If you’re moving to Tampa Bay, confirm your electric and water providers by the exact address, not the city name, because they change across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas. Then schedule service to start on your closing date. Water accounts can need a few business days’ notice, and both can ask for a deposit.
When you’re buying from out of state, utilities are easy to leave until the last week. Then you land, get your keys, and find out the account isn’t set up, or it’s in the wrong company’s name. A little planning during your contract period takes care of it.
Who Provides Electricity to Homes in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas?
There’s more than one electric company here, and the answer comes down to the address.
Tampa Electric (TECO) serves Hillsborough County and parts of Pasco, Pinellas and Polk, according to Tampa Electric.
Duke Energy Florida serves areas across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas, per its listing with the Florida Public Service Commission.
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) is a member-owned co-op whose service area includes parts of Pasco, along with Citrus and Hernando.
Two homes a few miles apart in Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes or Dade City can have different electric providers. Don’t guess from the ZIP code.
How to confirm the electric provider for a specific address
Ask the seller which company bills them, or ask for a recent bill with the account details blacked out.
Use the Florida PSC’s find utility service lookup.
Call the provider you think it is and give them the address. They’ll tell you if it’s in their territory.
How Do You Set Up Water and Sewer Service in Tampa Bay?
Water and sewer can come from the county, from a city, or from a private well and septic system if you’re on a larger lot. Here’s how the county utilities handle it:
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County Water Resources charges a $25 set-up fee for a new account. A deposit is required, but it may be waived if you pass a credit check. New customers verify ID by phone or in person, and if you need service in the next one to two business days, the county asks you to call instead of using the online form.
Pasco County
Before you open an account, Pasco County Utilities asks you to check PascoMapper to confirm the county is actually your provider. Your application and fees need to be in three business days before the date you want service to start.
Pinellas County
Pinellas County Utilities takes start and stop requests through its customer service center. If the home is inside a city that runs its own water system, you’ll set it up with that city instead.
If the home is on a private well and septic, there’s no water bill, but there’s maintenance you’ll own. Check the septic system and well water before you close.
Will You Pay a Utility Deposit When You Move to Florida?
Possibly, and it’s better to plan on it than be surprised.
For PSC-regulated electric companies like TECO and Duke, Florida law caps a new customer’s deposit at two months of projected charges. Under the PSC’s rule, a residential deposit is refunded after 23 months of continuous service with a good payment record.
WREC charges a $5 refundable membership fee. New residential members with satisfactory credit don’t pay a deposit. Otherwise, its standard residential deposit is $300.
Hillsborough County water may waive its deposit after a credit check, as noted above.
Because your credit history is from another state, ask each company up front whether a deposit applies and how to get it waived.
Should You Use Budget Billing on a New Tampa Bay Home?
Budget billing smooths out your payment so summer bills don’t spike, but it’s not a discount. You still pay for every bit of power you use. The catch for a new buyer is that both plans are built around a home’s past 12 months of history.
Tampa Electric budget billing
Tampa Electric bases your payment on the average of the past 12 months and reviews it quarterly. Your bill shows a deferred balance, which is the gap between what you paid and what you actually used. If you used more, that amount gets spread into your next 12 months of payments. If you paid more, you get the credit at your annual review. TECO’s tariff also says it may deny enrollment if you haven’t had 12 months of service at that address, and if you leave the plan, you can’t rejoin for 12 months.
Duke Energy Florida budget billing
Duke Energy offers two plans. The Annual Plan needs 12 months of billing history at the home and settles up at the end of the year. The Quarterly Plan doesn’t need history. If there’s none, the payment is based on square footage, and it adjusts every three months with no year-end settle-up.
On a brand-new build, there’s no usage history yet, so your first estimate can be off in either direction. Watch your actual usage on each bill for the first few months so a big adjustment doesn’t catch you off guard.
What’s the Best Timeline for Setting Up Utilities Before Closing?
Here’s the order I give my out-of-state buyers:
Right after you’re under contract: confirm the electric and water providers for the address.
About two weeks before closing: request service to start on your closing date, in your name. Ask about deposits and ID verification.
About a week before closing: confirm both start dates in writing and set up online accounts.
Closing day: take a photo of each meter reading when you get the keys.
If you’re closing remotely, this matters even more. Ask your agent and title company for the rest of the remote-closing checklist.
Want Help Getting Your Tampa Bay Move Set Up?
Call or text me at 813-495-7238. If you’re buying in Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas from out of state, I’ll help you confirm who serves the address and keep your utility start dates on the same timeline as your closing.
Jennifer Messina Realtor | Tampa Bay (Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas) Luxury Service at Every Price Point Phone: 813-495-7238
This post is general information based on utility and state sources checked on November 2, 2026. Fees, deposits and programs can change. Confirm details directly with your electric and water provider.
FAQ: Setting Up Utilities When Moving to Tampa Bay
Is Tampa Bay served by TECO or Duke Energy?
Both, plus WREC in parts of Pasco. Tampa Electric serves Hillsborough and parts of Pasco and Pinellas, and Duke Energy Florida serves areas in all three counties. Confirm by exact address.
How do I find out who the electric provider is for a Tampa Bay address?
Ask the seller for the provider name, use the Florida Public Service Commission’s find utility service lookup, or call the company with the address.
How far ahead should I set up water service in Pasco County?
Pasco County Utilities asks for your application and fees three business days before your requested start date. Check PascoMapper first to confirm the county is your provider.
Do Florida electric companies charge a deposit for new customers?
They can. For PSC-regulated utilities like TECO and Duke, state law caps a new customer’s deposit at two months of projected charges. WREC waives its deposit for new residential members with satisfactory credit.
Can I sign up for budget billing on a home I just bought?
It depends on the plan. Duke’s Quarterly Plan doesn’t require billing history. Duke’s Annual Plan needs 12 months of history at the home, and Tampa Electric may deny enrollment without 12 months of service at that address.