admin In Arizona your electric bill is the utility that matters. Get the right rate plan on day one and your first summer won’t come with a surprise.
Updated October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm with the official source linked in each section.
Electric: your address decides
In metro Phoenix you’re served by either APS (Arizona Public Service) or SRP (Salt River Project), and you don’t get to choose. In Tucson it’s TEP. Some rural areas have electric co-ops.
- Start service online 1–2 weeks before move-in.
- Avoid a deposit with a letter of good payment history from your old utility, or ask about credit-check options.
- Pick your rate plan carefully. APS and SRP offer time-of-use and demand plans that price late-afternoon on-peak hours much higher. Pre-cooling before the peak window and running laundry and dishwashers off-peak can cut bills a lot.
- Budget billing spreads the summer spike across 12 months.
Natural gas
Where homes have gas (stoves, water heaters, furnaces, pool heaters), the provider is usually Southwest Gas. Many newer homes are all-electric.
Water, sewer & trash
Run by your city (Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Scottsdale, etc.). Start service online or by phone; some cities require a deposit. Trash and recycling usually come with water service. Learn your bulk-trash schedule; it’s how Arizonans get rid of big stuff.
Some unincorporated areas use private water companies or shared wells. If you’re buying outside city limits, ask about the water source. It matters.
Internet
Cox and Lumen/Quantum Fiber cover much of the Valley, with Google Fiber and other fiber providers in parts of the metro, plus 5G home internet. Availability is address-specific; book installation early, especially in summer.
Solar
Lots of Arizona homes have solar. If you’re buying one, find out whether the panels are owned (great) or leased/financed (you’ll take over a contract the company must approve). Get the agreement during escrow.
Day-one checklist
- Electric (APS / SRP / TEP) started, rate plan chosen
- Gas, if applicable
- Water/sewer/trash with your city
- Internet install scheduled
- A/C serviced, filters changed, thermostat programmed
- Pest control (scorpions are real)
Next: What it costs to live here · Surviving summer.
Get Your Personal Arizona Move Plan
Tell a local Arizona Realtor where you’re coming from and what matters to you. You’ll get a custom plan back: the 3 cities that fit you best, real home and rent prices, school notes, and a step-by-step moving timeline.
- Best-fit cities & neighborhoods for your budget
- Rent-vs-buy math for your situation
- License, utilities & registration checklist
- Off-market & new-build options before you arrive
Craig Citizen, REALTOR® · West USA Realty · Free, no obligation