You may need to know how to turn on utilities in Houston for a number of different reasons. Perhaps you're relocating from a different city, moving into a new apartment, or purchasing a home of your own. If you're new to Houston, you're probably unaware of who the big utility companies are and how to turn on service. Even if you've lived here for a while, it always helps to get a refresher.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about setting up or transferring service, paying your bills, and how much you should expect to budget for Houston utilities. Houston has a deregulated energy market, which means there are many different retail providers.
Centerpoint Energy is responsible for managing the electric transmission network that delivers energy to homes and businesses within city limits, although they don't sell energy directly to consumers. Instead, residents are free to choose from different retail providers such as Reliant Energy, Direct Energy, TXU Energy, or Green Mountain Energy, which all offer different rates and plans. Centerpoint takes care of the delivery and maintenance of energy, as well as natural gas, while the city of Houston handles water in the Houston metro area.
This may sound a bit intimidating at first, but it's very straightforward once you break down the specifics. So, to give you a better understanding of what to expect, here is a complete breakdown of Houston Utilities.
Average Utilities in Houston
Before describing the steps to set up and pay Houston utilities, it helps to understand what you can expect to pay. While it depends very much on your consumption habits, reviewing the data can help you get a reasonable estimate of how much you should budget.
Doxo states that the average cost of utilities in Houston is $289 per month. The C2ER Cost of
Living Index (2023) indicates that the average energy costs in Houston are:
- Houston electricity cost: $130.68
- Houston natural gas cost: $59.61
- Total Houston energy cost: $190.29
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the average electricity rate in Houston for the first six months of 2024 was 17 cents per kilowatt per hour. Despite being the energy capital of the world, it seems as though the cost of Houston utilities is on the rise. Houston Public Media claims that energy costs increased by 16% between 2023 and 2024.
An analysis by the Federal Reserve of Dallas also found that Texans, in general, spend twice as much on electricity as they did on pre-pandemic prices. So, you should make sure to budget accordingly to pay your monthly Houston utilities if you're new to the area.
The city's deregulated energy market means that residents have a wide variety of options when it comes to Houston utilities, with over 70 retail energy providers. The largest retail energy provider in Houston is TXU Energy. Founded in 1882, it's one of the oldest energy providers in Texas and serves over 1.5 million customers.
Green Mountain is the primary provider of environmentally friendly Houston utilities, including solar energy initiatives, and serves several hundred thousand customers in deregulated markets across the country. Reliant is a subsidiary of NRG Energy, one of the leading energy companies in North America that supplies power to over one million households in Texas.
Transfer or Start TXU, Reliant, and Green Mountain Energy Service
Most retail energy providers allow you to set up or transfer Houston utilities by creating an online account and making a request online or by calling them directly. Below are links and phone numbers for some of the major providers of Houston utilities.
TXU Energy
- To start your Houston utilities, select a plan and provide the necessary information to access customer account services. To transfer service, login to your account and input your new address. You can start service the same day or up to 90 days in advance.
- Customer service number: 866-278-4898
Green Mountain Energy
- New customers can submit the New Occupant Confirmation Form and submit it to Green Mountain Energy. You can submit a transfer request for Houston utilities online through the Green Mountain app or call customer service.
- New service number: (866) 301-3120
- General help number: (866) 785-4668
Reliant Energy
- Reliant allows you to set up service or transfer service online up to 60 days in advance by creating or logging into your account. Alternatively, you can call their customer service number to get assistance with Houston utilities.
- Customer service: (866) 222-7100
TXU, Reliant, and Green Mountain Energy Bill Pay
Each Houston power company offers different rates and plans. TXU offers fixed-rate, variable, and renewable plans, as well as an energy aid program to help customers facing financial hardship.
Reliant offers flexible options, including month-to-month plans, fixed-rate plans, and time-of-use plans, as well as financial support for Houston utilities through deferred payment plans, extensions, and energy assistance programs.
Green Mountain is known for its 100% green electricity plans, which include solar-based and fixed-rate plans designed to reduce your carbon footprint.
