Moving comes with many challenges and a to-do list a mile long. One of the first steps you’ll need to take before you settle into your new home is getting utilities turned on. With most utilities in Sacramento, you can complete the process online and even have service connected same-day or within a few business days. Here’s everything you need to know to get your utilities started in Sacramento so you can focus on other aspects of your relocation.
Sacramento Electric Utilities | Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is the electric utility provider in Sacramento. Serving 1.5 million customers for over 70 years, SMUD is a community-owned utility and one of the largest publicly owned utilities in the U.S.
How to Set a Sacramento Electric Account
You can start, stop, and transfer electric utility service in Sacramento completely online. Service can be started up to 35 days in advance with requests processed Monday through Friday.
You can click here to start new residential service with your Social Security number, government-issued ID, new address, and start date.
If you’re moving within Sacramento, you can sign into your SMUD account online to transfer service to a new address.
Average Cost for Electricity in Sacramento
SMUD has among the lowest electricity rates in California. The average residential household using 750 kWh per month pays $118 through the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
Choose between Time-of-Day and fixed electric rates with SMUD. You can learn more about TOD rates here.
How to Pay Your Sacramento Electric Bill
SMUD offers several ways to pay your bill online, in person, over the phone, and by mail. The most convenient way to pay is online by setting up a SMUD account or making a one-time payment through the guest pay option.
To pay in person with check, cash, or money order, you can find a SMUD pay station location in your area.
You may also make a payment at the SMUD customer service center Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm at the following address:
SMUD
6301 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95817
Send mail payments to:
SMUD
PO Box 15555
Sacramento, CA 95852
Finally, you can pay your Sacramento electric bill online by calling 1-888-742-7683 24 hours a day.
You can see your SMUD payment options here.
Contact Information for Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Website: https://www.smud.org/
- Address: SMUD Customer Service Center, 6301 S St, Sacramento, CA 95817
- Phone number: (888) 742-7683
Sacramento Gas Utilities | Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
The natural gas provider in Sacramento is Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), one of the country’s largest combination electric and natural gas utilities. Headquartered in San Francisco, PG&E supplies electricity and gas to most of Northern California. The utility is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2019 due to its role in the wildfires in 2017 and 2018.
How to Start/Stop a Sacramento Gas Utilities Account
You can start or stop PG&E gas utilities in Sacramento with their online service request system. PG&E generally allows you to start or stop your gas service same-day or up to 60 days in advance.
Go here to start service by choosing “New to PG&E.” You may need to pay a deposit.
If you are already living in an area served by PG&E, you can transfer service by signing into your PG&E account and selecting “Start or Stop Service” then “Transfer Service.”
Average Sacramento Natural Gas Cost
The average gas bill in Sacramento is $54.91. PG&E recently raised rates in the city by $4.80 per month after the California Public Utilities Commission approved higher gas rates effective October 1, 2019. Note that there are other rate increase requests still pending that would average $10.57 per month in 2020 if approved.
How to Pay Your Sacramento Gas Bill
Pacific Gas & Electric offers several ways to pay your gas bill in Sacramento. Many residents choose to sign up for automatic recurring payments. You can pay via debit card or an American Express, Discover, Mastercard, or Visa card with a $1 or $1.35 convenience fee. If you enroll in automatic payments with your bank account, there are no service fees. You can set up automatic payments online through your PG&E account.
You can also pay your PG&E bill over the phone by calling 1-877-704-8470.
Send mail payments to:
PG&E
PO Box 997300
Sacramento, CA 95899-7300
You can pay your PG&E gas bill in person as well at a neighborhood payment center. Authorized payment centers include select Walmarts, supermarkets, and more. You can find authorized payment centers here.
Contact Information for Pacific Gas & Electric
- Website: https://www.pge.com/
- Phone: 1 (800) 743-5000
- Sacramento customer center: Pacific Gas & Electric, 5555 Florin Perkins Rd, Sacramento, CA 95826
Sacramento Water Utilities | City of Sacramento
The City of Sacramento Department of Utilities provides water service to over 130,000 customers in the city. The average water bill in Sacramento is $66.95 for flat-rate service. With a metered rate, the average service charge is $35.72 with a charge of $1.46 per 100 cubic feet of water. The City of Sacramento uses water from both reservoirs and wells, each with different costs.
How to Set a Sacramento Water Utilities Account
You can set up a new water utilities account by calling (916) 808-5454 Monday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm and Friday from 8am to 11:30am or by emailing [email protected].
