Updated September 2026 by the Apartment List renter editorial team.
To set up utilities in a new apartment, check your lease, identify providers serving your exact address, and open the accounts you’re responsible for. Schedule service for the date your responsibility begins, and confirm any installation appointments.
Start planning two to four weeks before your move, especially for services requiring an appointment. This is a planning buffer, not a guaranteed activation time.
Renter Tip: Don't wait until you're surrounded by boxes to find out the lights aren't on. Confirm your start dates and save your confirmation numbers before moving day.
A good planning window is two to four weeks before your move, especially for internet service or any utility that may require an appointment. That's a planning buffer, not a guaranteed activation time or legal deadline. Your actual timeline depends on the provider, your address, existing service, and whether someone needs access to the apartment.
Some providers allow customers to schedule service farther in advance. For example, PG&E allows residential customers to arrange service up to 60 days ahead, while Con Edison allows customers to schedule a move up to 30 days in advance.
For internet, Xfinity and Verizon also allow certain move requests up to 30 days ahead.
Use this as a starting point:
| Utility | When to Start Planning | In-Person Appointment? |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 1–2 weeks before move-in | Usually not if service is already active |
| Gas | 1–2 weeks before move-in | Sometimes, particularly if service needs to be restored |
| Water/sewer | 1–2 weeks before move-in | Usually not, and often landlord-managed |
| Internet | 2–4 weeks before move-in | Sometimes |
| Trash/recycling | 1–2 weeks before move-in | Usually not, and often property-managed |
| Cable/TV | 2–4 weeks before move-in | Sometimes, depending on equipment and connections |
These are planning recommendations, not provider guarantees. Check your provider's scheduling rules as soon as you know your move-in date.
Internet deserves extra attention because installation availability can vary. Xfinity says professional installation may be available as early as the next day when appointments are open, while Verizon says customers can schedule a move up to 30 days in advance.
The easiest way to set up apartment utilities is to work backward from your move-in date.
Before opening any accounts, find out which utilities you're responsible for.
Your lease may specify that you pay for electricity and gas directly while your landlord covers water, sewer, or trash. Other apartments bundle some or all utilities into rent or charge tenants a separate monthly utility fee.
Look for:
If the lease isn't clear, ask your landlord or property manager before opening an account. For more information, see our guide to which utilities landlords and tenants pay.
To find utility providers for a new apartment, check your lease or ask your landlord, then verify service using your exact address.
Don't assume the companies serving your current home also serve your new one. Utility territories can change even within the same city or metro area.
Ask your landlord or property manager which companies provide electricity, gas, water, and internet to the building. Then verify service directly with each provider using your complete street address and unit number.
For internet, the FCC National Broadband Map lets you search an address and see providers that report offering service there, along with reported technologies and speeds.
A provider appearing on the map doesn't necessarily mean every plan or advertised speed is available in your exact apartment. Confirm directly with the provider before ordering.
If you already have utility accounts, check whether your providers serve the new address and allow a transfer. Follow our guide to transferring utilities to coordinate service at both apartments.
Exact requirements vary, but providers commonly ask for:
For example, Con Edison asks new residential customers for their new address, move-in date, and valid identification.
Check the provider's official application instructions for its exact requirements.
Schedule essential services for move-in day or, when your lease and provider allow it, shortly before you arrive.
Be careful not to create a gap between the previous resident's service ending and yours beginning. A provider may be able to change the account holder without physically disconnecting service, but you shouldn't assume that will happen automatically.
Some services can be activated remotely. Others may require a technician, especially if equipment needs to be installed, a connection needs to be restored, or the provider needs access inside the apartment.
Internet is one of the most common examples. Depending on the provider and building, you may be able to use a self-installation kit or need professional installation.
If an appointment is required:
Book early when possible. Appointment availability, rather than the account-opening process itself, may determine how quickly you're connected.
A few days before your move, check each account or confirmation email.
Make sure you have the right:
Save each provider’s name, account number, start date, appointment details, and any upfront charges in one place.
