Moving to Texas: utilities and your first-month checklist
Which company serves your new address depends on where in Texas it is. Each link below goes to that company's own page for starting service. Start it two to three weeks ahead, from the day you get the keys.
Electric companies in Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth, Waco, Midland-Odessa, Tyler and much of north, central and west Texas; start or stop service through a retail electric provider (choose at powertochoose.org); this company delivers the powerCenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (delivery only)
Greater Houston; start or stop service through a retail electric provider (choose at powertochoose.org); this company delivers the powerAEP Texas (delivery only)
Corpus Christi, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Abilene, San Angelo; start or stop service through a retail electric provider (choose at powertochoose.org); this company delivers the powerTNMP (delivery only)
Scattered areas including Texas City, Lewisville and parts of west and central Texas; start or stop service through a retail electric provider (choose at powertochoose.org); this company delivers the powerCPS Energy (city-owned)
San Antonio and surrounding Bexar CountyAustin Energy (city-owned)
Austin and parts of Travis and Williamson countiesEntergy Texas
Southeast Texas: Beaumont, Port Arthur, Conroe and The Woodlands areaSWEPCO
Northeast Texas (Longview, Texarkana) and the PanhandleEl Paso Electric
El Paso and far west Texas
Natural gas in Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth, north and west Texas and many other communitiesCenterPoint Energy
Houston area and parts of south and east TexasTexas Gas Service
Austin, El Paso, Galveston, Rio Grande Valley and other communitiesCPS Energy (city-owned)
San Antonio
Water in Texas
Usually run by the city, town or county. Search the new address's town name with "water service".
Choosing a supplier
Texas lets some customers choose who supplies their electricity. The wires and pipes stay with the utility. Compare on the state's own page before signing anything a door-to-door seller offers: official shopping page.
Help with the bills
If deposits or bills are a stretch, Texas runs energy assistance: official assistance page. Ask the utility about deposit waivers too; many waive the deposit with a good payment letter from your old company.
Problems with a utility
The Public Utility Commission of Texas regulates utilities in Texas and takes complaints.
New-resident deadlines in Texas
- Driver's license: within 90 days of moving. Official page
- Car registration and title: within 30 days of moving. Official page
- Inspection: Emissions test in 17 counties, including Dallas, Harris and Travis. The vehicle must pass before it can be registered. Official page
- Texas driver license office
- Register to vote in Texas
From the state's own websites, checked October 2026. Deadlines can change; check the official page before you rely on one.
Your first month in a new state
- USPS: change your address: Start mail forwarding up to 30 days early. The real site is usps.com.
- Your new state's motor vehicle office: Driver's license, registration and title. Most states set a short deadline after you move, so check yours first.
- Register to vote: Routes you to the official registration for the new state.
- Medicaid, if you have it: Medicaid doesn't move with you. You apply again in the new state.
- Health insurance: A permanent move can open a special enrollment period.
- Social Security: Change your address once here; Medicare gets it from Social Security.
Utility companies and service areas checked October 2026. Service areas follow addresses, not county lines exactly: confirm with the company before you book.