How to Set Up Electricity When Moving to Texas

Last updated: October 18, 2026  ·  7 min read

If you're moving to Texas from almost anywhere else, the electricity setup will surprise you: in most of the state, there's no single utility to call. You choose your provider, the same way you'd pick a phone carrier, from dozens of competing companies. That's a genuine advantage — but the move-in rush, with a hundred other things to arrange, is exactly when people grab the first plan they see and overpay for a year. This guide gets your power on smoothly and keeps you out of the expensive default.

First: Is Your New Area Deregulated?

Texas isn't uniform. About 85% of the state lives in the deregulated market, where you choose among competing providers. But several large areas are not deregulated and have a single utility you must use:

Area	Can you choose a provider?
Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and most suburbs	Yes — you pick
Corpus Christi, Lubbock, the Rio Grande Valley, Waco, Tyler	Yes — you pick
Austin (Austin Energy)	No — single utility
San Antonio (CPS Energy)	No — single utility
El Paso (El Paso Electric), municipal utilities & co-ops	No — single utility

If you're in a non-deregulated area, setup is simpler — there's one utility and you call them — but you have no plan to shop for. The rest of this guide is about the deregulated case, where the choice is yours. If you're not sure, our guide to how the Texas electricity market works explains the map.

How Setup Actually Works in Deregulated Texas

The mechanics trip up newcomers, so here's the model in one paragraph. There are two companies behind your power: the retail electric provider (REP) you buy your plan from, and the transmission and distribution utility (TDU) that owns the poles and wires and physically delivers it — Oncor in Dallas–Fort Worth, CenterPoint in Houston, AEP and TNMP elsewhere. You sign up only with the REP. The REP then tells the TDU to switch your meter on. You don't choose the TDU (there's exactly one for your address) and you don't contact them directly. This is why "who do I call to turn on power" has a different answer here than in the rest of the country: you don't call anyone — you enroll online with a provider.

The Move-In Mistake That Costs the Most

Here's the trap. You're juggling a lease or closing, movers, internet, water — and you need the lights on by Friday. So you sign up for the first plan that pops up, or whatever the leasing office recommends, and move on. That plan is frequently one of the worst deals available: a high month-to-month rate, a builder- or property-referred plan, or one whose advertised price assumes exactly 1,000 kWh of usage you may never hit.

The fix costs about five minutes. Comparing plans at your real usage — based on the size of the home you're moving into — instead of the advertised 1,000 kWh benchmark routinely changes which plan is cheapest, and over a 12-month term the gap is often in the hundreds of dollars. The 1,000 kWh illusion explains exactly why the headline rate misleads. Slowing down for those five minutes is the single highest-value thing you can do during a move.

What You Need to Enroll

Have these ready and the sign-up takes minutes: your new service address; a start date; a government ID; and, if you can find it, the ESIID (Electric Service Identifier) — a number that pinpoints the exact meter at your address, though most providers can look it up for you. New customers without a Texas payment history may be asked for a deposit; choosing a no-deposit or prepaid plan is one way around that if cash flow during the move is tight.

Setting Up Electricity in Texas, Step by Step

1. Confirm whether your new area is deregulated. Most Texas metros let you choose a provider. Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, and some municipal/co-op areas do not — there you set up service with the single local utility.
2. Compare plans at your real usage before you pick. Estimate your usage from the home size, then compare every plan in your ZIP by true monthly bill — not the advertised 1,000 kWh rate.
3. Gather what you need to enroll. Have your address, a start date, ID, and the ESIID if you have it. The provider handles the connection with your local TDU.
4. Enroll two to three days before move-in. Standard activation is usually next business day. A little lead time avoids arriving to a dark house and the expedite fee for same-day connection.
5. Confirm your start date and first bill details. Check the confirmation for the service start date, the plan term, and any deposit, so there are no surprises on the first statement.

Common Questions

How do I set up electricity when I move to Texas?

In the deregulated parts of Texas (most of the state), you choose a retail electric provider yourself, sign up for a plan, and pick a start date. You do not call the utility — the provider arranges service with your local TDU on your behalf. You will need your new address, ESIID or meter info if available, a start date, and ID. Service can often start the next business day, sometimes same-day for a fee.

How far in advance should I set up power before moving in?

Aim to enroll two to three days before your move-in date. Standard activation is usually next business day, so a few days of lead time avoids arriving to a home with no power. Same-day or next-day "rush" connections are often available but typically carry an expedite fee.

Do I get to choose my provider, or is it assigned?

In deregulated Texas — which covers most metros including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding suburbs — you choose your own provider and plan. A few areas are not deregulated and have a single utility: Austin (Austin Energy), San Antonio (CPS Energy), El Paso (El Paso Electric), and various municipal utilities and co-ops. In those areas there is no choice; you set up service directly with that one utility.

What information do I need to turn on electricity?

Your new service address, a desired start date, a government ID, and ideally the ESIID (Electric Service Identifier) for the meter, which pinpoints the exact address. Many providers can look up the ESIID from your address. New customers may face a deposit unless they have a good payment history or choose a no-deposit or prepaid plan.

Should I just use whatever plan is fastest to sign up for?

That is the most common move-in mistake. The rush to get power on leads people to grab the first plan offered, often a high holdover or month-to-month rate, or a plan whose advertised price assumes 1,000 kWh you may not use. It takes only a few minutes to compare plans at your real usage before you enroll, and the difference over a 12-month term is often hundreds of dollars.

Can I transfer my existing Texas plan to a new address?

Often yes — if you are moving within Texas and staying with the same provider, many plans can move with you, sometimes without an early termination fee since it is a relocation rather than a cancellation. Confirm the rate still applies at the new address, because pricing and the TDU can differ by region. It is still worth comparing the market before you assume transferring is your best deal.

Key Terms

Retail Electric Provider (REP) · TDU Delivery Charges · Electricity Facts Label (EFL) · Effective Rate · Prepaid Plan · Power to Choose · Full Glossary →

Keep Reading

Once your power is on, three guides help you make sure you picked well: how to read a Texas EFL shows you how to vet any plan on its label, The 1,000 kWh Illusion explains why the cheapest-looking rate often isn't, and tips for switching providers covers how to change later if you find a better deal. When you're ready, the ZIP search tool ranks every plan at your new address by your true bill.