Florida Utility Setup and Shutoff Guide
Split electric, water, sewer, trash, gas, internet, outage notices, deposits, and shutoffs before move week.
The right provider can change by address, landlord, association, city, county, utility district, or private company.
Open the utility checklistA mailing city does not always identify the local government or service area. Sort out the address and jurisdiction when the provider boundary is unclear.
Before move week
1 / Providers
Florida utility service is local in real life. The power company may be one place. Water, trash, gas, or internet may sit somewhere else. A landlord or an HOA may run part of it. Start with the lease, seller, property manager, association, city, or county instead of guessing from the mailing city.
Find your place2 / Included services
Rent, association dues, a park bill, or a local tax may already cover some utilities. Ask what is included, who receives the bill, and who handles a leak, outage, missed pickup, or service change.
3 / Dates and deposits
Confirm the proof and deposit each provider requires, then ask when service can actually begin. Fridays, holidays, storms, new construction, and an in-person turn-on can change the timing.
4 / Proof and safety
Save the service address, account and confirmation numbers, meter number, start date, deposit, outage link, and after-hours number in one place. When a meter reading could affect the first bill, save a dated move-in reading or photo. At the property, locate the breaker panel and main water valve, and follow the utility's instructions for gas or any other shutoff.
Utility accounts
Confirm who serves the address and whether the account can transfer. Ask when service starts and where to report outages. Check how the deposit works.
Treat water, sewer, and trash as local until proven otherwise. Check the local provider for the start date, deposit, leak rules, irrigation or reclaimed water, sewer billing, and emergency shutoff instructions.
Some places include pickup in rent, HOA dues, city bills, or county taxes. Confirm the pickup day and carts. Ask about bulk pickup, yard waste, recycling, and storm debris.
Confirm who owns the tank or meter and who can turn service on. Find out what the emergency number is. Know what to do if you smell gas. Do not restart gas service on a guess.
Florida neighborhoods can have different wiring, fiber, and HOA rules. Install windows and equipment-return rules also vary. Confirm early if remote work matters.
If a utility bill is already getting tight, act early. Check FloridaCommerce LIHEAP and local help before a shutoff notice lands.
Where people get surprised
Mailing address changes and utility service orders are separate. Open, transfer, or close each account with the provider that serves the address.
Start with the provider and keep the written response. The Florida Public Service Commission can help with some utility matters, but not every local bill, district, municipal service, landlord account, or private-provider dispute belongs there.
Boil-water notices can be local, temporary, and easy to miss after a pressure loss, repair, storm, or break. Save the water provider and the city or county notice source because they may have the freshest address-level update.
Keep a portable generator outside, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, vents, and air-conditioning equipment; a garage is not outside. If you smell rotten eggs or sulfur or suspect a gas leak, move to safety immediately without using switches or other ignition sources. Once safely away, call 911 and then the gas company's emergency line.
Related checks
Utilities are one part of the larger address-change list.
Keep utility accounts, insurance, photos, and emergency contacts together before storm season.
Use the utility plan when you decide what to shut off, unplug, pack, or leave ready.
FAQ
No. Mailing address changes and utility service orders are separate. Open, transfer, or close each account with the right provider. Use the local office that serves the exact address.
Start with the provider. The Florida Public Service Commission is useful for some utility questions. But local utilities, city services, and districts may have their own process. So can landlords, associations, and private providers.
They are often local and temporary. Save the water provider and the city or county notice page. Also save the Florida Health context and county emergency management page.
Run portable generators outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows, vents, and air-conditioning equipment. Never use one in a garage or enclosed space. Follow Florida Disaster, the manual, and local utility instructions.
Official checks
Start with the utility or local office that handles the account. Use state sources for consumer help and drinking-water context. They also cover boil-water notices, storm utility safety, generator safety, and bill help.
Last reviewed: July 28, 2026
Use this carefully: Utility and safety instructions are address-specific and situation-specific. Follow the provider, local emergency office, or current official notice for your address.
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