Setting Up Utilities in Paris, Texas
Inside the city of Paris, electricity is part of Texas's deregulated market: Oncor owns the lines and delivers the power, but you choose your own retail electric provider, so it pays to compare plans before you sign up. (Some rural areas of Lamar County are instead served by Lamar Electric Cooperative.)
Natural gas comes from Atmos Energy, the City of Paris handles water and trash, and AT&T reports the widest internet coverage in town (88% of homes on the FCC broadband map), with availability that varies block to block.
Electricity
You can choose your providerWithin the city of Paris, electricity is deregulated on the Oncor grid — Oncor delivers the power and handles outages, but you choose your retail provider and can compare plans on Power to Choose. Rural Lamar County may instead be served by Lamar Electric Cooperative.
Delivery utility (poles, wires & outages): Oncor
Compare electricity plans →Natural Gas
Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy is the natural gas utility serving the Paris area.
Water & Sewer
City of Paris
The City of Paris provides water and wastewater service within the city; rural properties may be on a water supply corporation.
Trash & Recycling
City of Paris
Residential trash and recycling are handled through the City of Paris; set up service alongside your water account.
Internet
Widest coverage: AT&T
AT&T reports service to 88% of homes inside Paris city limits, the widest reported coverage of any provider other than the satellite companies and the 5G home-internet carriers. Fiber is reported at 88% of homes. Full provider comparison on our Paris internet page.
Check your address (FCC map) →Electricity: You Choose Your Provider (In the City)
Within the city limits of Paris, electricity is deregulated. Oncor is the transmission and distribution utility — it owns the lines, reads your meter, and handles outages — but it doesn't sell you electricity. That comes from a retail electric provider you pick yourself, so it's worth comparing plans on the state's Power to Choose site before you turn the power on.
One wrinkle worth knowing: outside the city, parts of rural Lamar County are served by Lamar Electric Cooperative, a member-owned co-op where you don't shop for a plan. If you're moving to an address outside Paris proper, confirm which applies.
Gas, Water, and Trash
Natural gas in the Paris area is provided by Atmos Energy. Water, wastewater, and residential trash service within the city come from the City of Paris, set up through a single utility account. Properties outside the city may instead rely on a rural water supply corporation, so confirm for your specific address.
Internet
Providers report home internet service inside Paris city limits over licensed fixed wireless at 96% of homes, fiber at 88% of homes, cable at 86% of homes, DSL over copper phone lines at 37% of homes, and unlicensed fixed wireless at 17% of homes, out of 15,906 homes and apartments, according to FCC National Broadband Map data as of December 31, 2025.
At least 88% of homes have a reported wired or fixed-wireless option of 100/20 Mbps or faster, and at least 88% have a reported gigabit (1,000/100 Mbps) option.
AT&T reports service to 88% of homes inside Paris city limits, the widest reported coverage of any provider other than the satellite companies and the 5G home-internet carriers. Fiber is reported at 88% of homes.
Availability is address-specific: check your exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map before signing up.
FAQ: Utilities in Paris
Yes, within the city of Paris. The city is in Texas's deregulated market on the Oncor grid, so you choose your own retail electric provider. Oncor delivers the power and handles outages. Note that some rural parts of Lamar County are instead served by Lamar Electric Cooperative, where you don't shop for a plan.
In the city, Oncor is the transmission and distribution utility that delivers power, while you buy electricity from a competing retail provider of your choice. Rural Lamar County areas may be served by Lamar Electric Cooperative instead.
Atmos Energy provides natural gas in the Paris area. Water, sewer, and trash within the city come from the City of Paris.
Apart from satellite and 5G home-internet carriers, AT&T reports the widest coverage: 88% of homes inside Paris city limits in FCC data as of December 31, 2025. Other providers reporting at least 10% coverage: Optimum, Vyve Broadband, WiFires, T-Mobile Home Internet, and Verizon Home Internet. Availability varies by address, so check the FCC National Broadband Map.
Sources & Verification
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Paris in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
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Read Guide →East Texas Real Estate Guide
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