereavement team. See our phone guide for Telstra's process and the Australian Death Notification Service.
Things that catch families out
- Direct debits stop when the bank freezes the account. Bills then go unpaid and may attract late fees. Set up payment from the estate account, or tell the retailer the account belongs to a deceased estate.
- Concessions end. Pensioner and medical energy rebates were in the deceased's name. A surviving partner who stays in the home may need to apply for their own.
- Home insurance. Many policies treat a home as unoccupied after a set period, often 60 days, and may then apply a higher excess or extra conditions. A home with no utilities connected can also count as unoccupied. Tell the insurer about the death, and keep power on for lights, alarms and pool pumps.
- Credits and refunds. Any credit on a final bill belongs to the estate. Ask for it to be paid to the estate account.
If something goes wrong
If a retailer or water authority keeps billing the deceased, threatens disconnection, or won't close an account, contact the free energy and water ombudsman in your state, such as the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW.
What you'll usually need
- Death certificate
- Proof you're the executor (will, probate or a solicitor's letter)
- Property address and account numbers from a recent bill
- The new account holder's details, if transferring
Make it easier for your own family
A list of your utility providers and account numbers, and what you'd want done with the house, saves your family a stack of phone calls. The Legacy Mapped Guided Inventory has a Government & who to notify step for exactly this, which becomes your executor's contact list.
- Includes the $49 Digital Estate Kit
- Generates your finished inventory, ready to print
- Encrypted on your device with your own passphrase — we never see your answers
- Sign in with your email and a one-time code · 12 months’ access
This guide is general information only, not legal, financial or tax advice. Providers change their processes, so always confirm the current steps on the linked official page. For advice on a specific estate, speak with a solicitor, accountant or licensed financial adviser.