Here is how to set up electricity in a new apartment in most of Texas: confirm the unit has its own meter, enroll with a Retail Electric Provider (REP) as a move-in, and send the confirmation to your leasing office.
But the electricity plan you pick needs some analysis. Plans usually advertise their 1,000 kWh price, yet a Texas apartment under 1,000 square feet uses about 720 kWh a month, based on data from Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. We’ve reviewed thousands of Texas plans and bills, and below we show what that gap costs.
Key Takeaways
Here are key takeaways on how to set up electricity for your new apartment in Texas:
- Read your lease first: if the unit is submetered or its costs are allocated, the property owner bills you, and there is no provider to choose.
- If you have your own meter, compare plans at apartment-level usage, since a plan that looks cheapest at 1,000 kWh can cost more over a year at the more typical 720 kWh a month.
- Texas caps a residential deposit at the greater of one-fifth of your estimated annual bill or two months of estimated bills.
- Under Texas rules, moving out ends your contract without an early termination fee when you give a forwarding address.
Check Whether Your Unit Has Its Own Meter
Before you shop, find out whether the apartment electricity will be in your name or your landlord’s name. Texas apartments come in three setups, and your lease has to tell you which one you have.
| Meter Type | Who Bills for Electric? | What You Do | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Separate meter for your unit | The REP you choose | Pick a plan and enroll the unit as a move-in | ||
| Submetered by the owner | The property owner, from the building's master bill | Nothing to shop; read the submetering terms in your lease | ||
| Master-metered with costs allocated | The property owner, by a formula in the lease | Nothing to shop; read the allocation method and last year's average bill | ||
Your Rights in a Submetered Unit
A submetered unit has its own meter, but the owner reads it and bills you. Under Texas law, 16 TAC §25.142:
- The lease has to say the unit is submetered.
- When you sign, the owner must give you a copy of the rule or a summary approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).
- Your charge is the building’s average cost per kWh times your unit’s kWh.
- The owner can’t add charges on top of what the provider or utility billed the property.
- The bill arrives separately from rent and is labeled “submetered electricity.”
- Common areas are the owner’s to pay.
- A late penalty is a one-time 5% at most, and only if your lease spells it out.
Your Rights in a Master-Metered Complex (Allocated Bill)
If your apartment complex runs on one master meter, they split the bill by a formula, such as square footage. For those, 16 TAC §25.141 requires the lease to:
- Describe the allocation method, and
- Tell you what the unit’s bill averaged per month last calendar year.
That average is the closest thing to a usage history you will get, so ask for it before you sign, so you can budget for your bills.
Submetering and master-metering is common in many older complexes. If your lease says submetered or allocated, skip the shopping: the property owner holds the electricity account and bills you for your share. If the lease says electricity is included in rent, there is also nothing to set up, but get that in writing.
When Your Apartment Has Its Own Electric Meter – Electricity Choice
Newer apartment complexes typically have individual meters for each apartment unit. If you have your own electricity meter, and live in a deregulated area os Texas, you’ll need to shop for your own electricity service for your apartment.
See what a plan costs at your usage. Know your square footage? BillSmart™ Low Bill Finder estimates your cost for every month of the year using ERCOT data for Texas energy consumption. That lets you easily find the plan that saves you the most money. Use BillSmart Low Bill Finder
Set Up Electricity in Your Apartment in Seven Steps
For a unit with its own utility meter, the setup runs in this order. Have your unit number and move-in date ready before you start. Then follow these seven steps to set up electricity in your apartment.
Confirm Your Address Has Retail Choice
In much of Texas, you pick your own REP, but some cities never opened to competition.
- No retail choice: areas served by a city-owned utility or an electric co-op that did not opt in. Austin (Austin Energy) and San Antonio (CPS Energy) are the best-known examples.
- How to check: use our list of deregulated Texas cities.
- If yours is regulated: start service with the local utility instead.
- If yours is deregulated: proceed to the next step.
Find the ESI ID for Your Own Unit
Every point of delivery in the Texas competitive market has an Electric Service Identifier (ESID), the number the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) uses to register your enrollment. In an apartment complex with individual meters, each unit has its own, so the street address alone won’t do.
- Search with your unit number in our ESID lookup tool.
- Make sure the result matches your building and unit.
- If the lookup returns several close matches, ask the leasing office which one serves your unit.
Enrolling the wrong ESID puts your plan on a meter that isn’t yours, so this is the one number worth checking twice.
NOTE: This ESID lookup can be completed during your enrollment, and does not need to be a separate step.
