Setting Up Utilities in Dallas, Texas
Dallas is in Texas's deregulated electricity market, so the first thing to know is that nobody assigns you a power company — you pick one, and the plans vary a lot. The wires and the meter belong to Oncor no matter who you buy from. Gas, water, and trash are simpler. Here's who handles what and how to get everything turned on before you're standing in a dark house.
Electricity
You can choose your providerDallas 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 Dallas and most of the DFW metro. Set up service directly with Atmos when you start your other utilities.
Water & Sewer
Dallas Water Utilities
The City of Dallas provides water and wastewater service through Dallas Water Utilities; start or transfer service through the city, which also handles most residential trash and recycling.
Trash & Recycling
City of Dallas Sanitation
Residential trash, recycling, and bulk pickup are handled by City of Dallas Sanitation Services and set up with your city water account.
Internet
Widest coverage: Spectrum
Spectrum reports service to 94% of homes inside Dallas city limits, the widest reported coverage of any provider other than the satellite companies and the 5G home-internet carriers. Fiber is reported at 62% of homes. Full provider comparison on our Dallas internet page.
Check your address (FCC map) →Electricity: You Pick, Oncor Delivers
If you're coming from a regulated state, this part trips people up. In Dallas there's no default power company — you shop a marketplace of retail electric providers, sign up with one, and Oncor delivers the electricity over its lines regardless of whose name is on your bill. Start on Power to Choose, the state-run comparison site, and read the fine print, because the headline rate on a plan often assumes a usage level you won't hit. Watch for minimum-usage fees, teaser rates that jump after a few months, and contract lengths. A boring 12-month fixed-rate plan is the right answer for most households. Set it up a few days before move-in so the lights are on when you arrive.
Gas, Water, and Trash
Natural gas comes from Atmos Energy across Dallas and nearly all of DFW — call them or set it up online, and note that some newer homes are all-electric with no gas service at all. Water, sewer, and most residential trash and recycling run through the City of Dallas on a single account, so you can knock those out in one stop. Give yourself a business day or two of lead time on the city account, especially around the first of the month when everyone's moving.
Internet: Shop Around, It's Competitive
Providers report home internet service inside Dallas city limits over cable at 93% of homes, licensed fixed wireless at 77% of homes, fiber at 62% of homes, DSL over copper phone lines at 35% of homes, and unlicensed fixed wireless at 1% of homes, out of 645,242 homes and apartments, according to FCC National Broadband Map data as of December 31, 2025.
At least 93% of homes have a reported wired or fixed-wireless option of 100/20 Mbps or faster, and at least 93% have a reported gigabit (1,000/100 Mbps) option.
Spectrum reports service to 94% of homes inside Dallas city limits, the widest reported coverage of any provider other than the satellite companies and the 5G home-internet carriers. Fiber is reported at 62% of homes.
Availability is address-specific: check your exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map before signing up.
FAQ: Utilities in Dallas
Yes. Dallas is in the deregulated ERCOT market, so you select 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 no matter which provider you sign up with.
Atmos Energy is the natural gas utility for Dallas and most of the DFW metro. You set up service directly with Atmos, though some newer all-electric homes have no gas service.
The City of Dallas provides water and wastewater through Dallas Water Utilities, and City of Dallas Sanitation handles residential trash and recycling. Both are typically set up on a single city account.
Apart from satellite and 5G home-internet carriers, Spectrum reports the widest coverage: 94% of homes inside Dallas city limits in FCC data as of December 31, 2025. Other providers reporting at least 10% coverage: AT&T, Verizon Home Internet, and T-Mobile Home Internet. Availability varies by address, so check the FCC National Broadband Map.
Sources & Verification
East Texas guides — an easy drive from Dallas
Weekend trips, lakes, festivals and small-town food east of the metroplex.
Best Day Trips from Tyler and East Texas
Drive-time guide to day trips from Tyler: state parks, small towns, museums, and lakes within about 30 minutes, an hour, and up to three hours.
Read Guide →Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →Best Lakes in East Texas
A fact-checked guide to 17 East Texas lakes, from Lake Fork's trophy bass and Caddo Lake to Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake Tawakoni. Sizes, species, access and rules come from TPWD.
Read Guide →East Texas State Parks Guide
Twelve East Texas state parks from TPWD: Tyler, Caddo Lake, Atlanta, Lake Bob Sandlin, Tawakoni, Purtis Creek, Cooper, Martin Dies Jr. and more. Camping, cabins and passes.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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