Moving to Texas: The Complete New-Resident Utility Setup Checklist

Last updated: October 18, 2026  ·  6 min read

Relocating to the Lone Star State comes with a stack of accounts to open, and the utility side trips up more newcomers than almost anything else, mostly because one of them works nothing like it did in your old state. Here is the whole list, in the order that actually matters, so nothing gets switched on late.

Electricity: The One Utility You Actually Shop For

In most of the state, Texas runs a deregulated electricity market, which means you do not inherit whatever provider the last resident used — you pick your own retail electric provider and the plan that fits your home. This is the single utility on this list worth shopping, because the price gap between plans at your real usage can be hundreds of dollars a year. The wires themselves, and the delivery TDU charges, are handled by your local utility (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, or TNMP) and stay the same no matter which provider you choose, so what you are really comparing on is the energy rate and the plan's fine print.

To enroll, have a few things ready: the exact service address, the ESIID for that meter, a government-issued ID, and the date you want service to start. Some plans ask for a deposit, though you can often avoid it — see our guide to no-deposit electricity in Texas. Aim to enroll about one to two weeks before move-in; a standard switch or move-in usually takes just a few days once scheduled, but that cushion means the power is on the day you arrive. For the full step-by-step, follow our electricity setup guide for a Texas move, and if you are curious how quickly it happens, see how long it takes to switch electricity.

Water, Sewer, and the MUD Question

Water and sewer do not work like electricity — you cannot shop them. What you can do is find out who actually provides them, because in Texas that is not always the city. Inside established city limits you will usually set up a city utility account. But across a huge number of Texas suburbs and newer master-planned neighborhoods, water, sewer, and drainage are run by a Municipal Utility District, or MUD: a local district that bills those services separately and often at higher rates than a nearby city, because it is also repaying the cost of the neighborhood's pipes and infrastructure. The tricky part is that you usually cannot tell from the address alone. Ask the builder, landlord, or title company which utility serves the property, and set the account up about a week before move-in.

Natural Gas and Trash Pickup

If your new home uses natural gas for heat, hot water, or cooking, that is a separate utility again — and, like water, not one you shop. Depending on where you land it will be a company such as Atmos Energy, CenterPoint Energy's gas business, or Texas Gas Service, each serving its own territory. Set up the account roughly a week ahead so gas is on for move-in.

Trash and recycling vary by neighborhood. Inside a city you will typically get municipal pickup rolled into a city bill; in some subdivisions it is handled through an HOA contract or by the same MUD that runs your water. It is worth a quick question to your landlord, HOA, or the district so you know which bins go out and when.

Internet: Book This One First

Internet feels like the least urgent item and is often the one that bites hardest. During peak moving season — summer especially — installation appointments can be days or even weeks out, so a home you expected to work from can sit offline for a fortnight. Schedule it as early as you possibly can, ideally the moment you have a firm move-in date, even before you have sorted the smaller accounts.

Your Move-In Timeline at a Glance

Here is roughly how the timing shakes out. The exact windows are flexible, but this order keeps you from arriving to a dark, dry, or offline house:

Utility	When to set it up	Notes
Internet	As early as you can	Install slots book out in peak season
Electricity	~1–2 weeks before	Shop and lock a plan; needs your ESIID
Water & sewer	~1 week before	City utility or a MUD account
Natural gas	~1 week before	Only if your home uses gas
Trash & recycling	~1 week before	City, HOA, or MUD service

Common Questions

What utilities do I need to set up when moving to Texas?

There are five main ones: electricity, water and sewer, natural gas if your home uses it, trash and recycling, and internet. Electricity is the only one where you actually shop for a provider in most of the state; the rest are tied to whoever serves your address, whether that is a city utility, a Municipal Utility District, or a specific gas company.

How far ahead should I set up utilities before moving?

Start electricity about one to two weeks before move-in so your plan is active on day one, and book internet as early as you can, because install appointments fill up fast in peak moving season. Water, gas, and trash can usually be arranged about a week ahead.

Do I get to choose my electricity and gas provider in Texas?

For electricity, yes: in most of Texas the deregulated market lets you pick your own retail provider. A few areas such as Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso are not deregulated and have a single provider. Natural gas is different: it is generally one regulated utility for your area, so you do not shop it the way you shop electricity.

What is a MUD and why does it affect my water bill?

A MUD, or Municipal Utility District, is a local district that provides water, sewer, and drainage in many Texas suburbs and newer developments instead of the city. It bills you directly, and its rates can run higher than a city utility because it is also repaying the cost of the neighborhood infrastructure. Ask the builder, landlord, or title company whether a MUD serves your address.

Key Terms

Retail Electric Provider · TDU Charge · Deregulated Electricity in Texas · Full Glossary →