How to Pay Your Sacramento Water Bill
The utilities you receive from the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities — water, trash, and sewer — will all appear on the same bill and are paid together. You can pay your bill online through the City of Sacramento’s Utility Billing and Payment Service. You have the option of signing up for an online account and enrolling in automatic payments or making one-time payments online.
You can also search for cashier locations here to pay your bill in person.
Contact Information for the City of Sacramento Water Department
- Website: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/utilities/
- Phone number: (916) 808-5454
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Department of Utilities, 1395 35th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822
Sacramento Sewer Utilities | City of Sacramento
The City of Sacramento’s Department of Utilities provides wastewater or sewer services to over 75,000 customers in a large part of Sacramento. Some areas within the city limits receive sewer services provided by Sacramento Area Sewer District (SASD).
How to Start Sacramento Sewer Utilities
To start a new account with the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities or transfer service, call (916) 808-5454 or email [email protected].
To set up a new account with SASD, call (916) 875-5555 or visit the office at 9700 Goethe Rd., Suite C, Sacramento, CA 95827-3500.
How to Pay Your Sacramento Sewer Bill
If you get your sewer services from the Department of Utilities, you can pay it together with your water and trash bill online here.
If you receive service from SASD, the County of Sacramento sends utility bills for SASD bimonthly. Billing is handled by a third party, Consolidated Utilities Billing and Service. You can sign up for an account to pay your bill online.
To pay your SASD bill by mail, send a check with your remittance stub or your account number on your check to:
Consolidated Utilities & Billing Services
P.O. Box 1804
Sacramento, CA 95812
You can also pay your SASD bill in the following ways:
- By phone by calling 1-855-587-5779 (there is a $4.95 processing fee)
- In person at 9700 Goethe Road, Suite C, Sacramento, CA 95827 and additional locations.
- Using PayNearMe to pay with cash at CVS Pharmacy, 7-Eleven, and Family Dollar
Contact Information for Sacramento Sewer Utilities
Department of Utilities Wastewater Division Contact Information
- Website: https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Utilities/Wastewater
- Phone number: (916) 808-5454
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Department of Utilities, 1395 35th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822
SASD Contact Information
- Website: https://www.sacsewer.com/
- Phone number: (916) 875-5555
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Sacramento Area Sewer District, 9700 Goethe Rd., Suite C, Sacramento, CA 95827-3500
Sacramento Trash Utilities | City of Sacramento
All trash pickup is provided by the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities with a cost of $15.36 to $24.89 for weekly pickup, depending on the size of your trash container. You can view the full Sacramento trash utility rates here.
How to Start Sacramento Trash Pickup
To set up trash service in Sacramento, you must call the Department of Utilities at (916) 808-5454 to set up billing and arrange for trash can delivery.
How to Pay Your Sacramento Trash Bill
Sacramento trash utility bills are paid through the city’s Utility Billing and Payment Service or in person at the Department of Utilities.
Contact Information for the Department of Utilities
- Website: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/utilities/
- Phone number: (916) 808-5454
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Department of Utilities, 1395 35th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822
Sacramento Internet Providers | AT&T, Xfinity & Frontier
Three internet providers dominate the landscape in Sacramento: Frontier, Xfinity, and AT&T. Xfinity has the greatest city coverage followed by AT&T then Frontier.
Xfinity, a subsidiary of Comcast, offers wireless, telephone, internet and cable TV service in Sacramento and it offers the fastest cable internet speeds in the city.
AT&T offers a 100% fiber network along with wireless and TV services.
Frontier provides phone, internet, and TV services in Sacramento with DSL and fiber internet available.
Contact Information for Sacramento Internet Utilities
AT&T
- Website: https://www.att.com/
- Phone number: (800) 288-2020
- Address: AT&T Corporate Office, 2700 Watt Ave, Sacramento, CA 95821
Xfinity
- Website: https://www.xfinity.com/
- Phone number: (800) 934-6489
- Address: Comcast Corporation, 1701 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Frontier
Website: https://frontier.com/
Phone number: (800) 921-8101
Address: Frontier Communications, 401 Merritt 7, Norwalk, CT 06851
Now that you know how to activate utilities in your new Sacramento home, you’re ready to start the next stage of relocating! Give the friendly Sacramento movers at Mother Lode Van & Storage a call for help making moving day easy and stress-free.
