Utility Providers in Phoenix, IL

It is recommended to contact providers at least 3 business days before your move-in date. For electricity and water, this ensures the service is active when you arrive, as technicians typically do not work weekends or holidays.

Phoenix is unique in having two major electric providers with specific territories. You can use the service area maps on the APS and SRP websites to check your address. Generally, SRP serves much of the East Valley (Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa) and parts of Phoenix, while APS covers the majority of the metro area and downtown.

It depends on your credit history. Most providers (APS, SRP, Southwest Gas) run a soft credit check. If you have no prior history or a lower score, a deposit may be required, which is often refunded as a bill credit after 12 months of on-time payments.

Phoenix summers regularly exceed 100°F, causing air conditioners to work overtime. Summer bills can be 3-4 times higher than winter bills. To manage this, look into “Budget Billing” or “Equalizer” plans that average your annual usage into steady monthly payments.

Both APS and SRP offer “Time-of-Use” plans where electricity is more expensive during high-demand hours (typically 3 PM – 8 PM or 4 PM – 7 PM on weekdays). You can save money by running major appliances like washers and dishwashers outside of these windows.

With over 300 days of sunshine, solar is very popular. However, it’s important to understand the difference between leasing (cheaper upfront, but you don’t own the system) and buying (eligible for tax credits). Be sure to check with your specific utility provider about their solar buyback rates before signing a contract.

The City of Phoenix provides weekly pickup for both trash and recycling. Containers must be placed at the curb (or in the alley) by 5:30 AM on your designated collection day. Recycling is collected on the same day as trash but by a different truck.

Phoenix offers quarterly bulk trash collection for large items like furniture and tree trimmings.

Important: As of recently, this service is often by appointment only rather than a set neighborhood schedule. You must schedule a pickup online through the City of Phoenix portal.

The City of Phoenix sends a combined municipal services bill. This single monthly bill covers your water usage, sewer service, and trash/recycling collection fees.

Coverage varies by street. While Cox and CenturyLink (Quantum Fiber) are the main providers, newer 5G Home Internet options from Verizon and T-Mobile are widely available across the valley and can be a flexible alternative for renters.

Not every home has gas. Many newer subdivisions are “all-electric.” Check your home’s appliances (stove, water heater, furnace) before setting up an account with Southwest Gas to see if it’s necessary.

During summer heatwaves, running high-draw appliances or heavy air conditioning during peak afternoon hours will cause your bill to surge. For SRP customers on standard TOU plans, peak hours run from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM on weekdays, whereas APS peak hours generally run from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Pre-cooling your home to 72°F in the morning and bumping your thermostat up to 78°F or 80°F during peak hours can save hundreds of dollars a month.

Southwest Gas assesses a mandatory monthly basic service charge plus safety infrastructure riders to cover physical pipeline maintenance and meter monitoring across Arizona. Even if your therm usage hits absolute zero during a blistering 115°F summer heatwave, this baseline customer access fee ensures your monthly natural gas statement will never drop to zero.