How do you open an SP utilities account?

How to open a utilities account

When you move home in Singapore, you open a utilities account for the new address before you move in, and close the account at the old address when you move out. SP's quick guide to your utilities sets out the moving-in steps below. Whether you sign up with an electricity retailer or with SP, you still open the utilities account with SP.

1. Open the account. Use the SP app or portal to open your utilities account and schedule the supply turn-on appointment, if one applies to your home.
2. Watch for confirmations. You get an SMS confirming your application has been received, then an email and a letter confirming the appointment.
3. Allow 7 business days. SP asks you to allow 7 business days lead time after the account is opened, so apply well before your move-in date.
4. Arrange gas. Once the account is confirmed, gas activation is managed separately by City Energy, as the SP guide explains. Contact City Energy to set it up.
5. Monitor your usage. After you move in, use the SP app to keep track of your usage from the first bill onwards.

New flats and HDB

If you have bought an HDB flat, MyNiceHome's HDB move-in guide says all home owners must open a utilities account with SP Services, whichever electricity retailer they go on to choose, and should set it up before moving in. You can do this at the SP Services Customer Service Centre at HDB Hub after you collect your keys, online, or in the SP Utilities App. A security deposit is required.

Opening the account early also clears one task off a busy stretch. If you are inspecting the flat around key collection, the BTO defects checklist helps you note what to look for, so you can plan both jobs for the same few days.

Moving out and transferring

To transfer utilities to your next home, SP's quick guide describes two steps: close the utilities account at the home you are leaving, then open a new account for the new premises after closing the old one. When the old account is closed, any remaining security deposit is refunded after it is offset against your final bill, and SP asks you to allow up to 30 business days for this.

Because the new account needs 7 business days of lead time, put both the closing and the opening on your moving house checklist as soon as you know your dates. If you have questions about the closing date or how the refund will be paid, ask SP when you close the account.

Choosing an electricity retailer

Opening the utilities account and choosing who sells you electricity are separate decisions. SP's quick guide says that whether you sign up with a retailer or with SP, you still open a utilities account with SP. MyNiceHome's HDB move-in guide adds that once the account is set up, you can switch to any electricity retailer.

In practice, you can get the account running first and look at retailers afterwards, once you have settled in and have a sense of how much electricity your household uses. What you pay depends on the plan you choose. Our page on the open electricity market or SP compares the two routes, so you can weigh them without rushing the decision during the move. Before you switch, ask the retailer how long the contract runs and whether there is a fee for ending it early.

First days in the new home

On your first day, check that the power, water and gas all work. Switch on the lights and a few appliances, run the taps and the shower, and try the gas stove or gas water heater if your home has gas. Then read the electricity, water and gas meters and take a photo of each reading, so you have a starting point to compare against your first bill. The new home move-in checklist covers the rest of the first week.

If no water comes out or the flow seems weak, look through the water supply FAQ. If your first bill seems higher than your meter photos suggest, the guide on why your electricity bill is high walks through what to check.

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