Setting Up Utilities in Allen, Texas
Allen runs on the deregulated grid, so the big first decision is one people from regulated states aren't used to: you choose your own electric provider. Oncor owns the wires either way. Gas, water, and trash are the straightforward part — here's the whole checklist.
Electricity
You can choose your providerAllen is in the deregulated ERCOT market. Oncor owns the poles, wires, and meter and handles outages, but you choose your retail electric provider and compare plans on the state's Power to Choose site.
Delivery utility (poles, wires & outages): Oncor
Compare electricity plans →Natural Gas
Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy is the natural gas utility for Allen and most of the DFW metro. Set up service directly with Atmos; some newer homes are all-electric with no gas hookup.
Water & Sewer
City of Allen
The City of Allen provides water and wastewater service and sets up residential trash and recycling on the same account. Start service through the city a business day or two before move-in.
Trash & Recycling
City of Allen
Residential trash and recycling in Allen are handled by the city (often through a contracted hauler) and set up with your city water account.
Internet
Spectrum / AT&T Fiber
Spectrum cable reaches most Allen addresses and AT&T Fiber is expanding across the city and Frontier fiber in some areas. Coverage is address-by-address — check the FCC map for your exact street.
Check your address (FCC map) →Electricity: You Pick, Oncor Delivers
Coming from a regulated state, this trips people up: there's no default power company in Allen. You pick a retail electric provider off a marketplace, and Oncor delivers the electricity over its lines no matter whose name is on the bill. Start at Power to Choose, read past the headline rate — it usually assumes a usage level you may not hit — and skip plans with big minimum-usage fees or teaser rates that jump after a few months. A plain 12-month fixed-rate plan is the right call for most homes. Set it up a few days before move-in.
Gas, Water, and Trash
Natural gas comes from Atmos Energy across Allen and nearly all of DFW — set it up online or by phone, and note that some newer homes are all-electric. Water, sewer, and residential trash and recycling run through the City of Allen on one account, so those get handled in a single stop. Give yourself a day or two of lead time, more around the first of the month when everyone's transferring service.
Internet
Spectrum's cable is the wide-coverage default in Allen and does the job for most homes. But where AT&T Fiber has reached your street, take the fiber — matching upload and download speeds that cable can't match, usually for the same money. Availability shifts block to block, so check your exact address on the FCC broadband map before you commit.
FAQ: Utilities in Allen
Yes. Allen is in the deregulated ERCOT market, so you pick your own retail electric provider and compare plans on the state's Power to Choose site. Oncor owns the wires and meter and handles outages regardless of provider.
Atmos Energy is the natural gas utility for Allen and most of the DFW metro. Service is set up directly with Atmos, though some newer all-electric homes have no gas hookup.
The City of Allen provides water and wastewater service and sets up residential trash and recycling, typically on a single city account started when you move in.
Spectrum cable covers most of Allen and AT&T Fiber is available at many addresses. Because availability is address-specific, check the FCC broadband map for your exact street.
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