The keys are in your hand, the boxes are stacked in the living room, and then you flick a switch and nothing happens. Sorting your utilities and broadband is one of the first practical jobs after moving into a new home in Singapore, and the good news is that it is far more straightforward than the paperwork of settling in usually feels. There is no need to visit a counter or queue for hours. With Singpass, a few online forms and a little planning, you can have power, water and a working internet connection within days. Here is the order to tackle it in, and the small differences from how things work back in mainland China.
Opening Your Electricity, Water and Gas Account
In Singapore, your electricity, water and gas supply is billed together through SP Group, the national utilities company. Whether you are renting or you have bought your home, the first step is to open a utilities account with SP Group before you move in, ideally a few working days ahead so the supply is turned on when you arrive.
You can apply through the SP app or the SP Group website using Singpass, which is the digital identity that ties almost every official service together here. You will typically need your address, your tenancy agreement or proof of ownership, and a security deposit. The deposit amount varies by household type and residency status, so check the current figure on the SP Group site rather than assuming, as it differs for tenants, owners and non-citizens.
Water is supplied by PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, but you do not open a separate PUB account for billing. Your water charges appear on the same SP Group bill, which keeps things simple. Piped town gas, where your home has it, is also handled through the same account. Some newer flats and condominiums use electricity for cooking instead, so check what your kitchen actually runs on before you buy a hob or order a gas connection.
This bundling is a small but pleasant contrast with parts of China, where electricity, water and gas can involve separate providers, prepaid cards or top-ups at different counters. In Singapore, one account through SP Group generally covers all three.
Choosing How You Pay Your Bills
Once your account is live, decide how you want to pay. Singapore leans heavily on GIRO, an automatic bank deduction arrangement that pulls each bill from your account on the due date so you never miss one. Setting up GIRO takes a little longer to activate because it needs your bank’s approval, so in the meantime you can pay each bill manually.
Your everyday options include:
- GIRO for hands-off automatic monthly payment, best set up early
- PayNow using the SP app, which is instant and needs only your phone
- Credit or debit card through the app or website
- AXS stations and internet banking for one-off payments
PayNow is the local equivalent of the instant transfers you may be used to with WeChat Pay or Alipay, except it links to your bank account through your phone number or NRIC rather than a separate wallet balance. For newcomers, paying by PayNow in the SP app each month is a reliable stopgap until GIRO is running.
Getting Home Broadband Connected
Singapore is wired with a nationwide fibre network, so home broadband here is fast and widely available. The main retail providers are Singtel, StarHub, M1 and MyRepublic, among others, and the sector is overseen by IMDA, the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Most homes already have a fibre termination point installed, which makes activation quicker.
When you sign up, you choose a plan speed and a contract length, and the provider arranges for a technician to install or activate the connection and set up your router. Book this appointment as early as you can, because popular slots fill up, especially around common moving periods and weekends. If your home has never had fibre activated, installation can take longer, so ask about this when you sign up.
A few things to check before committing:
- Whether the price quoted is promotional and what it rises to later
- The contract length and any early termination charge
- Whether the router is included or rented
- If the plan bundles mobile lines or streaming you actually want
If you need internet immediately while waiting for installation, a mobile SIM with a generous data allowance, or a portable mobile broadband device, can bridge the gap comfortably.
Comparing the Setup, China and Singapore
Newcomers often expect the process to mirror home, so it helps to see the differences side by side.
| What you are setting up | In mainland China (typical) | In Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, gas | Often separate providers or prepaid cards | One combined SP Group account |
| Identity for sign-up | ID card, phone verification | Singpass digital identity |
| Paying bills | WeChat Pay or Alipay auto-deduct | GIRO, PayNow, card or AXS |
| Broadband providers | Regional state-linked telcos | Singtel, StarHub, M1, MyRepublic and others |
| Installation | Scheduled by provider | Booked slot, technician visit |
The systems are different, but the underlying idea is the same: register your identity, link a payment method, and book a visit if hardware is involved.
A Simple Move-In Order That Works
To avoid arriving at a dark, disconnected home, work in this sequence. First, open your SP Group account a few working days before you move, so power and water are on when you walk in. Second, sign up for broadband at the same time and book the earliest installation slot, since this is usually the longest lead time. Third, set up GIRO once your bank account is active, and use PayNow for any bills due before GIRO kicks in.
Keep digital copies of your tenancy agreement and identification handy, as you will reach for them more than once. If you are renting, confirm with your landlord or agent whether any accounts are already in their name and need transferring rather than opening fresh, as this is common and avoids double deposits.
Fees, deposits and plan prices change, so always confirm current figures directly with SP Group and your chosen broadband provider before you commit. Treat any amounts you read online as a guide rather than a quote. Done in the right order, the whole job is usually a matter of a few forms and one technician visit, and then your new home simply works.
Explore more
Once your home is running, keep your records aligned by changing your address with ICA and the relevant agencies. If staying connected to loved ones is next on your list, see our guides to comparing mobile plans for calls to China and setting up online and mobile banking as a newcomer.