Raleigh, NC Utility Setup Guide & Checklist for New Residents: Water, Power, Internet, Trash & More

Your Raleigh utility setup timeline

You do not need to arrange every service on the same day. Working through the list in stages makes it easier to catch problems before moving day.

First, confirm your exact municipality and service address

Before opening any utility accounts, confirm whether your new home is:

• Inside the City of Raleigh
• In an unincorporated part of Wake County
• Within another municipality, such as Cary, Apex, Garner, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Knightdale, Rolesville, or Fuquay-Varina
• In a development where utilities are managed by a landlord, apartment community, condo association, or HOA

The word “Raleigh” in the mailing address is not enough to determine which local services the property receives.

For addresses inside Raleigh city limits, the City’s MyRaleigh Services tool can show address-specific information, including garbage, recycling, and yard-waste services. For locations outside city limits, the City directs residents to Wake County’s property and boundary tools for more detailed information.

Your first 10-minute utility task

Setting up electricity in Raleigh

Duke Energy Progress serves much of Raleigh and the surrounding area, but electric service territories do not always follow city or ZIP-code boundaries. North Carolina properties receive electricity from the utility assigned to the physical service area, which may be an investor-owned utility, an electric cooperative, or a municipal system. Source: North Carolina Utilities Commission

Some Wake County properties are served by Wake Electric, so do not assume Duke Energy based only on the mailing address. Wake Electric provides service to portions of Wake and several surrounding counties. Source: Wake Electric

How to identify the electric provider

• Ask the seller, property manager, builder, or previous resident.
• Check an old utility bill included with rental or closing paperwork.
• Enter the complete address into the likely provider’s service tool.
• Look for a provider name on or near the electric meter.
• Contact the North Carolina Utilities Commission if the territory remains unclear.

Information you may need

• Your legal name and contact information
• The complete service address and apartment or unit number
• Your requested start date
• Identity verification or Social Security information
• A prior address
• Lease or closing information
• Payment for a deposit, if required

Duke Energy allows residential customers to request start or stop service through its online system. Because requirements and possible deposits depend on the customer and address, complete the application early enough to resolve any verification issues before moving day. Source: Duke Energy

Keep power active at your old home through the final cleaning and walkthrough. Lights, air conditioning, outlets, and working appliances remain useful until the last box is gone.

Starting Raleigh water and sewer service

Raleigh Water operates public water and sewer systems for Raleigh as well as Garner, Wake Forest, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wendell, and Zebulon. That does not necessarily mean every address in those communities is connected to Raleigh Water. Some properties use another municipal system, a private utility, a well, or septic. Source: Raleigh Water

How to start or transfer service

New customers can request service through Raleigh Water Self-Service. The City currently advises allowing five business days for processing.

Identity may be verified online. When online verification is unsuccessful, the account holder may need to provide identification and a lease, rental agreement, or closing documents. Source: Start, Stop or Transfer Utility Services

Before the water is connected

• Make sure every faucet is turned off.
• Check that sinks and tubs are not plugged.
• Confirm toilets are not running.
• Close outdoor spigots.
• Arrange for someone to check the property soon after activation.

A faucet left open in an empty home can create a very expensive welcome.

Renters, apartments, and condos

Do not automatically open a Raleigh Water account until you check the lease or speak with property management. Water and sewer may be:

• Included in monthly rent
• Billed at a flat monthly rate
• Allocated among residents
• Individually submetered by a third-party billing company
• Placed directly in the tenant’s name

Ask exactly who sends the bill and whether you need to take action before move-in. “Water is included” and “water is billed through the apartment” do not always mean the same thing.

Raleigh trash, recycling, and yard waste

Qualifying single-family homes receiving City of Raleigh curbside service are provided City-issued garbage, recycling, and yard-waste carts. Raleigh’s address tools and Raleigh Reuse system can show the collection schedule for a specific property, including holiday or weather-related changes. Source: City of Raleigh cart information

Check the property before ordering carts

City-issued carts belong to the property and should remain there when a resident moves. If the previous occupant took them, or a cart is damaged or missing, contact Raleigh Solid Waste Services. The City advises that carts are not delivered to vacant homes, so wait until the home is occupied before requesting missing carts. Source: Solid Waste common questions

Basic Raleigh collection reminders

• Bag household garbage before placing it in the garbage cart.
• Place clean recyclable items loose in the recycling cart.
• Do not put recyclables inside plastic bags.
• Keep cart lids closed.
• Use the address-specific schedule rather than relying on a neighbor’s collection day.
• Check Raleigh Reuse for holiday and weather changes.

Raleigh instructs residents to place clean, loose recyclables in the recycling cart rather than bagging them. Source: Raleigh recycling dos and don’ts

Apartments, condos, and townhomes

Collection arrangements vary significantly in multifamily communities. Your property may have private dumpsters, valet trash, City-supported recycling dumpsters, designated cardboard areas, or HOA-managed collection.

Before moving, ask management:

• Where household trash goes
• Where cardboard should be broken down and placed
• Whether recycling is available
• Whether there are move-in dumpster restrictions
• How furniture and mattresses must be handled
• Whether leaving items beside a dumpster results in a fee

Furniture, mattresses, appliances, and electronics

Moving tends to uncover at least one chair, mattress, old television, or mystery appliance that no one wants to take to the new home. Do not simply place large items at the curb.