Each Houston electric company offers multiple ways to pay, such as online, by phone, in the mail, or in person. You can find more information about their Houston utilities plans at the links below:
TXU, Reliant, and Green Mountain Energy Contact Info
TXU Energy
- Phone: 1 (800) 818-6132
- Hours: 24/7
- Address: P.O. Box 650764, Dallas, Texas 75265-0764
Green Mountain
- Phone: (866) 785-4668
- Hours: 7 am - 10 pm CST
- Address: 910 Louisiana St, 22nd floor, Houston, TX 77002
Reliant Energy
- Phone: (866) 222-7100
- Hours: 24/7
- Address: P.O. Box 3765 Houston, TX 77253-3765
CenterPoint Energy is the sole Houston gas company. Prior to the deregulation of the energy market in 2002, the only company responsible for utilities in Houston was Houston Lighting and Power, later renamed Reliant Energy HL&P/Entex. In 2003, HL&P was split up into several companies offering different Houston utilities, including CenterPoint Energy, which handles energy delivery and maintenance of power lines, as well as Houston Natural Gas. It's not only the sole gas provider in Houston; it now serves over 7 million customers across multiple states.
Transfer or Start CenterPoint Energy Service
You can start service with CenterPoint Energy online by filling out a brief form. It will ask you to provide information on the Houston utilities account holder, such as your name, date of birth, email address, social security number, phone number, and whether you've previously been a CenterPoint customer.
You must submit the form to request Houston utilities at least 7 days before your move-in date. If you prefer, you can also start or transfer your Houston gas utility service over the phone by calling their customer service line at 800-227-1376.
CenterPoint Energy Bill Pay
CenterPoint Energy makes its rates and tariffs available on its website. Customers pay a fixed base rate plus a per-them usage charge, fuel costs, taxes, and other miscellaneous charges. Different Houstion utilities plans offer different pricing structures. You can check the rates and tariffs for the Houston division here.
They offer several programs to help customers reduce the cost of Houston utilities, such as their low-income weatherization program that provides seniors and income-qualified borrowers with free or low-cost energy efficiency measures such as attic insulation or broken furnace repair.
They offer a few different ways that you can pay your Houston natural gas bill:
CenterPoint Energy Contact Info
- Phone: 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036
- Emergency hotline: 713-659-2111 or 888-876-5786
- Hours: 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday (except holidays)
- Address: P.O. Box 4981 Houston, TX 77210-4981
The City of Houston Water Department is responsible for supplying water to H-Town residents within the municipal utility district. Suburbs such as Spring, Bellaire, and West University may have their own water utilities. It's a division of Houston Public Works, which oversees all Houston utilities. It is the sole Houston water company and oversees the production and distribution of over 146 billion gallons of water per year.
Transfer or Start Houston Water Service
You can start or transfer your City of Houston water service by filling out the move-in service request form on their website. The form asks you to provide your address, where you require Houston utilities and personal information to set up an online water and sewer account. After you submit the form, you may need to wait up to 2 business days for service to begin. If you need additional assistance with your water meter or have other questions regarding Houston utilities, you can also contact Houston Water customer service at 713-371-1400.
Houston Water Bill Pay
Your Houston water utility bill will be based on a combination of usage according to the water meters, wastewater charges, and fees. Most residential homeowners pay based on metered water consumption. The COH water department has a rate calculator on its website if you want to estimate your bill. For a typical household using $3,000 per month, the average water bill in Houston is $43.37.
You can pay your City of Houston water bill online with a credit or debit card or through third-party payment processors such as PayPal, Venmo, or Google Pay. You are encouraged to register an account with the Houston TX water Department to monitor usage, track payments, or request meter relocation.
Houston Water Department Contact Info
Houston trash pickup is handled by Solid Waste Management. They provide a range of waste management services and other important Houston utilities, including curbside garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulk pick up.
Solid Waste Manage garbage pick up schedule:
- Garbage is collected weekly
- Recycling is collected every other week
- Yard and tree waste is collected on designated days once every two months (odd months)
- Junk and bulk Waste is collected on designated days once every two months (even months)
They have a calendar and other resources available on their pick up days that you can use to find the scheduled dates for your address.
There is no additional fee for trash or recycling as they are Houston public utilities paid by tax dollars. However, residents can request extra capacity carts for larger carts if the standard trash bin isn't enough. Some private neighborhoods and homeowners associations contract with private trash pickup companies in their area, even if they take advantage of other Houston utilities.
Houston Internet Providers
Many top internet providers have a presence in Houston and offer flexible packages and reliable rates. Here are some of the top internet providers in Houston.
- AT&T: Affordable Fiber Internet in Houston
- Xfinity: High-speed cable internet in Houston
- Spectrum: Fast and reliable Spectrum Internet in Houston, TX
Many Houston internet providers also offer local phone service, including traditional phone lines and VOIP phone technology. Inquire for more information and rates. Cable, satellite service, and other private Houston utilities are also available from a range of providers.
Now that you know all about Houston utilities, you’re ready to plan your relocation. When your moving day comes, trust the dependable Houston movers at PDX movers to make your journey smooth sailing. Call (346) 326-1141 today for a free quote.
