Everything You Need To Know about Fort Hood Utilities

Takeaways

• Electric is easy – water is usually difficult
• You get to choose your electricity retailer in Texas
• When buying, be sure to ensure the available Internet choices will meet your needs

Electricity

Welcome to Texas, the world’s energy capital!

Unlike some States, Texas has competitive electricity providers in most markets. In the late 1990s, the state did away with its public utilities. There are three different industries in the electricity market – the power generators, the distribution (TDSP), and the retailers. Different companies perform all three of these actions, and only the TDSPs still operate as a public utility (it wouldn’t be practical to have every company building their own power lines everywhere). Oncor is the local TDSP in the Killeen area, and usually the one responsible for restoring power when it goes out due to a power line issue. TNMP is the TDSP in Gatesville, TX. Rural areas often still only have a single provider or electric co-op, and some cities elected to keep their own public utility companies like Austin (they like being weird). But most areas of Texas have choices when it comes to providers, including most communities surrounding Fort Hood, TX.

What does that mean to you? You need to choose your electric provider!

There are many review sites to help you choose.  We recommend shopping around at the following sites for the best deals:

Browse Providers Now!

Getting electricity turned on is usually a very quick process. I’ve seen service come on in a home within ten minutes after ordering it.

When buying or selling a home, it is usually good etiquette for the seller to leave the utilities on in the house for a couple business days while the new buyer gets the utilities transferred over, though there is nothing in the contract obligating the seller to keep the utilities on past the closing date. The buyer’s agent is well advised to coordinate with the seller to confirm when they are planning on turning the utilities off.

And don’t forget to schedule the utilities to be turned off if you are the seller! Hopefully your buyers will transfer service, but if they don’t, and you forget to turn it off in your name, you will be paying their utility bills.

Water and Trash

Unlike electric, water and trash service still operates as a good old fashioned public utility. It is also more difficult to get turned on. If you just bought or rented your home, I would focus on getting the water on immediately once your CD or lease is in hand.

In the Fort Hood area, you will generally need the following to get utilities turned on:

• Photo ID
• Proof of ownership / lease
• Deposit ($50-100 for residential services)
• Proof of social security number (Killeen)
• Must be in person

If you just bought your home, the title company will immediately give you a copy of the CD (Closing Disclosure) at closing. You’ll have a copy you can immediately take to the water department to get service transferred. The deed would work too. Renters can use their signed lease.

Service can be difficult to get transferred if you are not able to do it in person. It will be a case of calling or emailing the water department to get the necessary forms and set up a method of delivering the deposit.

After the water service is turned on, it is usually at least one business day before they can visit the property to turn the water on. Annoyingly, most utility companies give you a four-hour window – morning or afternoon – that they may be out at the property. They generally charge an extra fee for the service to be turned on sooner or after hours.

They ask that the owner be present during the water turn-on or else risk that the water is not turned on. They turn the water on at the meter on the street of the home. If they see the dial spinning, it means the water is running in the home. Unless someone is present to check why the water is running (usually just a faucet left on or a toilet filling), they will turn the water off and charge you for a second trip.

Trash is usually taken care of at the same time with the water bill. If you do not have a trash can when you move in, you can call the utility department to get one delivered. Most areas have trash pickup once a week, though some areas are twice a week.

Some folks still ask about the military deposit waiver program, however the program was discontinued in 2014.

Stuff To Do After Closing

• Make a maintenance plan so you don’t forget
• Make the most of your home’s being vacant
• Do it now, while you’re in the “new home” frame of mind

READ MORE

Gas

For natural gas, Atmos Energy is the only provider for most areas in the Fort Hood area.

1701 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Killeen, TX 76543
(254) 690-1845

For homes with onsite propane, either buried or not, you can get your propane refilled and serviced with Smith & Smith Propane. There are of course other propane providers as well; it is not a public utility or monopoly.

327 S. 38th Street
Killeen, TX 76543
(254) 699 5343

Internet/Cable/TV

There are really only two major internet providers in the Fort Hood area: CenturyLink and Spectrum. Both providers have high-speed internet options, however it may be limited depending on your neighborhood. Especially in newer neighborhoods, they have often not run cables yet, and it may be years before they complete the infrastructure in newer areas. If internet is important to your home search, be sure to do your due diligence up front.

902-B W Central Texas Expwy, Ste 201
Killeen, TX 76541
800-788-3600

WEBSITE

309 N College St
Killeen, TX 76541
(800) 892-4357

WEBSITE

Both Spectrum and CenturyLink of course have phone/internet/TV packages.

Additional television options include Dish and DirecTV.

1-800-796-7160

WEBSITE

1-888-566-9204

WEBSITE

Septic and Wells

If you live in the country, or even on a half acre, sometimes less, you might have septic instead of city sewer service. Septic is common in our area. If you have septic, you’ll want to get it serviced regularly. Same goes for folks with well water.

Read here for more information about Central Texas wells.

Rural Areas

Electric

• Rural Gatesville, Kempner, Lampasas: Hamilton County Electric Cooperative
• Rural Gatesville (toward Waco): Heart of Texas Electric Coop
• Lampasas: Lampasas Public Utilities

Water

• Florence: Florence Utilities
• Gatesville: City of Gatesville Water
• N Gatesville: Coryell City Water Supply District
• E Gatesville: Mountain Water Supply Corp
• W Gatesville / N Copperas Cove: Multi-County Water Supply
• Lampasas: Lampasas Public Utilities
• Kempner: Kempner Water Supply Corporation
• N Nolanville: 439 Water Supply
• SW Nolanville: Dog Ridge Water Supply

Trash

Rural Fort Hood Area: Dry Creek Trash Service

MUDs

Municipal Utility Districts are a unique political units in Texas that have their own taxes specifically for providing utilities.

In the Fort Hood area, there are only two MUDs: one in Three Creeks in Belton, and the other in the yet-to-be-developed Turnbo Ranch in Killeen. Unless you live in either of these communities, you do not need to be concerned about MUDs.

Conclusion

Plan out getting your utilities done before you close on your home or begin your lease. Water is usually the most urgent because they are slower, so be sure to head straight there when done signing your closing paperwork or lease.

Know of any other providers, tips, or information I missed? Please comment below so I can be sure to keep this guide updated for our area!