In the days after someone dies, grief can make time feel warped. You can be in the middle of choosing clothes for a service, answering texts you don’t have the energy for, and then—out of nowhere—you hear the air conditioner click on. The lights are still on. The fridge is still humming. The house is still doing what it has always done, even though everything else has changed.
That is usually when families start searching for help with close utility account after death tasks—because utilities are some of the fastest recurring bills to keep charging, and the consequences can be surprisingly real. You might want to stop paying for an empty house. Or you might need to keep service active so a surviving spouse, roommate, or adult child can stay safely in the home without interruptions.
This guide is here to walk with you at a steady pace. You’ll find simple decision points, the information most companies ask for, and ready-to-read scripts for electricity and gas calls that help you feel less stuck. You do not have to do this perfectly. You just need a plan that protects the home, your finances, and your energy.
The first question: shut off service or transfer it?
Before you pick up the phone, pause and ask one practical question: will anyone be living in the home in the next few weeks?
If the home will be occupied, your goal is usually a utility transfer after death—moving the account into the name of a surviving spouse, another household member, or the estate (if no one is ready to take it on personally). If the home will be vacant, your goal is usually to schedule a shutoff date and make sure you can still access the property safely during the transition.
There is no single “correct” answer here. In fact, it is common for families to keep essential utilities active briefly even when the home is empty, just to protect the property. Heat can prevent frozen pipes in colder areas, electricity can keep security systems running, and limited water service can help with cleaning and repairs. You can think of this as “caretaking mode,” not a forever decision.
What you’ll need before you call
Utility companies are used to these calls, but the details they require can vary. Having a few items in front of you can make the call shorter and calmer, especially if you’re handling executor utility bills on top of everything else.
- Full name of the deceased (as it appears on the bill)
- Service address (and mailing address for the final utility bill after death)
- Account number (if available)
- Date of death (or approximate date if you’re still waiting on paperwork)
- Your relationship to the deceased (spouse, adult child, executor, agent under POA that ended at death)
- Whether you want a shutoff date or a transfer into a new name
- A callback number and email for confirmation
If you do not have account numbers yet, you’re not alone. One gentle way to prepare is to gather household documents and logins as you can. Funeral.com’s guide to important papers to organize before and after a death can help you locate the details families most often need when closing or transferring everyday accounts.
Also, if you’re working through a broader to-do list, Funeral.com’s first 48 hours checklist can help you see where utilities fit into the bigger picture so it doesn’t feel like everything is urgent at once.
When to call and what to say
Many families call utilities within the first one to two weeks, once they know whether the home will stay occupied. If the home is empty and bills are set to autopay, calling sooner can help you stop autopay utilities charges from quietly continuing.
Below are scripts you can read word-for-word. You can also treat them like a menu—keep what fits, skip what doesn’t, and let the representative guide you through their process.
Electric company phone script
You: “Hi, I’m calling to report a death and update an electric account. The account holder, [Full Name], passed away on [Date]. The service address is [Address].”
You: “I’d like to [transfer the account into my name / transfer it into the estate / schedule service to be disconnected]. Can you tell me what you need from me to complete that?”
If transferring: “The home will continue to be occupied, so I need to make sure there’s no interruption. Please set up the account under [Your Name / Estate of Full Name]. What identification or documents do you require?”
If closing: “The home will be vacant. I’d like to schedule disconnection for [Date], and I’d like the final utility bill after death mailed or emailed to [Address/Email].”
Ask for confirmation: “Can you confirm the effective date, any final meter read details, and whether there are any deposits or credits that will be refunded?”
Close the loop: “Thank you. Can you email me a confirmation number or reference ID for this request?”
This is essentially a utility company phone script that works for most providers because it establishes four things right away: who died, what address is involved, what outcome you want, and where the final bill should go.
Gas company phone script
Gas accounts can feel more urgent because safety is part of the conversation, especially if the home will be empty.
You: “Hi, I’m calling to update a gas account after a death. The account holder, [Full Name], passed away on [Date]. The service address is [Address].”
You: “I need to [transfer service / schedule disconnection]. Can you tell me your process for a deceased customer account?”
If the home will be vacant: “The home will be unoccupied. I’d like to schedule a shutoff date for [Date]. If there are safety steps you recommend before disconnection, please tell me.”
If the home will be occupied: “Someone will remain in the home, so I need to transfer service to prevent interruption. Please let me know what you need to complete the cancel gas account after death request for the prior account holder and open a new account for [Your Name].”
Ask about final billing: “Where will the final utility bill after death be sent, and can you confirm whether autopay is still active on the old account?”
If you’re searching specifically for cancel electric service deceased or cancel gas account after death, the key is to be clear that you’re not trying to negotiate a bill mid-call. You’re reporting a death and requesting either closure or a transfer with a documented effective date.
Water, trash, internet, and “quiet” utilities
Electric and gas get the most attention, but other services can keep billing for months. The same opening lines work, and you can keep the request simple.
You: “I’m calling to report the death of the account holder, [Full Name], who passed away on [Date]. The service address is [Address]. I’d like to [close the account / transfer service] and have any final bill sent to [Address/Email]. What do you need from me?”
For internet or cable, also ask: “Is any equipment rented that needs to be returned? Can you email the return instructions?” This can prevent surprise charges later.
