Moving in NYC: How to Start, Stop or Transfer Con Edison Service, or Change the Account Owner
Updated November 2, 2026 · Independent guide by Meltek — not Con Edison
Setting up ConEd at a new place takes about ten minutes online — if you know which flow you need. Starting fresh, stopping at move-out, and transferring between addresses are three different processes with different login requirements.
Here is each one, plus changing who holds the account at the same address and the edge cases that fill NYC forums every moving season: overlapping two apartments, roommate handoffs, and what landlords should do between tenants.
Start service at a new address
To start Con Edison service at a new address, use the Start Service option on Con Edison's Start, Move, or Stop Service page and enter your new address, move-in date and identity details. You don't need an existing Con Edison account, and you choose the start date, so setting it up early doesn't mean paying early.
Registering an online account at the same time makes everything after this easier: billing, outage alerts and usage data all live there.
Do it a few days before your move-in date so the account is active on day one. In most NYC apartments the power is physically on between tenants; starting service puts the account (and the billing) in your name.
Stop service when you move out
To stop Con Edison service when you move out, choose Stop Service on Con Edison's Start, Move, or Stop Service page and pick your end date; Con Edison says it takes a few minutes online. You get a final bill through that date, and until you stop, service and billing stay in your name.
Take a photo of the meter on move-out day. It is rarely needed, but it settles any billing dispute instantly.
Transfer service to your new address
To move your Con Edison service to a new address in its service area, use Move Service on Con Edison's Start, Move, or Stop Service page. It needs an online Con Edison account, so register first if you don't have one. You set the end date at the old address and the start date at the new one.
If you need both apartments live for an overlap period (painting, a staggered move), keep the old address active and start the new one as an additional service, then stop the old one when you hand back the keys.
Change the account owner (same address, new name)
To change who holds the Con Edison account at the same address, the new account holder starts service in their own name using the Change the Account Owner option on Con Edison's Start, Move, or Stop Service page. Con Edison then asks the current account holder or landlord to stop service and transfers ownership to the new account holder.
Roommates: the roommate who is staying (or moving in) starts service in their own name from the handoff date, and the roommate who is leaving stops their service effective the same date.
Landlords: if service is currently in your landlord's name, Con Edison transfers ownership to you automatically when you start service.
Con Edison's account services are only for the account holder or their authorized agent, so the person leaving the account handles their own stop.
For landlords and property managers
ConEd's Leave on for Landlord program automatically flips service into the owner's name when a tenant stops service — no gap, no dark apartment during showings, and no scrambling to start service for two days of vacancy. Enroll once per property; it stays in place across turnovers.
The move-in checklist
While you have the ConEd account open, knock out the rest in five minutes:
- Enroll in outage text alerts for the new address
- Check that the new place has a smart meter (most do) — it unlocks usage data and rewards programs
- If eligible, enroll in Smart Usage Rewards through a partner like Meltek so summer events start paying you at the new place
- Consider Budget Billing if you want level payments from month one
- Renters insurance reminder: ConEd does not cover your belongings in outages beyond narrow spoilage claims
Frequently asked questions
- How far in advance should I set up ConEd service for a move?
- A few days to a week ahead is comfortable. You pick the exact start date in the flow, so early setup does not mean early billing.
- Do I need a ConEd account to start service?
- You can start service with or without an existing online account, but moving service to a new address needs one. Register an account either way — alerts, usage data, and every program enrollment run through it.
- How do I change the account owner on a Con Edison account?
- The new account holder starts service in their own name at the same address with the Change the Account Owner option on Con Edison's Start, Move, or Stop Service page. Con Edison then asks the current account holder or landlord to stop service and transfers ownership. If service is in your landlord's name, Con Edison transfers ownership to you automatically.
- Can I have ConEd service at two apartments at once?
- Yes. Keep the old address active and start service at the new one; stop the old service when your overlap ends. Both bill to you in the meantime.
- What happens if the previous tenant never stopped their service?
- Starting service in your name from your lease date supersedes their account at that address going forward. Usage before your start date remains their problem, not yours.
Official Con Edison pages for this topic
Meltek is an independent Con Edison Smart Usage Partner, not Con Edison. Program details, amounts, and deadlines are set by Con Edison and change over time — always confirm on the official pages above.
Turn peak hours into payouts
Meltek pays ConEd customers cash for reducing electricity use during summer demand response events. Free to join with your ConEd account — no devices required, leave anytime.
See if your home qualifies