Austin Utilities Setup Guide

⚠️ Set up electricity and water 1-3 business days BEFORE your move-in date to ensure service is active when you arrive.

1. Electricity

Austin is not part of the deregulated Texas electricity market. Austin Energy is a municipally owned utility and is your only electricity provider inside Austin city limits. There is no plan to shop for and no retail provider to choose, so ignore PowerToChoose entirely if your address is in the city.

Start service at austinenergy.com or by calling 512-494-9400, 3–5 business days before move-in
Ask about GreenChoice if you want your service backed by renewable generation
Budget for a summer spike: air conditioning drives the bill from June through September
Outside city limits, providers vary. Pedernales Electric Cooperative serves much of the Hill Country, and parts of the eastern metro sit in deregulated territory where you do choose a retail provider

2. Water

Water is provided by Austin Water (not deregulated — one provider for your area).

Sign up online or in person before move-in
Average bill: $40-80/month
Deposit may be required for new accounts

3. Natural Gas

Texas Gas Service is the natural gas provider for Austin. Many Austin homes are all-electric, so check your appliances before you open an account.

Sign up at texasgasservice.com
If your stove, furnace, and water heater are all electric, you can skip this step entirely

4. Internet & TV

Major providers in Austin:

Google Fiber: Austin is one of only two Texas metros with Google Fiber (San Antonio is the other) — check your exact address
AT&T Fiber: Wide coverage across the metro
Spectrum: Cable, broadest footprint where fiber has not reached
Astound Broadband (formerly Grande Communications): available in parts of central Austin and some suburbs

Pro tip: Check availability at your specific address before signing a lease. Fiber availability varies block by block.

5. Trash & Recycling

Inside Austin city limits, Austin Resource Recovery handles trash, recycling, and curbside composting for single-family homes and buildings of up to four units. Larger apartment buildings and addresses outside the city use private haulers, so ask your landlord or HOA which service you have.

Setup Timeline

2 weeks before Choose electricity provider, schedule water service

1 week before Set up gas, schedule internet installation

Move-in day Verify all utilities active, meet internet installer

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set up electricity in Austin?

Austin is not part of the deregulated Texas electricity market. Austin Energy is a municipally owned utility and is your only electricity provider inside Austin city limits, so there is nothing to shop for on PowerToChoose. Start service at austinenergy.com or by calling 512-494-9400, three to five business days before your move-in date. Outside city limits, providers vary — Pedernales Electric Cooperative serves much of the Hill Country, and parts of the eastern metro are in deregulated territory where you do pick a retail provider.

How do I start water and sewer service in Austin?

Austin Water handles water and wastewater inside city limits. Start service online or by phone with your lease or deed, a government-issued ID, and your Social Security number; a deposit may be required. If you are landing in Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, or another suburb, your water comes from that city or a utility district instead, not Austin Water.

Do I need gas service in Austin?

It depends on the home. Texas Gas Service is the natural gas provider for Austin, serving heating, water heaters, and some stoves. Plenty of Austin homes and nearly all newer apartments are all-electric, in which case you can skip gas service entirely. Check the appliances before you open an account.

What internet providers are available in Austin?

Austin has unusually good competition for a Texas metro. Google Fiber serves much of the city (Austin and San Antonio are the only two Texas metros where it operates), alongside AT&T Fiber, Spectrum cable, and Astound Broadband, formerly Grande Communications. T-Mobile and Verizon fixed wireless are also options. Availability changes block by block, so check your exact address before signing a lease.

Who picks up trash and recycling in Austin?

Austin Resource Recovery handles trash, recycling, and curbside composting for single-family homes and buildings of up to four units inside city limits. Larger apartment buildings and addresses outside the city contract with private haulers, so ask your landlord or HOA which service covers your address.

How much do utilities cost per month in Austin?

Austin Energy residential bills run about $150 to $180 a month for most of the year, climbing to $200 to $250 during peak summer cooling, and Austin Water adds roughly $50 to $80 on top. Summer is the outlier: air conditioning runs hard from June through September in a city that averages about 29 days above 100°F, and the electric bill moves accordingly. If you are buying, insulation and attic sealing pay for themselves faster here than in most of the country.