Estimate Your Monthly Usage Before You Compare
Your new place has no usage history in your name, so start from a benchmark. Here is the average size and electricity use of homes in the South, from the EIA’s 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey:
| Home Type | Average Size | Average Annual Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment Buildings with 5 or More Units | 963 sq feet | 8,068 kWh |
Our apartment usage guide puts a Texas apartment under 1,000 square feet at about 720 kWh a month. That adjusts from a generic “southern apartments” to the reality of Texas-specific heat. Treat that as a starting point, then adjust for:
- Square footage
- How many people live there
- How cold or hot you like it.
The same guide walks through the adjustments, and the BillSmart Calculator shows a plan’s estimated bill at any usage level.
Read the Plan’s EFL Before You Enroll
Every Texas plan has an Electricity Facts Label (EFL). The EFL shows the average price per kWh if you use exactly 500, 1,000, or 2,000 kWh in a billing cycle, and for most apartments, the 500 kWh column deserves the first look.
Next, scan the fee lines, looking for details like this:
- Monthly base charge
- Minimum usage fee
- Bill credit tied to a usage threshold
Each one moves your real price away from the advertised rate once your usage drifts from 1,000 kWh. Our walk-through on how to read an Electricity Facts Label covers each line.
Do the reading before you enroll. The three-federal-business-day right to cancel in Texas law 16 TAC §25.474 only applies to switch requests. A new move-in doesn’t qualify for the 3-day right to cancel. So once you’re signed up, you’re committed.
Enroll as a Move-In With Your Start Date
Choose move-in (new service) instead of a switch, then set the date service should begin. For an online enrollment, Texas rules have the provider collect or confirm:
- Your email
- Your billing name and address
- The service address
- One identity check, such as the last four digits of your Social Security number, your month and day of birth, or a driver’s license number
The provider will also run a credit check, which could result in a deposit if you don’t meet their credit score requirements.
We suggest a start date one day before you get the keys, so the power is on when you walk in. Running late? Our list of same-day electricity cut-off times shows how late you can still enroll and get power that day.
Send the Confirmation Email to Your Leasing Office
After an online enrollment, Texas rules require the provider to email you a confirmation of your request.
- If the leasing office asks for proof of service in your name before handing over keys, forward that email or show it on your phone.
- Save a copy for your own records.
Check Your First Bill Against the EFL
Under Texas law, every Texas residential bill has to print what you paid on average per kWh for electric service that month.
- Compare it with the EFL’s average at that month’s usage.
- A wide gap usually points to a bill credit you missed or a fee you didn’t plan for.
Compare every Texas plan at your usage. Filter plans by your monthly kWh usage, rate type, and term before you choose one. Shop All Texas Electricity Plans
Price Plans at Your Apartment Usage Before You Pick One
Many Texas plans use the EFL’s 1,000 kWh average as their headline price. An apartment averaging 720 kWh per month sits below that line most of the year, and some plan designs charge you for it. We call this a Texas teaser rate. It’s a price that’s only good at the advertised price based on 1,000 kWh level, and only true at a usage level your apartment rarely reaches.
Here is how it plays out. Assume two plans in the same delivery area, with delivery charges of 6.0¢ per kWh plus $4.40 a month for both. These are hypothetical plans built for illustration:
- Plan A, basic fixed rate: 9.5¢ per kWh energy charge, no base charge, no credits.
- Plan B, bill credit: 14.0¢ per kWh energy charge, plus a $100 bill credit in any month you use 1,000 kWh or more.
Their EFLs would show these averages:
| Monthly Usage | Plan A Average Price | Plan B Average Price |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 16.38¢ per kWh | 20.88¢ per kWh |
| 1,000 kWh | 15.94¢ per kWh | 10.44¢ per kWh |
| 2,000 kWh | 15.72¢ per kWh | 15.22¢ per kWh |
At the advertised headline price for 1,000 kWh, Plan B looks 5.5¢ per kWh cheaper. Now run both through a year, using monthly usage that follows the ERCOT residential usage curve for an apartment that uses 8,640 kWh a year, about 720 kWh a month.
| Month | Usage | Plan A Bills | Plan B Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 463 kWh | $76.16 | $97.00 |
| February | 416 kWh | $68.88 | $87.60 |
| March | 472 kWh | $77.56 | $98.80 |
| April | 527 kWh | $86.08 | $109.80 |
| May | 764 kWh | $122.82 | $157.20 |
| June | 960 kWh | $153.20 | $196.40 |
| July | 1,139 kWh | $180.94 | $132.20 |
| August | 1,250 kWh | $198.15 | $154.40 |
| September | 1,068 kWh | $169.94 | $118.00 |
| October | 657 kWh | $106.23 | $135.80 |
| November | 457 kWh | $75.23 | $95.80 |
| December | 467 kWh | $76.78 | $97.80 |
| TOTAL | 8,640 kWh | $1,391.97 | $1,480.80 |
At this apartment’s usage, Plan B costs about $88.83 more over the year (plus taxes and fees). The label promised 10.44¢ per kWh, yet across the year Plan B averaged 17.14¢, against 16.11¢ for Plan A. The credit was paid out three times, in July, August, and September, the only months the apartment cleared 1,000 kWh.
