Moving Checklist: Transfering your utilities

As your moving date approaches, one of many to-do's will include calling to set up your utilities. Here is the handy contact info for Chicago utility companies. Please keep in mind that a couple of these companies are specific for Chicago consumers only.

Gas - your cooking gas and heating gas is provided by People's Gas. You can start a new account online or call 1-866-556-6001.

SELLERS: We recommend calling to transfer your utilities early, but give them a date a day or two after closing, to suspend your account. We do not want the gas turned off during the walk through as we will need to test appliances. To start the transfer of the utility accounts, you call and tell the company that you’re moving out. Then we’ll have the new buyers call and follow up to transfer the new service into their names. Your call will trigger a final meter reading.

Electric - your electricity is provided by ComEd (formerly Commonwealth Edison.) Call 1-800-EDISON-1 to start the transfer process or to start new service. Sellers of existing property should call first, then the buyers should follow up a day or two later in order to transfer service. Again, electricity should be ON through the closing in order to ensure everything is working at the time of the final walk through.

Phone - Most residential customers use AT&T (formerly Ameritech, then SBC-Ameritech) for residential telephone service. AT&T has an online ordering system, or you can call 1-800-288-2020.

Cable TV - most residential customers in Chicago are served by Comcast Cable. You can start the process online or call 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278).

In order to be thorough: If you're a DirecTV subscriber, their number is 1-800-DIRECTV or online at www.directv.com.