Florida Porch

Florida utilities

The lights are only one account.

A Florida move can mean electric, water, sewer, trash, gas, internet, deposits, outage notices, and storm shutoffs. Make the list before move week gets noisy.

First calls

Start with the address, then split the accounts.

Service address

Find the provider for the exact address.

Florida utility service is local in real life. The power company may be one place. Water, trash, gas, internet, a landlord, or an HOA may be another.

Florida PSC consumer assistance

Move date

Set start and stop dates before the truck is packed.

Ask each provider what proof they need, what deposit may apply, and whether service can start on the day you need it. Fridays, holidays, storms, and new construction can make timing matter.

Florida PSC consumer assistance

Water

Treat water, sewer, and trash as local until proven otherwise.

A city, county, district, or utility authority may handle water, sewer, garbage, recycling, bulky pickup, and final bills. Keep the local after-hours number with the account number.

Florida DEP drinking water

Storm plan

Know the shutoffs before a storm or leak.

Find the main water valve, breaker panel, gas instructions, utility emergency number, and county alert source early. If a utility gives safety instructions, follow that utility.

Florida Disaster gas utilities

Account stack

Each service has its own little catch.

Electric

Ask who serves the address, whether the account can transfer, when service starts, where to report outages, and how the deposit works.

Water and sewer

Check the local provider for start date, deposit, leak rules, irrigation or reclaimed water, sewer billing, and emergency shutoff instructions.

Trash and recycling

Some places include collection in rent, HOA dues, city bills, or county taxes. Ask about pickup day, carts, bulk pickup, yard waste, recycling, and storm debris.

Natural gas or propane

Ask who owns the tank or meter, who can turn service on, what the emergency number is, and what to do if you smell gas. Do not restart gas service on a guess.

Internet and cable

Florida neighborhoods can have different wiring, fiber, HOA rules, install windows, and equipment-return rules. Confirm early if remote work matters.

Bill help

If a utility bill is already getting tight, check FloridaCommerce LIHEAP and local assistance before a shutoff notice becomes the whole conversation.

Where people get surprised

The quiet trouble is usually local, timed, or hidden in another bill.

Changing your mailing address does not start or stop utility service.

A landlord, HOA, condo association, or mobile-home park may control part of the utility stack.

The Florida Public Service Commission is useful, but not every local bill or utility dispute belongs there.

Boil-water notices can be local, temporary, and easy to miss after a pressure loss, repair, storm, or break.

Portable generators belong outside, away from doors and windows. A garage is not outside.

If you shut off gas or suspect a leak, use the utility's instructions before turning anything back on.

Related checks

Utilities touch the rest of the move.

Disaster document binder

Keep utility accounts, insurance, photos, and emergency contacts together before storm season.

Official checks

Sources used for this page

Last checked June 30, 2026. Start with the utility or local office that controls the account. For safety and public notices, use Florida PSC, Florida Health, DEP, Florida Disaster, or FloridaCommerce as needed.

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