Raleigh’s bulky, special-load, and electronic-waste services are available to eligible residents who receive City curbside garbage collection, but pickup must be scheduled. Items placed outside before collection is arranged may be subject to penalties. Source: Bulky, special and electronic-waste collection

Items that need another disposal method

Construction debris, automotive parts, hazardous waste, tires, loose glass, and certain remodeling materials are not handled like ordinary bulky items. Cardboard should be flattened and placed through the normal recycling system.

The City’s Raleigh Reuse tool can help determine whether an item should be donated, recycled, taken to a drop-off location, or scheduled for collection.

Natural gas service in Raleigh

Not every Raleigh home has natural gas. A home may use an electric heat pump, electric water heater, electric range, propane, or a combination of electric and gas appliances.

How to tell whether the home uses gas

• Look for a gas meter outside the home.
• Review the home inspection report.
• Check labels on the furnace, water heater, range, dryer, and fireplace.
• Ask the seller, landlord, builder, or property manager.
• Use the provider’s address-availability tool.

Natural gas customers in this part of North Carolina may recognize the former Dominion Energy North Carolina name. The system is transitioning to Enbridge Gas North Carolina, with additional account and system changes expected during 2026. Source: Enbridge Gas North Carolina

Enbridge provides online options to start, stop, or transfer service and to check whether natural gas is available at a property. New residential customers may need the complete address and identity-verification information. Source: Start natural gas service

Choosing internet service in Raleigh

Internet availability can change from one street—or even one apartment unit—to the next. One home may have fiber while a property around the corner has cable or fixed wireless. A provider may serve an apartment building without serving every unit.

Check the exact address

The FCC National Broadband Map allows you to enter a street address and view providers that report service there, along with service types and advertised speeds. Because the map relies heavily on provider-submitted data, confirm availability directly with the provider before ordering.

Schedule installation early

Start comparing options three to four weeks before moving and reserve an appointment once your possession date is confirmed. Installation can take longer when:

• A technician must enter the home
• The property has never used that provider
• A line must be buried or extended
• The address is in new construction
• An apartment requires management approval
• The provider is busy at the beginning or end of the month

Questions to ask before ordering

• Is service available at my exact address and unit?
• Is the connection fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite?
• What download and upload speeds are included?
• Is professional installation required?
• Can I use my own router?
• Are there equipment, installation, or early-termination charges?
• Does the promotional rate increase later?
• Will the technician need access to a locked utility room or wiring panel?

Homeowners, renters, apartments, and condos: who handles what?

Utility responsibilities vary by property. The safest approach is to ask before opening an account, especially for water, trash, natural gas, and HOA-managed services.

Duplicate utility arrangements can take longer to correct than they do to prevent. Ask the landlord, leasing office, condo association, HOA, seller, or builder exactly which services you must establish.

Utility setup for a newly built Raleigh home

New construction requires extra coordination because the physical house may be ready before every utility and internet provider recognizes the address.

Confirm these items with the builder

• The official service address has been assigned.
• The address appears in utility-provider systems.
• The electric meter is installed.
• The water meter has been installed or requested.
• Gas lines and appliances have passed required inspections.
• The certificate of occupancy has been issued.
• Internet lines have reached the lot or building.
• Responsibility for the first utility accounts is clear.
• Builder accounts will remain active until your accounts begin.
• Trash and recycling carts have been requested.

Raleigh requires a property to be properly permitted, code-compliant, and ready before a water-meter set is requested. A new building also cannot legally be occupied until the appropriate certificate of occupancy has been issued. Source: City of Raleigh

Moving outside Raleigh city limits

Utility arrangements can change quickly around Wake County and the Triangle. Do not carry Raleigh’s procedures over to a nearby town without checking.

This is especially important in newer subdivisions near municipal borders, where the mailing city, water provider, electric company, and waste collector may all be different.

Other services worth handling during the move

Moving-day utility checklist

Save this list in your phone rather than packing it inside a box labeled “office.”

• Electricity is active.
• Water and sewer service are active.
• Natural gas is active, if needed.
• Internet installation or equipment delivery is confirmed.
• Previous utility shutoff dates are scheduled.
• Account and confirmation numbers are saved.
• The thermostat and HVAC system are working.
• Faucets, toilets, and the water heater have been tested.
• No leaks are visible beneath sinks or near appliances.
• The refrigerator has power.
• Trash and recycling arrangements are confirmed.
• Apartment, condo, or HOA move-in requirements are complete.
• Billing and mailing addresses have been updated.
• Autopay at the previous home has been reviewed.
• Utility problem and emergency numbers are easy to find.

Once the utilities are ready, John’s can help with the move

Getting the utilities arranged may not be the most exciting part of moving, but it makes those first few days in the new home much more comfortable.

Start with the exact address, confirm what the landlord, builder, seller, municipality, or HOA already provides, and allow extra time for internet installation and identity verification. Once the lights are on, the water is running, and the collection schedule is saved, you can focus on settling in.