Utilities

As in the UK there are many companies providing similar services. Competition between businesses in Australia is less fierce than in the UK and it is a well known fact that certain companies have a monopoly in their markets. However, this does not mean that as a consumer you don’t have options, so do shop around to ensure you are getting the most competitive deal and best service available.

Telecommunications

Landlines

When you have found a property to move into, or even at the viewing stage, you should check whether there is a phone line already in place, otherwise you may have to arrange for one to be installed which is an additional expense that you could do without. If your home already has a phone connection (as will be the case for most rental homes) you should expect to pay a one-off connection charge of approximately $60 to your chosen service provider.

What To Expect

Most bills are issued on a monthly basis as opposed to quarterly. When you choose your provider they will ask you to select a monthly plan that is appropriate to your personal needs. There are plenty of options to suit all requirements and they vary in cost depending on what kind of calls you intend to make. International calls are very reasonable between landlines and won’t make a huge dent in your pocket.

Main Service Providers

Optus – www.optus.com.au

Telstra – www.telstra.com.au

Mobiles

If you arrive in the country with a British mobile still connected you may well decide for financial reasons and convenience to get hooked up locally. There are phone shops everywhere so you won’t find it difficult to become mobile quickly. You should note that in Australia, most mobile phone providers do like to lock customers into longer contracts than in the UK – most offering two years as the standard with hefty financial penalties for early termination.

If you don’t arrive with a visa proving that you are entitled to be in the country for the length of the contract then you may have to start with a pay-as-you-go phone package. These are a cheap and efficient option, costing only around $25 – $40 to obtain a sim card and most companies will give you this back as phone credit. It really does pay to shop around, to take advantage of promotions and specials and make sure that you check the small print.

You should be aware that network coverage varies enormously in Australia, so do ask advice about the signal strength in your area and others of importance to you.

The main providers are: Telstra, Optus, Orange, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone, 3 and Austar.

Internet

The number of Australian households with access to the internet continues to increase and if you are looking to have internet access at home then there is a range of options open to you.

There are dial up, broadband and ADSL options as you would expect and the two largest providers, Telstra and Optus, both offer many packages within their services. As this is a growth industry other companies are constantly updating their services in order to compete.

Main service providers:

www.bigpond.com (Telstra)

www.optusnet.com.au

www.iprimus.com.au

www.dodo.com.au

Again, do shop around for both prices and flexibility on your contract as they do try to lock you in for lengthy minimums which are not easy to get out of.

Water

If you are renting a property then in most cases your landlord will be liable for your water charges and there should be no need for you to contact the water company. Should this not be the case then ask your letting agent to give you details of the provider in your area as different companies service each of the states in Australia.