Aussie Survival Guide
Connecting up your new Home.

When you move into a new home, whether it’s an apartment or a free-standing house on its own lot, there are a number of things you must do before it is ‘connected’ to all the public utilities.
For example, you may want a telephone landline, or Internet access. There is a wide range of providers, some of which are national, some of which only offer service in a localised area. You need to assess all your needs and select suppliers on a balance of service offered and cost of delivery.
Then of course, you have the usual ‘utilities’ such as gas, electricity, water, pay TV. Again, there is a mixture of government and private providers.
Most often, such providers are state based, although some, like pay TV can be Australia wide. And then there are ‘rates’, a tax levied by local government on dwellings, as well as business premises.

Here are some utility contacts to help you get started in selecting the suppliers you want, but you should search out the companies best equipped to service your needs.

Telephone companies
Telstra
Optus

Electricity suppliers in your area

Gas suppliers in your area

Metro pay TV – Foxtel

Regional pay TV – Austar

Water utilities

It is advisable to compare competing companies on the basis of cost, quality and reliability.
To find out what rates you may have to pay, contact your local city or shire offices.