The fix is simple math. Price every plan at your own monthly usage, and for most apartments, a basic fixed rate plan without a base charge or a usage threshold keeps the bill closest to what you expected.
The honest exception: a bill credit plan can work for a household that clears its threshold every month, and some large apartments do. If yours does, check the plan’s CostCurve™ to see how much room you have before the credit falls away.
See what a plan costs at your usage. Know your square footage or the average monthly usage? Enter that information, and BillSmart™ Low Bill Finder estimates your cost for every month of the year, based on Texas (ERCOT) customer data. We’ll calculate your cost for every plan to find the lowest annual cost. Use BillSmart Low Bill Finder
Consider the Leasing Office’s Suggested Provider Carefully
Your welcome packet may include a provider’s flyer or a sign-up link from the property suggesting which company to pick, or even what website to use.
When the unit has its own utility meter, the account will be in your name, so the choice of provider is yours to make. Treat the suggested plan like any other offer: open its EFL and price it at your usage.
Our team has more than 30 years of combined experience in deregulated electricity markets, some of it inside Texas retail providers. What we’ve learned about move-in offers is simple: the recommendation sounds convenient and easy, but the real savings is in the price shopping and comparison.
Plan for a Deposit Before Move-In Day
A REP can ask for a deposit when you can’t show satisfactory credit, and Texas sets a ceiling on it. Under 16 TAC §25.478, all deposits from a residential customer are limited to a fifth of a year’s estimated bills, or two months of estimated bills if that is higher. For a new applicant, the provider may base that estimate on average usage for its residential customers.
If your credit score is above 600, you’ll likely be accepted without a deposit, based on our knowledge of the standard set by most REPs. If they require a deposit, you have options.
Every REP must accept other ways to establish credit without a deposit: You can get a deposit waiver if you are 65 or older with no delinquent electric account, or if you can provide certification as a victim of family violence. Most providers will also accept a payment history letter from your prior electric utility showing you were paid on time. Providers can add other ways to qualify, so ask what each one accepts before you pay.
A deposit on top of first month’s rent can stretch a move-in budget. If that’s your situation, compare no-deposit electricity options. With prepaid electricity, you’ll pay as little as $75 to get your lights on. Based on our analysis of prepaid vs. standard options your rate will be around 30% higher than what you’ll pay with standard electricity, so take that into consideration.
Your Contract Doesn’t Have to Match Your Lease Term
Your electricity contract and your lease don’t need the same end date. Under Texas law, the provider can’t charge an early termination fee (ETF) when you move out if you give a forwarding address and, if asked, reasonable proof that you’ve left.
So a 24-month plan on a 12-month lease is fine; pick the term with the best price at your usage. If you’re moving in the same area, you can choose to take the contract with you, or cancel, your choice. Our notes on moving before your contract ends cover the move-out side.
If you renew your lease instead, the contract may run out first. A free electricity shopping reminder flags the date so you can compare plans before it passes.
Frequently Asked Questions – New Apartment Electricity
Enroll as soon as you know your unit number and move-in date, then set service to start a day before you arrive. Waiting until moving day leaves you at the mercy of same-day cut-off times.
If you’ve moving within the same utility area, yes. However, you have no obligation to carry it to a new address, though providers offer to move it with you as a transfer of service. Price the plan at your new apartment’s usage first; our guide to transferring electricity service explains when keeping it makes sense.
You can switch plans after you move in but you may have to pay your plan’s early termination fee. Or look for a REP that offers a satisfaction guarantee. A guarantee of 30-90 days lets you switch to a new plan or switch away with no early termination penalty, depending on the company.
Yes. Whoever enrolls becomes the account holder, so that person’s credit determines any deposit, and that person owes the bill. Agree on how you’ll split it before anyone signs up.
No, if your apartment has a master meter or submeter and has selected Conservice to manage their electricity bills, you don’t have a choice.
Conservice is a utility management and billing company that many apartments use to handle their utility billing. You will receive a monthly statement from them rather than directly from apartment complex. They calculate each resident’s proportionate share of water, sewer, gas, electricity, trash, and administrative service fees based on consumption or property formulas.
The Bottom Line – New Apartment Electricity
Read the lease, enroll the right ESI ID, and price your plan at apartment usage instead of the 1,000 kWh headline. That last step is where the money is: in our example, the plan with the cheapest-looking label cost $88.83 more over a year (plus taxes and fees).
Your next step is to compare plans at 720 kWh average usage a month, or based on your square footage..
Get your estimate before you sign up. Enter the usage from one bill, and Low Bill Finder estimates what each plan would cost you, month by month, for a full year. Use BillSmart Low Bill Finder
