Setting Up Utilities in Florida: Complete Checklist for New Residents

Setting Up Utilities in Florida — Your Complete Checklist

Setting up utilities in Tampa Bay takes 3-5 business days for most services, and you should start the process at least one week before your move-in date. The biggest difference from other states: your electric provider is determined by your address (no choosing), water is handled by your county or city (not a private company in most cases), and deposits can add up fast — expect $200-$500 in upfront utility deposits if you don't have Florida credit history. This guide covers every utility, by provider and area, with real costs and the exact steps to get everything turned on.

How Do I Set Up Electricity in Tampa Bay?

Your electric provider is determined by your address — there's no shopping around. Tampa Bay is split between three main providers.

Tampa Electric (TECO)

Serves: Most of Hillsborough County — Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, Lithia, Plant City, Temple Terrace

How to set up:

1. Go to tampaelectric.com or call 813-223-0800
2. You'll need your new address, move-in date, Social Security number, and a government-issued ID
3. Request service start at least 3 business days before move-in

Deposit: $200-$400 depending on credit check. Good credit (670+) often means no deposit or a reduced one. If you have a letter of good credit history from your previous electric company, bring it — TECO will sometimes waive the deposit.

Average monthly cost: $150-$250 for a typical 1,500-2,000 sq ft home. Summer bills (June-September) run 30-50% higher due to AC usage. A 2,500+ sq ft home can hit $300-$400 in peak summer.

What newcomers don't expect: Your electric bill in Florida will be dominated by air conditioning, not heating. The AC runs 8-9 months per year. A good SEER-rated system (16+) and a programmable thermostat are your best friends.

Duke Energy

Serves: Most of Pinellas County (St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor), parts of Pasco County, and some areas of northern Hillsborough

How to set up:

1. Visit duke-energy.com or call 800-700-8744
2. Same documentation as TECO: address, move-in date, SSN, ID
3. Online setup is straightforward and faster than phone

Deposit: $150-$350 based on credit. Duke Energy also offers a payment plan for the deposit if needed.

Average monthly cost: Similar to TECO — $140-$240 for a standard home. Duke Energy tends to have slightly lower per-kWh rates than TECO, but the difference is marginal.

Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC)

Serves: Parts of eastern Pasco County and portions of Hernando County

How to set up: Call 352-567-5133 or visit wrec.net. Co-ops are smaller and more personal — you'll likely talk to a real person who walks you through everything.

Deposit: Typically $200-$300.

FPL (Florida Power & Light)

Serves: A small portion of eastern Hillsborough near Plant City and parts of Polk County. If you're in Lakeland or east of Plant City, you may fall in FPL territory.

How to set up: fpl.com or call 800-375-2434.

How Do I Set Up Water Service?

Water service in Tampa Bay is handled by your local government, not a private company. The provider depends on exactly where you live.

Hillsborough County

• City of Tampa Water: If your address is within Tampa city limits (South Tampa, Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, Ybor City, etc.), set up through the City of Tampa Water Department at tampagov.net or 813-274-8811
• Hillsborough County Public Utilities: If you're in unincorporated Hillsborough (Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, FishHawk, Bloomingdale), contact Hillsborough County at hillsboroughcounty.org or 813-272-6680
• City of Plant City: Has its own water utility. Call 813-659-4200.
• City of Temple Terrace: Separate water system. Call 813-506-6400.

Deposits: City of Tampa charges $100 for water service. Hillsborough County charges a $75 deposit.

Average monthly cost: $50-$90 for water/sewer combined. Irrigation (lawn watering) on a separate meter adds $20-$60 depending on usage and your watering schedule.

Pinellas County

• Pinellas County Utilities serves most of the unincorporated county: pinellas.gov, 727-464-4000
• City of St. Petersburg: Has its own system. stpete.org, 727-893-7261
• City of Clearwater: Separate system. myclearwater.com, 727-562-4600
• Several smaller municipalities run their own water (Dunedin, Largo, Tarpon Springs — check your specific city)

Average monthly cost: $60-$100 for water/sewer/stormwater combined.

Pasco County

• Pasco County Utilities handles most of the county: pascocountyfl.net, 352-521-4285

Average monthly cost: $55-$85 for water/sewer combined.

Key tip for all counties: Florida uses reclaimed water (treated wastewater) for lawn irrigation in many neighborhoods. It's delivered through a separate purple-piped system and is significantly cheaper than potable water for irrigation. If your new home has a reclaimed water connection, use it.

What Internet Providers Are Available in Tampa Bay?

Internet service varies dramatically by address. Here's the breakdown by provider and what to expect.

Spectrum (Charter)

Serves: The dominant provider across most of Tampa Bay — available in most of Hillsborough, Pinellas, and western Pasco

Plans: Start at around $50/month for 300 Mbps, up to $90/month for 1 Gbps. No data caps. No contracts required.

Reality check: Spectrum's speeds are reliable in most areas. The 300 Mbps plan is plenty for most households, including remote work with video calls. The upload speed caps at 10-35 Mbps depending on plan, which is the weak point.

How to set up: spectrum.com or call 855-757-7328. Self-install kits are free; professional installation is $60.

Frontier Fiber

Serves: Growing fiber network in parts of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and some suburban areas. Check address-level availability.

Plans: Fiber plans from $50/month (500 Mbps symmetrical) to $75/month (2 Gbps). Symmetrical speeds mean upload equals download — a massive advantage for remote workers doing video calls or uploading large files.

Reality check: If Frontier Fiber is available at your address, it's the best option for speed and reliability. The fiber network is relatively new and less congested than cable.

AT&T Fiber / AT&T Internet

Serves: Scattered availability throughout Tampa Bay. Some neighborhoods have fiber; many are stuck on slower DSL.

