Ultimate Guide to Austin Utilities đź’ˇ | Electric, Gas, Water, Internet & Other City of Austin Utilities
Planning on moving to Austin or living in Downtown Austin in the coming months? One of the most stressful aspects of relocating can be transferring and/or establishing utilities for your new home. Between trash pickup to internet service, finding information on local providers and Austin utilities as a whole can be time-consuming and confusing.
To help you with your upcoming move, we’ve compiled a list of Austin Texas utility providers across all categories. This way, you can spend more time settling into our dynamic city and less time on tedious tasks!
While many Texas locales and cities near Austin feature a deregulated energy market, meaning you can choose your energy provider, Austin itself is a bit different, and utility services here are overseen by Austin Energy.
Learn more about setting up Austin utility services, how to make payments, fees, and more about each type of utility provider in the city with this complete guide.
Austin Electric Utilities | City of Austin Electric
The City of Austin Utilities (also known as Austin Energy, or “coautilities”) is the area’s provider of electric services. They service all residential and commercial buildings in the city in a regulated market.
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City of Austin Utility Company Important Contact Info
- City of Austin Utilities: Electric
- Website: https://coautilities.com/wps/wcm/connect/occ/coa/home
- Phone: 512-494-9400
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. CST, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CST
- Address: Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702
Opening an Account and Getting Your Austin Electricity Turned On
It costs $20 to start Austin city electric services with the City of Austin Utilities. On top of this fee to start services, a $200 deposit is required to begin residential service. For those who want to try to avoid paying this sizable deposit, there are ways around the fee.
To qualify to have the $200 deposit waived, at least one of the following conditions must be met (as taken from the City of Austin Utilities website):
- Kept up on payments with a previous City of Austin Utility account.
- Show letter of reference from another utility company
- Submits Landlord Letter of reference form meeting specific requirements
- Enrolls in both Autopay and eBill paperless billing.
- Is an adult 65+ years or older.
- Is a service member who has returned from deployment.
- Victims of domestic abuse.
- And more.
On top of meeting at least one of these qualifying conditions, there are additional stipulations that must be met (such as having no prior disconnections or outstanding balances).
If you're moving to the area, you can actually set up your utility service with city of Austin electricity beforehand so you can arrive at a nicely lit up home!
The average Austin city electric bill is $206 per month. Payments can be made online (including autopay), although often transaction fees apply, but with the benefit of being able to pay anytime, day, or evening.
For those who don't wish to pay their bill online, you can opt for in-person payments at a City of Austin Utility Service Center, or by mail (with multiple payment methods accepted, including a personal check, cashier’s check, or money order).
Our local movers highly recommend budget billing, as it helps customers manage their expenses by spreading out high seasonal costs into consistent, predictable payments throughout the year (versus fluctuating bills depending on use). This approach simplifies the process of paying your utility bill, making it more manageable and stress-free.
Here's how to stay informed with an up-to-date notification system from the Austin Utility Company, which includes text alerts:
- Text 'REGISTER' (AUSTIN on the keypad) or 'REG' to 287846.
- Enter your account's phone number or your City of Austin utilities account number. If you're texting on the phone in which the number is associated with your account, you'll be able to skip this step.
You can also keep up with Austin energy's outage map should you lose service at any time or during times of severe weather.
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Overall, Austin Utilities are easy to navigate with easy payment options and easy ways to stay up to date with your account!
Austin Water Utilities | Austin Water
Austin Water is the primary provider of water utilities services in the city. This department is managed by the City of Austin Utilities.
City of Austin Water Utilities Important Contact Info
- Austin Water
- Website: https://www.austintexas.gov/content/austin-water
- Phone: 512-972-0101
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address: 625 E 10th St, Austin, TX 78701
Opening an Account and Getting Your Water Turned On
It costs $20 to start your City of Austin water services. Just like the city’s electric service, a $200 deposit is required to begin your water services. Check the above listed conditions for potential ways to have this deposit waived.
The average monthly water bill in Austin is $36.74. Payments for water utilities in Austin can be made online (including autopay), in person at a City of Austin Utility Service Center, or by mail (with a personal check, cashier’s check, or money order).
