Setting Up Your First Waco Apartment: Internet, Utilities & Everything Else

Moving into your first Waco apartment means figuring out a lot at once — and setting up utilities is the part that catches most Baylor students off guard. Texas has a deregulated electricity market (yes, you have to choose your own power company), Waco has 15+ internet providers to sort through, and nobody tells you that water setup works completely differently than back home. Here's everything you need to know, step by step.

Internet: Your Most Important Utility

Let's start with the one you'll notice first if it's missing. Waco has 15 internet providers, which sounds great until you're comparing fiber, cable, 5G, and satellite plans at midnight before move-in.

The Top Options for Student Apartments

• Spectrum — Starts at $30/month, speeds up to 2 Gbps, covers 86% of Waco. No contract required, which is perfect for a 12-month lease. The most widely available option near Baylor.
• AT&T Fiber — Starts at $34/month, speeds up to 5 Gbps, covers 68% of Waco. Fastest option if your building has fiber infrastructure.
• T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — $50/month, speeds 87-415 Mbps, no installation needed. Good backup if wired options aren't available at your address.

What Most Students Actually Need

For streaming, video calls, gaming, and homework, 200-400 Mbps is more than enough for a 2-4 person apartment. Don't let the sales pitch convince you to pay for gigabit speeds you'll never use.

A standalone internet plan typically runs $30-70/month depending on speed and provider. Split between roommates, it's manageable — but it's one more bill to coordinate, one more account to set up, and one more thing that can go wrong on move-in day.

At 19Eleven Apartments, internet is included in the flat $40/month fee that also covers trash, pest control, and facilities. That means you walk in on day one with WiFi already working — no provider research, no installation appointment, no splitting a bill four ways. It's one of those things you don't appreciate until you've dealt with the alternative.

Electricity: Welcome to the Texas Free Market

Here's something that surprises every out-of-state student: Texas has a deregulated electricity market. That means you don't just "call the electric company" — you have to choose a Retail Electric Provider (REP) from dozens of competing companies.

How It Works

1. Your utility company is fixed. In Waco, that's Oncor Electric Delivery. They maintain the lines and handle outages — you can't change this.
2. Your provider (who bills you) is your choice. You pick a REP and a plan. They buy the electricity; Oncor delivers it.
3. You can switch providers anytime with no physical changes. The switch takes 1-7 business days.

Choosing a Plan

The average Texas residential electricity rate is about 16.18¢/kWh, but students who compare plans can find fixed rates as low as 8.9¢/kWh. Here's what to look for:

• Fixed-rate plans lock your price per kWh for a set term (6, 12, or 24 months). Best for budgeting.
• Variable-rate plans change monthly based on market conditions. Risky — summer spikes can double your bill.
• Prepaid/no-deposit plans are available if you don't want a credit check, but rates are usually higher.

Use comparison sites like Choose Texas Power or Power Wizard to compare rates side-by-side.

What to Expect Cost-Wise

A one-bedroom apartment in Waco typically runs $80-150/month for electricity, depending on the season. Summer is the killer — when it's 100°F outside, your AC is working overtime. A 4-bedroom split four ways brings the per-person cost down to $30-50/month most of the year.

Pro tip: Set your thermostat to 76-78°F when you're home and 80°F when you're out. Every degree below 78°F adds roughly 3% to your cooling bill.

Water, Sewer & Trash

Water service in Waco is handled by the City of Waco Utilities. Unlike electricity, this isn't deregulated — there's one provider.

How to Set Up Water

1. Visit the City of Waco Utilities website or call (254) 299-2489
2. You'll need your lease agreement, a valid ID, and your Social Security number
3. A deposit may be required ($100-200, often waived with good credit)
4. Allow 2-3 business days for activation

Important: Check your lease first. Many Waco apartment complexes bundle water and trash into your rent or monthly fees. At some properties, you'll pay a flat monthly rate for water rather than setting up your own account. At 19Eleven, trash is included in the $40/month fee — one less utility to manage.

Average Water Costs

Expect $30-60/month for water and sewer in a typical Waco apartment. Usage-based billing means shorter showers actually do save money.

Gas: Not Every Apartment Has It

Natural gas in Waco is provided by Atmos Energy. But here's the thing — many newer apartment complexes near Baylor are all-electric, meaning no gas service needed.

If Your Apartment Uses Gas

Gas is typically used for heating, hot water, and sometimes cooking. To set up service:

1. Call Atmos Energy at (888) 286-6700 or visit atmosenergy.com
2. Schedule a connection appointment (someone needs to be home)
3. Expect a $30-50 deposit

Gas bills in Waco are low — typically $20-40/month in winter and under $15 in summer (just the pilot light and hot water). If your apartment is all-electric, skip this step entirely.

Renters Insurance: Required by Most Complexes

This isn't a utility, but it's something you'll need to set up before move-in day at most Waco apartments. Most complexes near Baylor require a minimum of $100,000 in Legal Liability to Landlord (LLL) coverage.

The good news: renters insurance in Texas averages just $22/month ($264/year). Popular options for students:

• Lemonade — App-based, starts around $5/month, fast claims
• State Farm — Widely available, bundle with auto insurance for discounts
• USAA — Best rates if you or a parent has military connection

Set this up before move-in. Your leasing office will ask for proof of coverage.

The Setup Timeline

Don't wait until move-in day to figure this out. Here's when to handle each utility:

2-3 Weeks Before Move-In

• Choose an electricity provider and schedule a start date matching your lease
• Call about water service to schedule activation
• Get renters insurance and send proof to your leasing office
• Schedule internet installation if not included in your apartment (installation slots fill up fast in August)

1 Week Before Move-In

• Confirm all service start dates — call each provider to verify
• Download provider apps for billing and account management
• Set up autopay to avoid late fees (especially electricity — late payments can trigger a switch to a higher rate)

Move-In Day

• Verify everything works — flip lights, run faucets, check WiFi
• Document your first meter readings with photos (protects you from being billed for the previous tenant's usage)
• Test your AC immediately — if it's August in Waco, you need this working from hour one

What 19Eleven Includes (So You Don't Have To)

One of the biggest advantages of living at 19Eleven on S 8th Street is how much is already handled for you. The flat $40/month fee covers:

• Internet — already set up when you move in
• Trash — no separate pickup to schedule
• Pest control — included, no third-party service needed
• Facilities maintenance — covered

That leaves you with just electricity (and gas if applicable) to set up on your own. Compare that to complexes where you're juggling 4-5 separate utility accounts, dealing with installation appointments, and splitting bills with roommates who forget to Venmo you.

Quick Reference: Who to Call

Utility	Provider	Contact	Avg Monthly Cost
Electricity	Your choice (REP)	Compare at choosetexaspower.org	$80-150 (1BR)
Water/Sewer	City of Waco	(254) 299-2489	$30-60
Gas	Atmos Energy	(888) 286-6700	$20-40 (winter)
Internet	Spectrum, AT&T, etc.	Varies	$30-70
Renters Insurance	Lemonade, State Farm, etc.	Varies	$15-25

Ready to Simplify Your Move-In?

Setting up utilities doesn't have to be overwhelming. At 19Eleven Apartments, we've already eliminated half the hassle — internet, trash, and pest control are included from day one. Our loft-style apartments with exposed beams and polished concrete floors are walking distance to Baylor, so you can skip the campus parking permit too.

Check out our floor plans to see what's included at each price point, schedule a tour to see the space in person, or start your application to lock in your spot.