How to set up utilities in your name
Utility service doesn't transfer with the deed, so set up utilities for a new home by opening each account in your name with a start date of your closing or move-in day. Call electric and gas two to three weeks ahead, confirm the seller's stop date, and have your ID and closing date ready. Water, sewer and trash may run through the city.
Why you have to set up utilities for a new home
When a house sells, the seller's accounts close and yours must open. Nothing moves across automatically. Most homes have several separate accounts: an electric utility, a gas utility if the house has gas, and water, sewer and trash through a city, county or private hauler. Internet is separate again. Solar panels add one more item, since the interconnection agreement is in the seller's name and has to be transferred.
Expect a short identity check. One Florida utility asks for a government photo ID and proof of ownership, and many run a soft credit check to decide on a deposit.
When to set up utilities when buying a house
Two to three weeks before closing is a comfortable window. PPL Electric takes requests up to 40 days ahead, and many utilities accept a start date about 30 days out. Set your start for closing day, or the day you get possession if that's later. Then compare it with the seller's stop date. If closing slips, call every provider at once, since a canceled seller account with no replacement can leave the house dark.
Utility deposit and start fee amounts
These figures show the range you may run into.
| Charge | Reported range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit for thin or damaged credit | About $100 to $300 | Often waived with clean credit; one Florida utility starts at $340 |
| Reconnection or start fee after a lapse | About $50 to $150 | Avoided by opening service no later than closing day |
| Gas leak and pressure test | May add about $40 to $90 | Can apply if gas was shut off more than 30 days before closing |
Those ranges come from a consumer energy site, not from a regulator, so treat them as rough figures and get your utility's real price.
How to set up utilities for a new home
- List the providers
Ask the seller or your agent who serves the house, then check the city or county site for water, sewer and trash.
- Ask for typical bills
Request 12 months of averages from the seller so you can budget for a full year of seasons.
- Gather your details
Have your legal name, ID, Social Security number for the credit check, closing date and the exact service address ready.
- Start electric and gas
Request a start, not a transfer, if you're new to the utility. Set the date to closing or possession day.
- Ask about deposits and gas
Ask if a deposit applies and how to waive it. If gas service is off, ask whether you must be home for a technician.
- Set up water, sewer and trash
Open these with your city, county or hauler, and ask for your pickup days and cart delivery.
- Check internet at the address
Use the FCC National Broadband Map to see which providers report service at your exact address, then call to book an install.
- Confirm with the seller
A few days before closing, confirm the stop dates and your start dates line up.
Utility deposit rules by state
State utility commissions set deposit rules for the companies they regulate, and city-owned utilities often set their own. Maryland is a good example of how specific this can get. A residential deposit generally can't exceed two months of estimated bills. The utility must offer installments on deposits above $50, pay interest and return the money after 12 months of good payment. Residents 60 or older can be exempt with proof.
Markets differ too. In Texas, many homes must pick a retail electric provider. In some condos, the HOA holds a master meter, so you may have no separate account.
Mistakes that delay when you start electric and gas service
- A seller who stops service early. An empty house with no power or gas can mean a dead sump pump or, in winter, frozen pipes.
- Assuming gas turns on by itself. If it was shut off, you may need to be home for the appointment.
- An open water balance. Ask the closing agent to confirm a final reading and payoff.
- Paying a deposit you could avoid. Ask about a letter of good credit from your last utility or a guarantor.
- Not getting proof. Save a confirmation email with your account number, start date and address.
Never relight a pilot you aren't sure about. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company's emergency line from outside. A utility tech or licensed pro should handle any turn-on or relight.
Utility deposit and start date questions
How far in advance should I set up utilities?
Two to three weeks before closing is a safe plan. Many utilities accept start dates about 30 days out, and PPL Electric allows requests up to 40 days ahead.
Do I have to pay a utility deposit as a homeowner?
Not always. Many utilities use a soft credit check, and clean credit often means no deposit. Rules vary, and in Maryland, for example, the deposit is returned after 12 months of good payment.
What happens if the seller's utilities are shut off before I close?
You may face a reconnection fee, and gas may need a safety test before it comes back on. Ask your agent to have the seller keep service on through closing.
Sources: stories.pplelectric.com, kua.com, psc.maryland.gov, callmepower.com
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.