Similar to other Austin utilities, Austin Water offers deposit waivers for eligible customers, such as those who enroll in Autopay and paperless billing, provide a satisfactory utility reference, or meet specific criteria like being over 65 years old or a returning service member.
Residents should also be aware that Austin is often under drought conditions, currently at Stage 2, which necessitates following strict watering schedules provided by the Austin Drought Response to conserve water.
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Additionally, the City of Austin Texas utilities provide assistance programs for low-income customers, ensuring that essential services remain accessible to all.
Austin Garbage/Recycling | City of Austin Utilities
The City of Austin manages both trash and recycling street service. It costs $15 to start solid waste services.
Four trash collection bin sizes are offered. Residents are charged based on the size bin they use. Sizes include ​​24-gallon ($23.30 per month), 32-gallon ($24.55 per month), 64-gallon ($29.70 per month), or 96-gallon ($50.15 per month).
As a forward-thinking city, Austin utilities have implemented a Zero Waste by 2040 initiative, which includes composting options for residents in addition to trash and recycling and certain rebates for residents and businesses practicing these eco-friendly trash initiatives.
As with all other City of Austin utilities, multiple payment options include online options (including autopay), in-person at a City of Austin Utility Service Center, or by mail (with a personal check, cashier’s check, or money order).
Austin Gas Utilities | Texas Gas Service
Texas Gas Service handles all natural gas services throughout the City of Austin. They are the only provider of gas services for the city.
Texas Gas Service Important Contact Info
- Texas Gas Service
- Website: https://www.texasgasservice.com/
- Phone: 800-700-2443, Monday – Friday. 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM CST
- Address: 1301 S MoPac Expy #400, Austin, TX 78746
Opening a Gas Account and Getting Your Austin Utilities Turned On
Services can be stopped and started through your online account, or by contacting a representative with the company. Bills can also be paid online, by mail, or over the phone. The average gas bill in Austin costs $110.58 per month.
Austin Internet | Google Fiber, AT&T, Spectrum
Internet service is an integral part of Austin Texas utilities.
While there are many internet providers available throughout Austin, three of the top providers are Google Fiber, AT&T, and Spectrum. Plans and internet speeds vary significantly depending on your chosen provider. Your overall cost will depend on the provider you select, whether or not you bundle services (such as phone services), and how many add-ons you need (such as a rented router).
Internet services can be started by initiating an appointment online through the Google Fiber, AT&T, or Spectrum websites. You can also contact the corporate phone number for each to get linked with the right department.
Once you’ve set up an appointment with your preferred provider, an installation tech will come out to your home to set up services. Costs for equipment and services depend on your chosen plan, and depending on the current promotions being offered by each company. The average monthly cost for internet services in Austin is $65.11 per month, according to Numbeo.
Austin Telephone | All Major Cell Phone Providers
All major cell phone providers — such as AT&T and Verizon — are available in Austin. Oftentimes, if you only have cell phone services with the company, the easiest way to transfer services is to simply change your mailing address. This ensures that your monthly bill is sent to the correct address (if you do not have paperless billing). You can typically do this through a self-service portal in your online account or by calling the company directly.
If you are moving from a different area and would like an Austin area code, you will need to contact your current cell phone company for a new phone number. Once you’ve reached out to your cell phone provider, they will inform you about the process of switching to a local area code.
Currently, as part of the cost of living in Austin TX, as a whole, the average cell phone bill in Austin is $178.55 per month.
Austin Cable | Spectrum Cable, DIRECTV, Optimum TV, DISH
The most popular cable TV providers in Austin are Spectrum Cable, DIRECTV, Optimum TV, and DISH. As with internet services, each cable provider offers various packages and pricing depending on your needs, and depending on current promotions that are available. Reaching out to each company directly for a quote is the best way to go about finding the best option.
If you already have one of these Austin cable TV providers, you can contact a customer care rep — online or by phone — to assist you with transferring services to your new address.
As always, there are streaming services for those who don't want cable!
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