Utility Setup Checklist for a New Apartment
Published by Apartments Texas · Updated
Electricity, water, internet: what to set up, when to schedule it, and how to avoid a dark first night.
Use the questions below for the exact unit and dates you are considering, and record any point management has not confirmed.
Which utilities are your responsibility?
Ask the leasing office exactly which utilities you must set up in your own name. Arrangements vary: electricity and internet are commonly yours, while water, trash, and gas may be billed through the property or split either way.
Ask whether the community uses a utility billing company or a mandatory provider for anything, and get the list in writing with your lease paperwork, since surprises here become monthly fees.
How do you choose a Texas electricity plan?
Ask whether your exact address allows retail electricity choice. Where applicable, use the official Power to Choose site to compare plans and read their current terms.
Read the Electricity Facts Label for any plan you consider: the advertised rate often assumes an exact usage level, and an apartment's usage can price differently than a house's.
When should you schedule everything?
Set start dates ahead of move-in: electricity on for the morning of move-in day, and internet installation booked as early as the provider allows, since appointment slots can be limited at busy times.
Have your lease start date, new address, and identification ready, since some providers run a credit check or ask for a deposit. A general moving guide can serve as a second checklist for the order of operations.
What should you verify on move-in day?
Test lights, hot water, stove, and AC as soon as you arrive, and photograph meter readings if they are accessible. Report any missing service promptly through the provider or property's appropriate channel.
Keep every confirmation email and account number in one folder. You will need them for autopay, transfers, and eventually move-out.