Your address determines whether you can choose an electricity or gas supplier. Check your state utility regulator’s guidance before comparing plans.
For Pennsylvania residents in eligible areas, PA Power Switch is the official electricity-shopping website of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. It allows consumers to compare supplier offers and rates.
Texas has a similar option for customers in competitive areas. The Public Utility Commission of Texas maintains Power to Choose, an official resource for comparing electricity plans from retail electric providers. Whether you can choose an electricity provider depends on your service area, so check your address before assuming supplier choice is available.
Your state's utility commission or official energy-choice website is generally a better starting point than clicking the first supplier advertisement you see.
You may have to pay a deposit or other upfront charge when opening a utility account, but there isn't one reliable national deposit or connection-fee range. Requirements vary by provider, service, location, and customer history.
Utility and telecommunications companies may also check consumer reports when you apply for service. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, telecommunications, cable, and utility companies often check credit and other reports when you apply. Applying for these services does not itself affect your credit score.
Because policies differ, it's more accurate to look at your named provider than to assume a standard deposit amount.
Before paying anything, ask:
If a provider requires a large upfront payment, check the provider's official tariff or customer-service information and your state utility regulator for applicable rules and consumer protections.
For help budgeting for ongoing bills, see our guide to apartment utility costs.
Confirm your new apartment’s service start dates and any required appointments before moving day. If you’re coordinating service at two addresses, use our utility transfer guide to plan the start and stop dates.
If your landlord manages a utility, you generally don't need to open a separate account for that service.
The cost may be:
Submetering generally means the property receives service through a master utility account but measures usage for individual apartments separately. In that arrangement, you may receive a utility charge from the landlord or a third-party billing company rather than directly from the local utility.
Rules vary significantly by state and utility. For example, Massachusetts' electric submetering guidance says electric submetering is generally prohibited in Massachusetts, subject to specified exceptions, and explains when property owners may charge tenants for electricity.
Before moving in, confirm:
If your landlord manages a utility, don't open a duplicate account unless the property manager or utility confirms that you should.
Check which services you're responsible for, find the providers serving your new address, and schedule service to begin by move-in day. If you’re coordinating service at two addresses, use our utility transfer guide to plan the start and stop dates.
As a general planning guideline, start setting up utilities two to four weeks before your move. Some providers allow requests 30 to 60 days ahead, while others can activate existing service much faster. Starting early is especially useful when internet or another service requires an installation appointment.
Common apartment utilities include electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, and trash or recycling. Your landlord may manage or include some of these services, so check your lease before opening accounts.
Yes, many providers allow you to schedule a future start date. Your responsibility for service should generally line up with your lease and move-in arrangements, so confirm the appropriate start date with your provider and landlord rather than assuming you can put service in your name before your tenancy begins.
Some utility, telecom, and cable companies check credit or specialty consumer reports when you apply for service. The information may help determine whether a deposit is required. The CFPB says applying for these services does not itself affect your credit score.
You may be able to choose an electricity supplier if you live in a deregulated energy market. Your local utility may still deliver the electricity to your home. Check your state's public utility commission or official energy-choice website to see whether supplier choice is available at your address.
Contact the electric utility serving your exact address, open or transfer the account, and request a start date that aligns with your move-in date. If the meter or service is disconnected, ask whether a technician appointment or property access is required.
You could arrive without an essential service or have to wait for the next available installation appointment. Contact the provider as soon as possible. Some services can be activated quickly when the apartment is already connected, but timing varies by provider and address.
Check your lease to determine which utilities are included in rent and which you must pay separately. If the landlord manages a utility, don't open a duplicate account unless the landlord, property manager, or utility tells you to.
Start planning your apartment utilities two to four weeks before moving. Check your lease first, identify the providers serving your exact address, transfer existing accounts when possible, and schedule essential services for move-in day.
Then confirm every start date and appointment before you pick up the keys. A little prep now can save you from spending your first night in a new apartment without Wi-Fi, hot water, or lights.
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