Utilities Connections,
On Your Terms

How much are monthly utilities on average in Australia?

As a rule of thumb, you should expect your monthly utilities costs to be around 20% of your monthly rent (if you’re living alone), or 10% of your monthly rent if you share a household. On average, Australian households pay around $80 - $100 per month on electricity, $170 - $220 per quarter on gas and $90 - $140 per quarter on water.

How do I set up utilities when renting?

Congratulations! You’ve signed a leasing agreement for your new home, and you’re getting ready to move in. The first thing you’ll need to do is work out which utilities providers are available at your new address for water, gas, electricity and broadband. Next, you can get in touch with each individual supplier, give them notice of your move-in date and agree terms with each supplier. 

Sounds like a lot? You could also just contact a utilities services company, like Foxie, which scans the market for suppliers that can offer you a good deal, and arranges your connections for you, all in one call and for free.

How fast can Foxie connect my electricity?

Foxie can have your electricity up and running within the day, and sometimes in a matter of minutes. 

Different states in Australia have different infrastructure and rules when it comes to residential power. Generally, if you give Foxie a call on 1800 952 438 before 11 am on a weekday, we’ll be able to get you plugged in within the day. 

If it’s later in the afternoon, and you require an urgent connection, give us a call anyway, and our specialists will work to get you the quickest connection possible. Foxie is equipped with live feeds from utility providers across the country, which means we can keep an eye on the progress of your connection in real time, and keep you updated with its status.

How do I know if I’m getting a good deal?

If you get your utilities connected with Foxie, you can rest assured that you aren’t being sold to as we are completely independent. When we present you with different options for discounted electricity plans, for example, we are fully transparent about every detail, because we aren’t incentivised to sell you one over the other. Therefore you can get the best deal that Foxie has to offer for all of your utilities connections.

Who answers the phones at Foxie?

Our customer care team is based in Melbourne. We’ve carefully trained our team to become experts in connecting you to utilities that fit your needs and suit your budget. Have a question? A Foxie specialist will be happy to find the answer for you, and make sure you’re confident and happy with your new connection.

How is Foxie free?

Foxie is completely free to use, as we are paid by our suppliers.  Our product recommendations reflect your needs, and not what we are paid by our suppliers.  Our independence is at the core of what we do, and we will never, ever let our recommendations change based on what we are paid.

Is Foxie only for movers?

If you’re looking to see if there’s a better deal for any of your existing utilities, we can help with that too! Give Foxie a call on 1800 952 438, and one of our customer service specialists will give you the rundown on the other utility providers available in your area, and organise the connection for you with your provider of choice.

Does rent usually include utilities?

In most cases, your monthly rent will not include utilities usage. There are special circumstances – if you’re moving into student housing or your property is not individually metered – where your rent can include utilities costs, though this should be brought to your attention by your rental provider well before signing a leasing agreement.

Which utilities do renters normally pay?

Depending on which state you’re living in, your responsibilities for paying utilities can vary. If you’re in or moving to Victoria, you’re likely to be responsible for paying for all your water usage. In NSW, however, landlords can only ask renters to pay for water usage if the property is separately metered and adheres to the state’s ‘water efficiency’ standards. Otherwise, as a renter you can expect to pay for your electricity, gas and broadband usage, according to the plans you’ve set up with the providers.

How long does it take to get utilities connected?

The answer to this depends on a few things, like where you are in Australia, whether you’re talking about electricity, gas or water, and which utilities providers your property can access. You’ll want to get in touch with your utilities providers as soon as possible, in order to give them ample time to organise your connection, and ensure that you’re fully equipped with everything you need on move in day. Some utilities like electricity and gas can require days of lead time to activate. If you need your utilities turned in in a hurry, Foxie can help with urgent connections – simply call one of our specialists on 1800 952 438, and they’ll give you a run down of your options and arrange an urgent connection.