Student apartments come with the complication of setting up electricity, maybe for the first time. If you are in an area with deregulated electricity, you have your choice of over 40 electricity providers. If you live in a regulated area, you’ll set up power with your local utility. Depending on credit, you may need to pay a deposit; your parents can set up electricity in their name if you don’t have a credit score yet.
How to Set Up Electricity in Student Apartment
Here are the basic steps to follow to set up electricity for your student apartment:
- Confirm if you have a choice of electricity provider. Most areas of Texas are deregulated and have electricity choice. Some, including Austin, College Station and San Marcos, only have electricity service from the utility. Check your apartment address in our ESID Lookup (Electricity Service Identifier) or review the list of deregulated cities to see if you have a choice of electricity company.
- Compare electricity rates. Shop and compare electricity rates online. Look for a basic fixed rate electricity plan. Avoid plans with complicated bill credits that have deceptively low advertised rates. These usage-based plans that require you to hit a minimum usage level to get the advertised rate. Since you’re just moving in, you don’t know your usage, so you can’t decide if these plans are a good fit.
- Schedule your start date. Schedule your electricity service to start the day you move in to your apartment. You’ll select a “move-in” and specific start date when you enroll with your selected electricity company.
For more tips on electricity shopping, check our blog post with step-by-step how to shop for electricity or review information on apartment electricity plans.
Shop Electricity Rates by Zip Code
What are Typical Electricity Deposit Requirements for Students?
Setting up electricity in Texas requires a credit check. Each provider has different criteria, but in general you’ll need a 600 FICO credit score to avoid a deposit. Here are some options to consider:
- Have parents or guardian set up power. Many students haven’t established credit yet, making a parent or guardian the best option for setting up electricity service. This is a soft-hit credit check, meaning it won’t impact their credit score.
- Pick the roommate with the best credit. The roommate with the best credit score can put electricity in their name.
- Pay a deposit for electricity. You may have to pay an electricity deposit, which ranges from $150-$400 depending on the provider, size of the apartment and your credit score.
- Sign up for prepaid electricity. Prepaid electricity is around 30% more expensive per kWh, but there’s no credit check and no deposit. Get same day service with a $75 activation fee. You’ll monitor your usage and add funds as you go instead of getting a monthly bill.
Pro tip: You can add your roommates’ names to the electricity bill. This doesn’t change who is financially responsible, but it can help each roommate build proof of good payment history for future service.
Do I Shop for Electricity or Call the Utility – Setting Up Power in Texas College Towns
This reference table gives you the local utility for popular college towns in Texas, and whether you have electricity choice:
| City/Town | School | Utility | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | University of Texas at Austin | Austin Energy | Contact utility |
| Arlington | University of Texas at Arlington | Oncor | Shop for electricity supplierShop for an electricity company |
| College Station | Texas A&M University | City of College Station Utilities | Contact utility |
| Dallas | University of Texas at Dallas Southern Methodist University Texas Christian University | Oncor | Shop for electricity supplierShop for an electricity company |
| Denton | University of North Texas | Denton Municipal Electric (surrounding areas are Oncor) | Contact utility |
| El Paso | University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso Electric | Contact utility |
| Houston | University of Houston Rice University St. Thomas University Houston Baptist University | CenterPoint | Shop for electricity supplierShop for an electricity company |
| Huntsville | Sam Houston State University | Entergy | Contact utility |
| Lubbock | Texas Tech University | Lubbock Power & Light | Shop for electricity supplierShop for an electricity company |
| San Antonio | University of Texas at San Antonio | CPS Energy | Contact utility |
| San Marcos | Texas State University | SMTX Utilities | Contact utility |
| Waco | Baylor University | Oncor | Shop for electricity supplierShop for an electricity company |
Frequently Asked Questions – Student Apartment Electricity
A basic fixed rate plan with no monthly base charge is the best type of electricity plan for students renting apartments. Avoid bill credit plans with low advertised rates at 500 or 1000 kWh; you’ll pay a higher price per kWh if you don’t hit the exact usage level.
No, you don’t need to match your electricity contract term to your lease. For example, you can still choose a 12-month electricity contract even if your apartment lease is 9 months. If you move before your electricity contract expires, you can cancel with no early termination fee (ETF). Just provide a forwarding address for your final bill and your ETF is waived. That’s the law in Texas.
Yes, you can add a roommate’s name to your electricity account. Most Texas electricity companies let you add an authorized user with no additional credit check. To change to a joint account with shared financial responsibility, the electricity provider would need to run a credit check on each roommate.
It’s best to set bill sharing expectations upfront and in writing when dealing with roommates. Text your roommates with a screenshot of the bill each month outlining the total amount, each person’s portion and the date you need the money. Set the due date before the actual bill due date to avoid having to pay the full amount to avoid disconnection. You can also use apps like Splitwise or Venmo to track bills and shared expenses.
Electricity costs can vary based on the size of your rental, your electricity plan, the number of roommates, and your usage habits. Ask your landlord for details about typical electricity usage based on the size of your apartment and use that as a starting point. You can expect a typical 3 bedroom student apartment to use 800-1500 kWh a month with usage varying seasonally. Split between three people, you’ll each pay around $40-$75 a month.
To reduce your electricity bill in a shared apartment, you all need to agree on a thermostat setting, since 50% of your electricity usage goes to heating or cooling your apartment. Set the thermostat at 76°-78° during the summer and use ceiling fans to stay cool in the room you’re in. During the winter, set the thermostat at 68° and wear a sweater inside. These simple steps will go a long way to keeping your bill low.
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