Quick answer
To get power on at a new Texas address you need the address, your move-in date and ideally the ESID for that meter. A new connection can often be done the same day or the next business day if you enrol before your provider’s afternoon cutoff. A provider change at an address that already has service runs on a date you pick and takes a few business days.
Move-in and switch are two different things
People use the words as if they are the same. They are not, and the difference decides how fast you get power.
| Move-in | Switch | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Starting service at an address where you have no account | Changing provider at an address you already have service |
| Speed | Same day or next business day is often possible | A few business days, on a date you choose |
| Power interruption | The meter is energised for you | None. Your lights never go off |
| Three-day cancellation right | Does not apply | Applies, under PUCT Rule 25.474 |
Moving into an empty apartment is a move-in. Changing provider in the house you already live in is a switch. If you are doing both in the same week, treat them as two separate jobs.
What you need before you start
Have these ready and the whole thing takes about ten minutes.
- The full service address, including unit number. A wrong unit number is the single most common cause of power being switched on in someone else’s apartment.
- Your move-in date. Set service to start the day before you move, not the day of. An extra day of service costs very little. A day without power costs you an evening.
- The ESID for the new meter. Not essential, but it removes any doubt about which meter you are connecting. Your landlord or the previous bill will have it, and you can look it up by address.
- ID and basic details. Name, date of birth, and a contact number.
- A plan you have actually chosen. More on that below.
How fast can the power come on?
For a new connection, often same day. Most Texas homes have smart meters, so the utility can energise the meter remotely without sending anyone out.
The catch is the cutoff. Each provider sets its own daily deadline for same-day orders, commonly in the afternoon. Enrol before it and the order usually goes through that day. Enrol after it and you are looking at the next business day. Sunday and holiday orders generally wait.
If the address already has active service under the previous tenant, your start is processed as a change of account rather than a fresh connection, which usually takes one to three business days.
For a straight provider switch at your current home, the Power to Choose FAQ run by the Public Utility Commission says the change completes automatically within seven business days, and you do not need to call your old provider.
The mistake that leaves people in the dark
Enrolling the night before the move, after the cutoff, on a Sunday.
That combination is how people end up unpacking by phone torch. Five to seven days ahead is comfortable. Two days ahead is fine. The evening before is a gamble.
The second mistake is assuming your current plan follows you. It does not move by itself. Your contract belongs to a service address, so the new address needs its own enrolment.
What about the old address?
Two things to close off.
- Tell your current provider your move-out date, so billing stops. Do not simply stop paying and assume it ends.
- Ask about the exit fee. Your contract is tied to the address you are leaving. Ask what proof of the move they need, get the answer in writing, and keep it.
One useful detail from PUCT Rule 25.474: a provider cannot charge you a fee to enrol with it or switch to it. Any “setup fee” you are quoted is a plan feature, not a regulatory cost, so read what it is for.
Pick the plan before the truck arrives
Moving week is when people sign the worst contracts of their lives. You are tired, the truck is booked, and any plan that answers the phone looks fine.
Ten minutes of care pays for a year:
- Check the price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh, not just the headline rate. A new home has a usage pattern you do not know yet.
- Watch for bill credits tied to a usage band. Your first months in a new place are unpredictable.
- Note the contract end date and put it in your calendar the day you sign.
If you would rather not shop under pressure, a buying pool does that part for you. Homes join together, and the group is shopped and renewed as one. Enter the ZIP code of your new address to see what applies there.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I get power on at a new address in Texas?
Often the same day if you enrol before your provider’s afternoon cutoff on a weekday. Otherwise the next business day.
Do I need my ESID to set up service?
Not always, but it removes any risk of connecting the wrong meter. It is worth finding before you enrol.
Can I transfer my current plan to my new home?
Not automatically. Your contract is tied to a service address, so the new address needs a new enrolment. Ask your provider what they can carry over.
What if I move mid-contract?
Tell your provider before the move and ask what proof they need. Get the answer in writing.
Is there a fee to switch providers?
Not from the provider you are switching to. PUCT rules bar a gaining provider from charging you a switching or enrolment fee.