Moving house in Iceland: what do I do about electricity and gas?
Moving is a common moment for billing mistakes. Read the meters on both days and tell your supplier in time.
📜 The rules in Iceland
The market
You can buy electricity from any supplier, wherever you live. Distribution is a local monopoly, so you cannot choose your distribution company. There is no household gas grid; many homes are heated by geothermal district heating (hitaveita), a separate utility.
Switching supplier
Contact the supplier you want; it handles the switch for you. By law no fee may be charged for switching. You can end a contract with three weeks' notice, taking effect at the next month-end.
🪜 Step by step
- Tell your supplier in advanceGive the moving date and your new address, and ask whether your contract can move with you.
- Read the metersTake dated photos of all meters on the day you leave and the day you arrive.
- Check the new homeFind out which grid operator serves the new address and whether the supply is connected.
- Check your final billCompare the final bill with your photos. Any credit must be refunded.
📇 Who to contact
❓ Questions
Can I take my contract with me?
Often yes, within the same country. Otherwise moving usually lets you end it.
What if the supply is off at the new home?
Contact a supplier or the grid operator to have it connected.
Who pays for energy between tenants?
The person on the contract pays until the move is reported. That is why the meter reading matters.
📎 Sources
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