Autopay: the hidden reason utility bills keep going
Many families feel blindsided when the house is empty but bills keep withdrawing automatically. A utility account can be “closed” in your mind and still be “active” in the company’s system until the official disconnection date posts. That’s why it helps to name your goal directly: stop autopay utilities withdrawals and prevent recurring charges.
During your call, ask one clear question: “Is autopay currently active on this account?” If it is, you can do two things in parallel: request the account change with the utility company, and contact the bank or credit card issuer to stop future payments if you’re concerned the charges will continue during processing.
If you’re trying to stay organized across many different accounts—not just utilities—Funeral.com’s guide to closing accounts and subscriptions after a death can help you track what you’ve canceled, what is pending, and what still needs a follow-up call.
What happens to the final bill, deposits, and credits?
Utilities usually generate a final utility bill after death after a final meter reading or a closing date. If there’s a deposit on file, there may be a refund. If the account is behind, there may be a balance due from the estate.
If you’re an executor, it’s reasonable to ask for the final balance in writing and to keep the bill with estate records. If you’re a family member who is not the executor, you generally do not have to personally pay a deceased person’s debts out of your own funds, but utilities tied to an occupied home may need to be brought current as part of keeping service on. If you’re sorting through broader creditor questions, Funeral.com’s article on debt after death can clarify common confusion about what belongs to the estate versus what does not.
Keeping the home safe if it will be vacant
If the home will sit empty, utilities become part of home safety, not just paperwork. Families often choose a middle path: schedule a shutoff for nonessential services (like cable), but keep basic power or heat temporarily while the estate is being settled. If you do this, take notes and set a reminder to revisit the decision in a few weeks, because “temporary” can quietly become months.
It can help to think in terms of risk: a shutoff can prevent ongoing costs, but it can also create property problems depending on the season and location. If you’re unsure, ask the utility representative: “If service is disconnected, what happens to my ability to restart service later? Are there reconnection fees or required appointments?” Knowing the process can keep you from making a rushed choice you’ll regret when you need the home accessed quickly.
Where utilities fit into funeral planning and cremation decisions
If it feels strange to talk about utilities alongside grief, you’re not imagining that. Practical tasks and emotional decisions often collide on the same day. You can be on hold with a power company while also trying to figure out what kind of farewell would feel right.
One reason these timelines overlap is that cremation has become the most common choice in the U.S., which can change how quickly families need to make certain decisions. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% in 2025. And the Cremation Association of North America reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024, with projections continuing upward. Those trends don’t tell you what you should do, but they do explain why so many families are asking the same questions at the same time: how to manage a home, how to pause bills, and what happens next with the remains.
If cremation is part of your plan, it may help to know that you don’t have to decide everything immediately. Many families start with the basics of funeral planning, then choose memorial details once the first wave of calls has slowed. If you’re beginning to explore options, Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes can help you see what “a memorial urn” can look like today—traditional, modern, or simple.
Sometimes the decision is less about style and more about size and sharing. If multiple relatives want a portion, small cremation urns and keepsake urns are specifically designed for that kind of family reality. And if your loved one was a pet, or you are memorializing a companion animal alongside a human loss, Funeral.com also offers pet cremation urns and pet urns for ashes, including options that can feel like a small, private tribute when the rest of life is loud.
For families who want something wearable or discreet, cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces can hold a symbolic amount—often enough to help someone feel connected while the majority of ashes are kept elsewhere. If you want a gentle explanation of how it works and who it tends to help, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry 101 guide is a calm place to start.
If you’re trying to picture the bigger “what next” question, Funeral.com’s guide on what to do with ashes walks through common paths families take—whether that’s keeping ashes at home, scattering, burial in a cemetery, or sharing small portions through keepsakes.
And if your family is considering a shoreline ceremony or a biodegradable option, Funeral.com’s guide to water burial can help you understand how it works in practice, so the plan feels respectful and doable rather than confusing.
Cost questions often show up in the middle of all this too, because practical bills and end-of-life expenses hit at the same time. If you’re wondering how much does cremation cost, remember that pricing varies widely by location and service choices, and it’s okay to ask for itemized information. The Federal Trade Commission explains the Funeral Rule requirements that support price transparency, which can make families feel less powerless when comparing options.
A simple way to track progress when you’re exhausted
Utilities are just one category in a long, unfamiliar checklist. If you feel like you’re forgetting things, it may help to write down three columns on a piece of paper: “Called,” “Pending,” and “Needs info.” Every time you make a call, jot down the representative’s name, the confirmation number, and the effective date.
That small habit can be the difference between feeling like you’re drowning and feeling like you’re steering, even when you’re doing all of this while grieving. If you like to follow a broader checklist, you can also browse Funeral.com’s After-Death Checklist & Next Steps resources, which collect practical guides in one place.
One last reassurance
The goal of closing or transferring utilities is not to “get everything handled” quickly. The goal is to prevent avoidable problems—surprise withdrawals, service interruptions, safety risks in an empty home—so you can reserve more of your strength for what actually matters.
If you can make one call today, start with the account that feels most urgent. If you can’t make any calls today, that is also information: you may need a family member to take this piece, or you may need to set a single time window tomorrow when you have a little more capacity. Either way, you’re not behind. You’re doing a hard thing in a hard moment, and practical steps like these are one quiet way of caring for the life that’s still here.
