Utility Setup Guide for Ottawa and Gatineau: Everything to Connect Before Moving In

You've packed the boxes, booked the movers, and sorted the keys. But there's one thing worse than arriving at your new home exhausted — arriving to no heat, no hot water, and no Wi-Fi. Utility setup is one of the most overlooked parts of moving, and in Ottawa–Gatineau, it's complicated by the fact t

This guide gives you every provider, every contact, and the exact timeline for setting everything up before you walk through the door.

Focused on the logistics of your move? Get a free quote from UpMove — we handle the heavy lifting while you handle the utilities.

When to Start Setting Up Utilities

The ideal timeline:

TimeframeAction4 weeks beforeContact electricity and gas providers to set transfer dates3 weeks beforeOrder internet and TV installation2 weeks beforeConfirm water/sewer setup (if applicable)1 week beforeFinal confirmation calls to all providersMoving dayVerify everything is active; have provider phone numbers handy

Most Ottawa and Gatineau utility providers can process transfers in 3–5 business days, but internet installation appointments may take 1–2 weeks during busy periods.

Electricity

Ottawa: Hydro Ottawa

Website: hydroottawa.com
Phone: 613-738-6400
How to transfer: Online through MyAccount portal or by phone
What you need: New address, move-in date, photo ID, previous account number (if you're an existing customer)
Timeline: Request transfer at least 5 business days before your move
Note: If you're leaving Ottawa for Gatineau, you'll need to close your Hydro Ottawa account and open a new one with Hydro-Québec

Gatineau: Hydro-Québec

Website: hydroquebec.com
Phone: 1-888-385-7252
How to transfer: Online through your Espace client account
What you need: New address, move-in date, ID
Timeline: 3–5 business days
Bonus: Hydro-Québec rates are significantly lower than Hydro Ottawa — expect savings of 30–50% on the electricity portion of your bill

If you're comparing costs between the two sides of the river, see our Ottawa vs Gatineau cost comparison.

Natural Gas

Ottawa: Enbridge Gas

Website: enbridgegas.com
Phone: 1-877-362-7434
How to transfer: Online or by phone
What you need: New address, move-in date, previous account number
Timeline: 3–5 business days for activation
Important: If your new home uses gas for heating, water, or cooking, ensure service is active before moving day — especially for winter moves

Gatineau

Most Gatineau homes use electric heating (Hydro-Québec). If your Gatineau property uses natural gas, contact Énergir (formerly Gaz Métro):
- Phone: 1-800-875-6202
- Website: energir.com

Water and Sewer

Ottawa

Water is provided by the City of Ottawa. If you're buying a home, water billing transfers automatically with the property. For renters, water is typically included in rent.

City of Ottawa Water: 311 or ottawa.ca
No separate setup needed in most cases — confirm with your landlord or property manager

Gatineau

Water is provided by Ville de Gatineau. Similar to Ottawa, it's property-based:

Ville de Gatineau: 311 or gatineau.ca

Internet and TV

Ottawa–Gatineau has several major providers. Installation often takes 1–2 weeks, so order early.

ProviderCoverageBest ForContactBell FibeOttawa + most GatineauFibre internet, bundled TVbell.ca / 1-866-301-1942RogersPrimarily Ottawa/OntarioCable internet, sports packagesrogers.ca / 1-888-764-3771VidéotronGatineau/Quebec sideCable internet, Quebec contentvideotron.com / 1-888-433-8813TekSavvyOttawa + GatineauBudget-friendly, no contractsteksavvy.com / 1-877-779-1575Start.caOttawaBudget-friendly alternativestart.caStarlinkRural Ottawa–GatineauSatellite — no cable infrastructure neededstarlink.com

Tips:
- New condo buildings often have pre-wired agreements with specific providers — check with your building manager before ordering
- If you're moving from Ontario to Quebec, Rogers service stops at the river — you'll need to switch to Vidéotron, Bell, or a Quebec-based provider
- Self-install kits can save $50–100 in installation fees if you're comfortable setting up a router

Home Phone (Landline)

If you still use a landline:

Bell: Transfer or new setup through bell.ca
Rogers: VoIP home phone available through rogers.com
VoIP alternatives: Ooma, MagicJack, or Google Voice offer low-cost options

Most people under 45 have dropped landlines entirely. If you're keeping your number, request a number port — this transfers your existing number to the new address or provider.

Home Security Systems

If you have an existing system:

Contact your provider (ADT, Bell Smart Home, Rogers Smart Home Monitoring) at least 2 weeks before — they need to schedule a technician to deactivate at old address and install/activate at new address
Check if your new home has pre-wiring — many Ottawa homes built after 2010 have security system wiring
Smart home systems (Ring, Nest, SimpliSafe) are generally self-install and move with you

For smart home device logistics, see our smart home moving guide.

Let us handle the physical move while you handle the admin. Get your free UpMove quote — available for local, long-distance, and cross-river moves.

Mail and Packages

Canada Post Mail Forwarding

Set up online: canadapost-postescanada.ca
Cost: ~$100 for 12 months (individual)
Timeline: Activate at least 5 business days before your move
Duration: Forward for 12 months to catch stragglers

Package Delivery Updates

Update your address with:
- Amazon, eBay, and other e-commerce accounts
- Subscription boxes, meal kits
- Pharmacy deliveries
- Canada Post FlexDelivery (free — receive packages at any post office)

For the complete administrative checklist, see updating your address in Ottawa.

Cross-River Moves: Ottawa ↔ Gatineau Special Considerations

Moving between Ontario and Quebec changes almost everything about your utility setup:

ServiceOttawa (Ontario)Gatineau (Quebec)ElectricityHydro OttawaHydro-Québec (cheaper rates)GasEnbridgeÉnergir (less common)Internet/TVRogers, Bell, TekSavvyVidéotron, Bell, CogecoHealth cardOHIPRAMQ (3-month waiting period)Driver's licenseMTO (ServiceOntario)SAAQCar insurancePrivate companiesSAAQ + private

For the full cross-border administrative guide, see moving to Gatineau from Ontario.

Master Utility Checklist

Use this to track every service:

[ ] Electricity — transfer/close old, open new
[ ] Natural gas — transfer/close old, open new
[ ] Water/sewer — confirm with property owner
[ ] Internet — order installation, request modem/router
[ ] TV/streaming — transfer or cancel cable, update streaming addresses
[ ] Home phone — port number or cancel
[ ] Home security — schedule deactivation and reinstallation
[ ] Canada Post mail forwarding — set up online
[ ] Home insurance — update address and coverage
[ ] Tenant/condo insurance — transfer or new policy

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should I set up utilities before moving in?

Contact providers 3–4 weeks before your move. Most can activate within 5 business days, but internet installation may take 1–2 weeks for an in-home appointment.

Will my utilities overlap if I have service at both addresses?

Yes — for a brief period you'll pay for both. Most providers prorate the final bill at your old address. Set your stop date at the old address for 1–2 days after your move to avoid losing service before you leave.

Is internet included in rent in Ottawa?

Rarely. Most Ottawa and Gatineau rentals do not include internet. Some newer purpose-built rental buildings offer bulk internet deals — check with your landlord.

What if my new home has no gas service?

Many Ottawa homes (and most Gatineau homes) are all-electric. If there's no gas line, you won't need Enbridge or Énergir. Heating, hot water, and cooking will run on electricity.

Can I keep my phone number when moving from Ottawa to Gatineau?

Usually yes for mobile numbers. Landline portability across provinces can be more complex — contact your provider to confirm before the move.

Focus on settling in — not on hold with providers. Get your free moving quote from UpMove and let us handle the heavy part of your move.