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Setting up utilities in Houston

In Houston, you choose who sells your electricity, CenterPoint Energy delivers gas, Houston Water runs water and sewer, and the Houston Solid Waste Management Department handles trash pickup.

Moving to Houston? Public Grid can set up your electricity on our own plan.

Your utilities in Houston

Who to call for each service in Houston, and how to start it.

ServiceProviderHow to start

Electric

You choose

In Texas, you choose your electricity provider. CenterPoint delivers the power, and you pick the company that sells it.

Delivers the power

CenterPoint Energy

The same for every Houston home. Call them about outages and downed lines.

Outages and downed lines1 (713) 207-2222

Sells it to you · you pick

The electricity provider you choose

Your plan, your rate and your bill come from them. The state lists every plan.

Compare plans on Power to Choose (opens powertochoose.org in a new tab)

How to start: pick a plan from the list and sign up with them. They arrange the connection with CenterPoint.

You can get started with Public Grid

We have our own electricity plan. Sign up in a few minutes.

Start service with Public Grid

Gas

CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas service in the Houston area.

To start: CenterPoint may ask for a deposit based on your credit history. An adult usually needs to be home so a technician can check the gas meter and your appliances.

Customer service1 (713) 659-2111Start on centerpointenergy.com (opens move.centerpointenergy.com in a new tab)

Water & sewer

Houston Water

Houston Water is the City’s drinking water and wastewater utility.

To start: If your address has a unit number, call Houston Water to start service, since the online form can’t find unit numbers.

Customer service1 (713) 371-1400Start on houstonpublicworks.org (opens houstonpublicworks.org in a new tab)

Trash & recycling

Houston Solid Waste Management Department

The City picks up garbage weekly and offers curbside recycling.

City pickup covers single-family homes and smaller properties, including apartment buildings with eight or fewer units. Look up your address with the City’s Find Your Schedule tool to see your collection day.

Customer service1 (832) 394-1453houstontx.gov (opens houstontx.gov in a new tab)

What Texas homes pay for electricity

This is the Texas average. Your own bill depends on your plan, your home’s size and how you heat it.

$178

Texas’ average home bill, per month

16.0¢

Texas’ average price per kilowatt-hour (kWh)

FAQ

Questions about moving to Houston

Usually not if you live in a house or a smaller building. City trash pickup covers single-family homes and eligible smaller properties, such as apartment buildings with eight or fewer units, and its fee goes on the utility bill. To check your address, use the City’s Find Your Schedule tool or call 311.

Yes, if you’re on the ERCOT grid and an electric co-op or a city-owned utility doesn’t serve your home. Power to Choose, a website run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, lets you compare plans and rates from retail electric providers.

Sources: CenterPoint Energy, Houston Water, Houston Solid Waste Management Department, EIA.

Public Grid isn’t affiliated with these companies.

Report a mistake (opens support.onepublicgrid.com in a new tab)