Moving to a new city and setting up a new home feels like an exciting adventure. You get to explore a new location, buy new furniture and decorations, and settle into a new life. But, this adventure comes with a lengthy checklist of less glamorous details, such as setting up utilities and selecting cable and internet providers.
If you’re moving to Austin, you have enough on your plate already. So, we did the heavy lifting, compiling all the information you need about utilities and service providers in Austin to make your move smoother. With those tasks out of the way, you can worry about the important questions, like which breakfast tacos and food trucks to try first.
Related: The Best Way to Find Apartments in Austin, TX
Austin Utilities & Service Providers
Austin Utility Companies
Natural Gas Service
Texas Gas Service is the only natural gas provider for Austin. To set up or transfer service, create a user account online or call the customer service number at 800-700-2443. You can set up paperless billing and enroll in the Average Payment Plan, which distributes your payments according to a 12-month rolling average of your natural gas bill and creates some stability in light of seasonal fluctuations.
Due to the warm climate, locals mainly use gas for heating water and stoves, with little need for heating their homes. Depending on the size of your home and the amount of usage, average gas costs often run under $50 per month.
Electrical Service
Austin Energy, tied to the City of Austin Utilities, serves most of Austin for its electrical needs. To set up or transfer service, create a user account online or call the customer service number at 512-494-9400. You can enroll in paperless billing or budget billing, which allows you to pay approximately the same amount each month.
Also due to the warm climate, average monthly electric bills in Austin vary widely, depending on the season and personal usage habits. Bills on the lower end can come in under $100 a month in the winter to as high as $300 (or more!) in the summer, which is why so many people enroll in budget billing.
Austin Water, Trash, & Recycle
Many apartments include water, trash, and recycling services as a part of the rent, so you likely won’t need to worry about this bill as a tenant. But, if you do end up paying for this service, you’ll contact the City of Austin Utilities to set it up. You can register for an account online or call 512-494-9400. The city of Austin also manages your electricity account, and they bundle the billing, so you can multitask and set both up at the same, if necessary.
Water, trash, and sewage fees in Austin average around $100 per month, depending on usage.
Austin Service Providers
A variety of internet and cable providers serve Austin, and unless your building signed a contract with a particular place, you choose which to use. Many of these companies provide a bundle of both internet and cable, which helps you save money and streamlines your billing.
Austin Internet Providers
Google Fiber
Google Fiber provides high-speed internet for Austin and the surrounding area. This company is growing rapidly and continually increasing its service. Customers can choose from a variety of speeds to meet their needs, from 1G for $70 a month all the way up to 8G for $150 a month. You sign up for this service online by checking for availability and then following the prompts.
AT&T Fiber
AT&T Fiber, another choice for high-speed internet, bundles nicely with wireless phone plans. Customers can select from three different tiers, which start at $60 a month. You can order this service at 866-861-6075. AT&T makes it easy for existing customers to switch their service by calling 800-288-2020.
Spectrum
Spectrum offers a number of services for Austin, including internet, TV, mobile, and landlines, and you can bundle these services to save. For internet service, you can choose from three speeds, starting at $49.99 a month. You can set up Spectrum service by calling 833-694-9259.
Cable Companies in Austin
DirecTV
DirecTV offers a variety of packages (local channels included) through either a satellite or your existing internet service with the Gemini device. DirecTV partners directly with AT&T for internet and TV bundles to help you save and simplify. Prices start at $59.99 a month for the Entertainment Package. You can set up service online or by calling 844-497-3048.
Dish Network
Dish is another option for cable service, and it also bundles with high-speed internet. You can choose from three packages, so you can get the channels you want. The “America’s Top 120” package includes favorite and local channels and starts at $84.99 a month. You can set up service online or by calling 833-422-0558.
Other Services
Post Office
The US Post Office makes changing your address really simple to do online. When you change your address, you can also update your voter registration and access special offers. You can also sign up for Informed Delivery, a free service that allows you to keep an eye on incoming mail and packages.
311 for City Services
The City of Austin also has a 311 service that allows you to ask questions about the city or report issues that you encounter. This service developed a mobile app that allows you to easily report potholes, graffiti, loose dogs, and more. However, 311 is not a replacement for emergency services.
Looking for an Austin Apartment to Rent?
Moving is a big step, and you need to know a lot so that you can make the right decision. Check out our guide on what you should know about Austin before moving to jumpstart your learning. When you decide to make Austin your new home, reach out to AptAmigo for help finding the perfect apartment for you. We’ll search for the perfect apartment for your needs, wants, and desires, and we’ll schedule tours. All you have to do is show up.
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Lori Walker is a freelance writer and content marketer. She writes personal essays, memoir, and poetry in Tulsa, where she lives with her husband and cat, Joan Didion.
