After finalizing the purchase of a home, and before we even think about moving in, it’s essential that we focus on registering or transferring the utilities into our name. This way, we’ll ensure that, as soon as we move in, we’ll have access to everything we need to live there (electricity, water, and gas).

But don’t worry—if this applies to you, we can assure you that these aren’t complicated processes. Especially when compared to all the other paperwork you’ve had to deal with to buy your new home. Plus, in this article, we’ve put together a short guide so you can complete them easily and without any headaches.

What do you think? Are you up for following our advice?

Here’s how to transfer utility accounts for a residence

Electricity Supply

If your home is a new construction and you will be its first owner, you will need to sign up for and request activation of the energy service. To do so, it is important to know the difference between:

• Electricity distribution company: This is the company responsible for ensuring that electricity reaches the geographic area where your home is located. Therefore, it lays the power lines, installs the meter (in rental properties), and maintains the grid. In this case, we don’t choose the distributor, because these areas in Spain are already assigned to specific companies.
• Electricity retailer: This is the company that acts as an intermediary between the customer and the utility company. It therefore takes the necessary steps to ensure that electricity is delivered properly to your home and is responsible for billing you for it.

The process of transferring ownership of your home’s energy service must be initiated through the energy retailer. Therefore, you should evaluate the offers from each one to find out which one best fits your needs and, based on that, decide which one to contact.

Costs of setting up electricity service for a home

Keep in mind that each company may offer you different electricity rate plans: regulated (based on current electricity prices) or open-market (with stable, hourly, or indexed rates). However, when it comes to the sign-up process, the most important thing is to consider the costs involved in this entire procedure:

• Extension fee: This fee must be paid when the electrical infrastructure is first connected (in which case, it is paid by the developer or builder) or to increase the system’s power capacity (in which case, it is paid by the contract holder). The cost is€ 17.37 per kW of power (VAT not included).
• Access to the grid: A fee is required to use the electricity transmission grid. The fee is 19.7€ per kW of power (excluding VAT).
• Service Connection: Connecting to the utility grid costs €9.04 (excluding VAT).
• Verification: It is necessary to verify that the installation meets the technical requirements for operation. However, if an electrical inspection report or C.I.E. certificate is provided, this payment is not required.
• Security deposit: a deposit that must be paid when you sign up for the service, reactivate it, or increase your power capacity. The cost ranges from €10.54 to €13.10 per kW of electrical power.

Required Documentation

After choosing an electricity retailer and receiving its approval to begin providing electricity service, you’ll need to submit a series of documents and details to complete the process. Specifically, you’ll need to provide the address of the residence, the Installation Certificate or Electrical Inspection Report, the information for the new contract holder, the power capacity you’re requesting, and the IBAN code for the bank account from which your bills will be automatically deducted.

And, once all the documentation is in order, the electricity supplier will contact the utility company so that it can send a technician to our home. This technician will handle the technical aspects of the service activation and, if necessary, install a power control switch (ICP) to regulate the power. Once this is done, everything will be ready for the electricity supplier to immediately connect the service to the power grid and activate the contract.

Change of Account Holder for the Home’s Electricity Service

If our new home is an older property, it will already have an active electricity service. Therefore, we’ll need to transfer the account to our name so that usage and bills are properly billed to us. Fortunately, the process is fairly straightforward: simply contact the electricity provider through one of the available channels, notify them of the change in account ownership, and provide the information they request. After that, the company will complete the process within a maximum of three weeks.

Also, remember that you can take this opportunity to switch energy suppliers. In this case, all you have to do is contact the company of your choice, and they’ll handle all the paperwork using your information. Keep in mind, of course, that you’ll need to provide additional information, such as the contracted electrical capacity at that time.

Gas Supply

The process for connecting natural gas service to a newly built home is similar to that for electricity. First, you’ll need to verify that the home is equipped to receive it, which means it must have:

• A gas appliance, such as a boiler or water heater.
• A gas service line is the pipe that connects the utility company’s facility to the residence itself.
• A Gas Installation Certificate confirming that the two previous requirements have been met. In this case, it is issued by the gas distributor.
• A Unified Point of Supply Code (CUPS). It is an alphanumeric combination that links the residence to the specific gas supply facility. It is also provided by the distribution company.