Plans: Fiber plans comparable to Frontier. DSL plans are slow (5-25 Mbps) and not recommended for remote work.

Reality check: Check address-level availability. If AT&T Fiber is available, it's competitive. If only AT&T DSL is available, go with Spectrum.

T-Mobile Home Internet / Verizon Home Internet

Serves: 5G fixed wireless available in many Tampa Bay areas

Plans: $50-$60/month for speeds that vary widely (50-300+ Mbps depending on tower proximity and congestion)

Reality check: A solid backup option or primary option for light users. Not recommended as a primary connection for heavy remote work — speeds can fluctuate.

Starlink

Available everywhere but best for rural areas east of I-75 where cable/fiber options are limited. $120/month plus $599 hardware. Speeds of 50-200 Mbps with higher latency than wired connections.

Practical advice: Check what's available at your exact address before choosing a home. Internet quality varies block by block. If you work remotely, this is a non-negotiable research step. Our remote work guide covers internet in the context of working from home.

What About Trash and Recycling Pickup?

Trash and recycling service is included in your county or city utility bill in most of Tampa Bay — it's not a separate service you set up.

Hillsborough County (unincorporated): Curbside trash pickup twice per week, recycling once per week, yard waste once per week. Included in your Hillsborough County utility bill. One bulk/large item pickup per month by appointment.

City of Tampa: Trash once per week, recycling once per week, yard waste once per week. You'll receive bins automatically after setting up water service. Bulk pickup by appointment.

Pinellas County/cities: Varies by municipality. Most offer weekly trash, bi-weekly recycling. Some cities (St. Pete) offer twice-weekly trash.

Pasco County: Weekly trash and recycling. Yard waste weekly.

HOA communities: Some gated communities use private trash service (Waste Management, Republic Services) with bins at each home. This is typically rolled into your HOA fee, not a separate bill.

How Much Should I Budget for Total Monthly Utilities?

Here's a realistic monthly utility budget for a typical 1,500-2,000 sq ft home in Tampa Bay:

Utility	Summer (Jun-Sep)	Winter (Nov-Feb)	Shoulder (Mar-May, Oct)
Electric	$180-$280	$80-$140	$120-$180
Water/Sewer	$60-$90	$50-$70	$55-$80
Internet	$50-$90	$50-$90	$50-$90
Trash	Included	Included	Included
Total	$290-$460	$180-$300	$225-$350

Add for larger homes (2,500+ sq ft): 25-40% more for electric, slightly more for water.

Add if you have a pool: $50-$100/month for pool pump electricity and chemicals.

Add for irrigation: $20-$60/month if not on reclaimed water.

These numbers don't include HOA fees (which often cover some of these costs in condo communities) or propane/natural gas (TECO provides natural gas service in their territory for homes with gas appliances — most Florida homes are all-electric).

What's the Timeline for Setting Up Everything?

Here's your action timeline:

2 weeks before move-in:

• Call electric provider to schedule service start
• Call water/sewer provider to schedule service start
• Order internet installation (earliest available appointment)

1 week before move-in:

• Confirm all utility start dates
• Set up online accounts and autopay for electric and water
• Contact HOA (if applicable) for any community-specific utilities or access setup

Move-in day:

• Verify electric is on (AC should be running)
• Verify water is flowing (run taps, check water heater)
• Router/modem setup if self-installing internet

First week:

• Download provider apps (TECO app, Duke Energy app are useful for monitoring usage)
• Set programmable thermostat (78°F when home, 82°F when away is the Florida standard)
• Register for utility budget billing if available (averages your annual cost into equal monthly payments — smooths out summer spikes)

Do I Need Natural Gas Service?

Most Florida homes are all-electric. Natural gas is available through TECO Peoples Gas in parts of Hillsborough County and through other providers in Pinellas, but it's far less common than in northern states. If your home has gas appliances (stove, water heater, dryer, pool heater), set up gas service through TECO Peoples Gas at peoplesgas.com or 877-832-6747. If your home is all-electric — which is the majority — skip this entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I choose my electric company in Florida?

No. Florida is not a deregulated electricity market. Your provider is determined by your address. There is no shopping for electric rates. TECO, Duke Energy, FPL, and several co-ops each have exclusive service territories.

How much are utility deposits in Florida?

Expect $200-$500 total across all utilities. Electric deposits range from $150-$400, water deposits from $50-$150. Good credit history reduces or eliminates deposits. Deposits are refundable after 12-23 months of on-time payments.

Why is my Florida electric bill so high?

Air conditioning. In summer months, AC accounts for 50-70% of your electric bill. Make sure your system is maintained (clean filters monthly, annual professional service), set the thermostat to 78°F, and ensure your home has adequate insulation — particularly in the attic.

Is Tampa Bay water safe to drink?

Yes, Tampa Bay water meets all EPA standards. However, many residents dislike the taste — Hillsborough County water comes from surface reservoirs and has a different taste than northern groundwater. A fridge filter or under-sink filtration system is a common purchase for newcomers. It's safe; it just tastes different.

Do I need a water softener in Florida?

Depends on your area. Parts of Hillsborough County (particularly Riverview and eastern areas) have harder water. Pinellas County water tends to be softer. A water test from your new home's tap will tell you definitively. Most hardware stores sell test kits for under $15.

What happens to my utilities during a hurricane?

Power outages are the biggest utility impact during hurricanes. Outages can last hours to weeks depending on storm severity. Water service may be interrupted or have boil-water notices post-storm. A portable generator ($400-$1,200) or whole-home generator ($5,000-$15,000 installed) is worth considering. Check our hurricane prep guide for the full preparation checklist.