Setting Up Utilities When You Move Into a San Antonio Home

Of all the small jobs that come with a move, setting up the utilities is the one most likely to be forgotten until the night you arrive, flip a light switch, and nothing happens. In San Antonio the list is fairly short, since one company handles electricity and natural gas, another handles water, and the city takes care of trash and recycling at most houses, but each one has its own way of getting started and its own short list of things it wants from you. At Veteran’s Best Movers we put together this guide to help you get everything switched on before the truck pulls up.

Electricity and natural gas with CPS Energy

In San Antonio, both electricity and natural gas come from CPS Energy, which means one account usually covers both. If you already have a CPS Energy account and are moving within its service area, CPS Energy says you can register for an online account and transfer your service to the new address in a few minutes, without waiting on the phone.

If you’re new to CPS Energy, you can start service through the start service form on its website, and the company asks new customers who are coming from another utility to request a letter of reference from that utility. CPS Energy’s terms also explain that it may ask a new residential customer for a security deposit, and that it may put the deposit off for a customer who can show a good payment history with a water, electric, or gas utility, meaning at least twelve months in a row of service within the past two years, no more than two late payments in the most recent year, and no shutoff for nonpayment in the past two years. CPS Energy also says it may waive the deposit for active members of the military who are relocating to San Antonio.

When you apply, CPS Energy asks for a form of identification such as a driver license or state ID card, a Social Security number, or another form of ID it can verify. If you would rather talk it through with a person, its First Connections line at (210) 353‑2222 can help you start service.

Water with SAWS

Water and sewer service in most of San Antonio comes from the San Antonio Water System, which everyone here simply calls SAWS. Current SAWS customers can log in to their online account to stop service at the old address and transfer it to the new one, and new customers can use the move in form on the SAWS website.

To open a new residential account, SAWS asks for the property address, a valid driver license or Texas ID, a contact phone number, a mailing address, and your date of birth. SAWS also notes that a deposit is required for new residential service. If you would rather call, the number is (210) 704‑7297, and you can also visit one of its customer centers in person.

If you’re renting an apartment, it’s worth asking the leasing office how water is handled before you call SAWS, since some properties take care of it themselves and add it to your rent or a separate bill.

Trash, recycling, and organics with the City of San Antonio

For houses inside the city, curbside collection is handled by the City of San Antonio’s Solid Waste Management Department, and it is tied to your CPS Energy account. The city says that once your residential CPS Energy account is set up, you can call 311, or (210) 207‑6000, for service information. New customers should receive three carts: a brown cart for trash, a blue cart for recycling, and a green cart for organics.

The cost shows up on your CPS Energy bill rather than as a separate bill from the city, and the monthly fee is based on the size of your brown trash cart, while the blue and green carts carry no extra charge. If you find that you don’t need a large trash cart, the city lets you downsize it to lower that fee. To learn which day your carts go to the curb, the city has a Find My Collection Day lookup on its website, and it collects residential garbage once a week.

Moving into an apartment is often different, since many complexes have their own dumpsters and recycling area, so your leasing office is the best place to ask.

Internet, phone, and TV

Internet is the one service that doesn’t come from a single provider, and the companies available can change from one street to the next. Most providers let you type in your new address on their website to see what they offer there, and it’s worth checking two or three before you choose.

Whichever you pick, book the installation as early as you can, because a new internet connection often means a technician visit, and the appointment you want may not be the first one available. If you work from home or have kids starting school, it’s worth asking whether the provider can activate service on the day you arrive.

A simple timeline that works

About two weeks before the move is a good time to book your internet installation and gather what each utility will ask for, including your ID, your lease or closing paperwork, and, if you’re new to CPS Energy, that letter of reference from your old utility. About a week before, set up CPS Energy and SAWS service to begin on your move in day, and schedule your old services to stop the day after you leave, so you’re never left in a dark or dry house during the move itself.

On moving day, take a minute to turn on a light, run a faucet, and check the air conditioning before the crew starts carrying furniture inside. A working air conditioner makes a world of difference on a summer moving day here, as anyone who has read our tips on moving in the Texas heat will know.

Let us take care of the heavy part

Setting up utilities is something only you can do, but the boxes, the furniture, and the long day of carrying can be ours. Our local moving crews can handle the loading and unloading, and our professional packing team can box up the house while you work through the phone calls. You can reach us at (210) 761‑6595 or request a free quote online, and we will be glad to help you plan a moving day around everything else on your list.