Setting Up Utilities in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth runs on the deregulated grid, so the big 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 so nothing gets left off when you're setting up the new place.
Electricity
You can choose your providerFort Worth 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 Fort Worth and most of the DFW metro. Set up service directly with Atmos; some newer homes are all-electric with no gas.
Water & Sewer
Fort Worth Water Department
The City of Fort Worth provides water and wastewater service; the city draws its raw water from the Tarrant Regional Water District. Start service through the city.
Trash & Recycling
City of Fort Worth
Residential trash, recycling, and yard-waste collection are handled by the City of Fort Worth and set up with your city water account.
Internet
Widest coverage: Spectrum
Spectrum reports service to 89% of homes inside Fort Worth city limits, the widest reported coverage of any provider other than the satellite companies and the 5G home-internet carriers. Fiber is reported at 75% of homes. Full provider comparison on our Fort Worth internet page.
Check your address (FCC map) →Electricity: Shop It, Don't Settle for the First Rate
No default power company here — you pick a retail electric provider off a marketplace and Oncor delivers the power over its lines regardless of whose logo is on the bill. Start at Power to Choose, the state comparison site, and read past the headline rate. Those advertised prices usually assume a specific monthly usage; miss it and your effective rate jumps. Skip anything with big minimum-usage fees or a teaser rate that balloons after a few months. For most households a plain 12-month fixed-rate plan is the smart, boring choice. Sign up a few days ahead so the power's on at move-in.
Gas, Water, and Trash
Atmos Energy handles natural gas across Fort Worth and nearly all of DFW — set it up online or by phone, and don't be surprised if a newer home has no gas hookup at all. Water, sewer, and residential trash and recycling all run through the City of Fort Worth on one account, so those get handled together. Leave a day or two of lead time, more if you're moving around the first of the month when the city's swamped with transfers.
Internet
Providers report home internet service inside Fort Worth city limits over licensed fixed wireless at 98% of homes, cable at 81% of homes, fiber at 75% of homes, DSL over copper phone lines at 36% of homes, and unlicensed fixed wireless at 19% of homes, out of 418,074 homes and apartments, according to FCC National Broadband Map data as of December 31, 2025.
At least 81% of homes have a reported wired or fixed-wireless option of 100/20 Mbps or faster, and at least 81% have a reported gigabit (1,000/100 Mbps) option.
Spectrum reports service to 89% of homes inside Fort Worth city limits, the widest reported coverage of any provider other than the satellite companies and the 5G home-internet carriers. Fiber is reported at 75% of homes.
Availability is address-specific: check your exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map before signing up.
FAQ: Utilities in Fort Worth
Yes. Fort Worth 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 no matter which provider you choose.
Atmos Energy is the natural gas utility for Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth Water Department provides water and wastewater service, drawing its raw water from the Tarrant Regional Water District. Trash and recycling are handled by the city on the same account.
Apart from satellite and 5G home-internet carriers, Spectrum reports the widest coverage: 89% of homes inside Fort Worth city limits in FCC data as of December 31, 2025. Other providers reporting at least 10% coverage: AT&T, Nextlink Internet, Generate-Ubiquity Holdings, Verizon Home Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Rise Internet. Availability varies by address, so check the FCC National Broadband Map.
Sources & Verification
East Texas guides — an easy drive from Fort Worth
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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