The week you close, someone has to call the power company and the water department. Pick your county below to see the providers on record for that area, what they ask a new owner for, and the order to do it in.

ElectricWaterNatural gasSewer

Choose a county to see providers.

The order to do it in

Utilities are the part of a closing that nobody assigns to anyone, so it lands on the buyer at the worst possible moment. The sequence that avoids a dark house on move-in day looks like this.

  1. As soon as the closing date is firm, call the electric provider and ask for service in your name effective the day of closing. Providers commonly need two to five business days, and holidays stretch that.
  2. Call the water utility next. Municipal water is often bundled with sewer and garbage on one account, and it is the account most likely to require a deposit or an owner verification step.
  3. Confirm the seller closed their accounts effective the closing date, with a final meter read. An unpaid municipal utility balance can attach to the property in some jurisdictions, which is a title problem, not just a billing one.
  4. Ask the association what it already covers. In many condominium and HOA communities, water, sewer, or trash is included in the assessment and there is no separate account to open.
  5. Then the rest: internet and cable, propane if the home has a tank, and a trash cart if the county issues them per address.

What providers ask a new owner for

Expect photo identification, the service address, the date you want service to start, and proof of ownership or occupancy. The recorded deed or your settlement statement usually satisfies the last one, and we can send either from your closing file. Some providers run a credit check that decides whether a deposit applies, and some waive the deposit for a letter of good standing from your previous utility.

Frequently asked questions

When should I open utility accounts for a home I am buying?
Call as soon as you have a firm closing date, and ask for service to start on the day of closing. Most Florida providers need a few business days' notice, and some require a deposit or an in-person or online identity check before they will turn service on.
What documents do utilities usually ask a new owner for?
Photo identification, the service address, your start date, and proof you own or occupy the property. Many providers accept the recorded deed or the settlement statement from your closing; some ask for a Social Security number for a credit check that decides whether a deposit applies.
Who handles the final bill from the seller?
The seller closes their account effective on the closing date and the provider issues a final bill from a final meter read. Ask the closing agent to confirm this happened, because an unpaid municipal water or sewer balance can become a lien on the property in some Florida jurisdictions.
Why is my water provider a small company I have never heard of?
Florida has hundreds of community water systems. Subdivisions, condominium associations, and mobile home communities often operate their own system or buy water through a master meter, so the bill comes from the association or a small utility rather than the city.
Do I need to call about trash and sewer separately?
It depends on the jurisdiction. Many Florida cities bill water, sewer, and garbage together on one municipal utility account, while some counties place solid waste on the annual property tax bill instead. Ask your provider which services their account covers.

Provider details are compiled from public records and provider websites and change without notice; confirm directly with the utility. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.