Who provides electric at a new Fort Worth apartment?
It depends on the address, and that’s the first thing to check. If you’re comparing new apartments in Fort Worth, most of them sit in Oncor’s delivery area. On our Oct 25, 2026 board, 66 buildings were Oncor addresses. The Opal is on Tri-County Electric Cooperative, and six buildings were still being confirmed.
At an Oncor address, Oncor owns the poles and wires, but you buy electricity from a retail provider you choose. Many people compare plans on Power to Choose, the state’s shopping site. At a co-op address, the co-op both delivers and sells the power, so there’s no retail choice.
Some addresses have a twist. Six buildings on our board sit on co-op maps but have Oncor meters, including Bonds Ranch, Ventana, a Southlake building, The Palo, The Emma, and The Henley. A few others are dual-certified, which means either provider could serve the address, and we confirm which one does.
How do you set up electric at an Oncor address?
Here’s the order we’d follow, starting about two weeks before move-in:
- Get the unit’s address and ESI ID. The community can give you the Electric Service Identifier for your unit.
- Compare plans. Look at the rate at 1,000 kWh, the contract length, and any base charge.
- Pick a plan type. Prepaid plans need no deposit. Fixed-rate plans may ask for one, depending on credit.
- Set the start date. Use your move-in date, so the lights are on when you get keys.
- Save the confirmation. The community may ask for it before handing over keys.
How does co-op service work?
At a co-op address, like The Opal on Tri-County Electric Cooperative, you open an account with the co-op. The co-op sets its own rates, membership fee, and deposit rules. Some co-ops ask for a deposit or a credit check. Start the request a week or two before move-in, since co-ops may need a signed lease to open the account.
Every utility line ends the same way
We confirm the provider for each address in writing, then we’ll help you set it up before move-in.
How does water work?
Water depends on the city and on how the building bills it. In Fort Worth Water’s service area, a direct account carries a $50 deposit. It’s waived if you provide a 12-month utility letter from your current provider showing good payment history. Request that letter early, since some utilities take a few days. If the property bills water back to you, our guide on RUBS and property-billed water in Texas covers what your lease must show.
Other cities run their own water service. Domain Benbrook, for example, is on Benbrook Water Authority. Many new buildings bill water through the property, using ratio billing or submeters. In that case, the property handles the account and the lease explains the method.
| Setup | Who you call | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Oncor address | A retail provider you choose | None on prepaid plans |
| Co-op address | The co-op | Set by the co-op |
| Fort Worth Water direct | Fort Worth Water | $50, waived with a 12-month letter |
| Property-billed water | The property or its billing company | Usually none separate |
What’s the full timeline from lease to keys?
| When | Step |
|---|---|
| At signing | Confirm the electric provider and how water is billed |
| 2 weeks out | Request your 12-month utility letter |
| 10 days out | Choose an electric plan, or open the co-op account |
| 1 week out | Open the water account if it’s direct |
| Move-in day | Confirm power and water are on, then do your move-in form |
If the address also differs from what you’d expect, such as a Fort Worth mailing address in Denton County, water and trash may come from a different city. Our guide on mailing city vs. city limits explains why.
How do you compare electric plans?
At an Oncor address, you’ll see a lot of plans. A few numbers make them easier to compare:
- Price at 1,000 kWh. Retail plans list prices at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh. A one or two-bedroom apartment in a North Texas summer often lands near 1,000 kWh, so that column is the fairest comparison.
- Contract length. Shorter terms give flexibility. Longer terms lock a rate. Match it to your lease when you can.
- Base charges and credits. Some plans add a monthly base charge. Others give a bill credit only above a usage threshold, which can make a low-use month cost more.
- Early cancellation fee. If you might move within the term, check it.
Prepaid plans skip the deposit, which helps if you’re new to Texas or rebuilding credit. They charge as you go, so you’ll want low-balance alerts turned on.
Summer is the month to plan for. Cooling runs hard from June through September, and west-facing or top-floor units use more. If the community will share average bills for a similar unit, we’d use those to estimate a summer month in your true monthly.
Moving from out of state?
You can set up both utilities before you arrive. We’d send you the provider details with your shortlist, then confirm the start dates once you sign. Our page on moving to Fort Worth covers the rest of the setup, from video walks to remote signing.