If you have all of these items, you can move forward with the process. If not, you’ll need to contact the local utility company to request a quote for the entire installation. Once you accept the quote, the work can be carried out by one of their technicians or by an authorized independent installer.

Complete the installation

Once everything is ready, you can review the available options (open market or TUR-regulated) and choose your electricity supplier. When you contact them, they will ask you for a series of details to set up the contract: full name, ID number (DNI/NIE), contact information, bank IBAN, gas installation certificates (IRI-IRC), heating installation certificate (RITE), and a copy of the property deed.

Once everything is in order, the retail provider will contact the utility company to complete the process and start service. This will require a technician from the utility company to visit your home to install and activate a meter to track your usage.

Costs of setting up gas service for a home

Keep in mind that when you sign up for gas service for the first time, you’ll have to pay some initial fees. These cover the connection fees (toll fees), which are determined by the distributor, are a one-time payment, and are valid for 5 years; as well as the activation fees, which cover the installation of the meter and the seal, and which vary depending on the Autonomous Community where you live and the rate plan that applies to you.

Also, if you choose the regulated market option, keep in mind that there are different rates for the Last Resort Tariff (TUR), whose price is set quarterly by the government based on the annual consumption required for residential facilities:

• Tier 1 (consumption of up to 5,000 kWh/year).
• TUR 2 (consumption of 5,000–15,000 kWh/year).
• TUR 3 (consumption of 15,000–50,000 kWh/year).

On the other hand, if you opt for the open market (although this is a less advisable option from an economic standpoint), the company will agree on a fixed gas price with you based on your consumption. Normally, this price will be linked to wholesale market prices. And it will remain in effect for at least one year, as specified in the contract.

Change of Account Holder for the Home’s Gas Service

If you buy a home that already has a gas service connection, you’ll need to contact the gas supplier through one of its available channels, such as online or by phone. Through a completely free process, the supplier will ask you for all the necessary information, such as your ID number (DNI/NIE), property details, bank information, CUPS code, access rate, etc., as well as the first and last names and ID number (DNI/NIE) of the previous account holder.

Once this procedure is completed, the change in account ownership should be reflected within a maximum of 3 weeks.

Water Supply

In Spain, water service is provided by the municipality where the residence is located. Specifically, the city council grants a concession to a company, which sets the price for the service and is also responsible for water quality. Therefore, you’ll need to contact the appropriate company to begin the process of registering yourself as the account holder for this service at your home.

Required Documentation

The company will ask you for certain information, such as your DNI/NIE, a document proving that you are a tenant or homeowner, and your bank information. In addition, you’ll need a water service certificate , which is a legal document certifying that the property has all the necessary plumbing to ensure a water supply. For this reason, this document must be issued and signed by a qualified and authorized professional.

After that, the utility company will send one of its technicians to your home to install the meter, and you will be charged the connection fees, which include the network fee and the connection fee, in addition to the costs associated with the meter itself or the inlet valves. These fees are set by the utility company and are a mandatory requirement for you to begin receiving your water service.

Change of Account Holder for the Home’s Water Service

Just as in the two previous cases involving a change of account holder for your home’s utilities, you’ll need to contact the utility company through one of its designated channels. They will ask you for the necessary information, which may vary. However, the most common documents requested are your ID, bank account number, proof of your right to occupy the residence, proof of residency registration, and the latest water meter reading.

But keep in mind that the company may charge you an initial security deposit in addition to your actual usage charges. This is an advance payment determined based on the property (specifically, the number of bathrooms) and typically ranges from 50 to just over 100 euros. However, it will be refunded to you once the contract ends.

Find all the information you need to move into your new home on CULMIA

We hope you’ve found all this information on changing your home utilities very helpful. And if you need more details or need to complete other related procedures—such as registering for phone and Internet service—we invite you to download our comprehensive “Guide to Moving into a New Home” here . It’s completely free!

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