Compare Utility Providers in New Orleans, LA

Electric Providers in New Orleans

Natural Gas Providers in New Orleans

Top 10 Internet Providers in New Orleans

*Not all internet providers and speeds available in all areas.

Water & Sewage Providers in New Orleans

Top 13 Trash and Recycling Providers in New Orleans

Utilities Summary for New Orleans, LA

Electric Companies:	1
Natural Gas Companies:	1
Water & Sewage Providers:	1
Garbage, Trash & Recycling Providers:	13
Municipal Electricity:	No

New Orleans Utility Providers: What You Need to Know

Whether you’ve come for the music, the food, or the unbeatable neighborhood spirit, New Orleans is a one-parish city, Orleans Parish, surrounded by water on three sides and laced with above-ground power and drainage infrastructure. The geography makes utilities particularly storm-sensitive, yet the City Council and local providers have poured resources into resiliency projects since Hurricane Katrina, from buried feeder lines to rooftop solar. Keep that “weather factor” in mind as you set up each service.

Electricity

Entergy New Orleans (ENO) is the sole electric utility inside city limits; Louisiana is not deregulated in Orleans Parish, so you don’t shop for competing suppliers the way you would in Texas. Instead, your task is to open a residential account, choose any optional rate add-ons, and explore rebates.

Why ENO matters

• Serves about 200,000 electric customers.
• Subject to New Orleans City Council regulation rather than the Louisiana Public Service Commission, giving the council power over rates and a forward-leaning Renewable & Clean Portfolio Standard (RCPS) that targets 100 % carbon-free electricity by 2050.
• Operates the Energy Smart program, which pays cash back for efficiency upgrades such as $1,000 on heat-pump water heaters and $50–100 for smart thermostats.

Optional green choices

• Green Select / Green Power Option: ENO retires Renewable Energy Credits on your behalf so part or all of your usage is matched with Louisiana-generated solar; Green-e Energy certified. Typically 0.5–2.0 ¢/kWh adder depending on tier.
• Rooftop & Community Solar: City-approved 5 MW commercial rooftop buildout that feeds the local grid. Homeowners can net meter new installs < 25 kW.

Natural Gas

Entergy New Orleans also distributes natural gas to about 108,000 customers. Setup is bundled with your electric account (two line items, one bill). For appliance upgrades, the Energy Smart appliance rebates above apply to efficient gas furnaces and hybrid water heaters.

What’s interesting

• ENO’s pipeline network is undergoing a 10-year hardening program to reduce leaks and lower methane emissions.
• Gas rate riders include seasonal “Gas System Reliability” charges that vary each winter—budget for a small swing.

Water & Sewer

The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), an independent public utility, handles drinking water, sewer, and the famed pumping system that keeps the bowl-shaped city dry.

• Account setup: In person (625 St. Joseph St.) or phone (504-529-2837). Lease or deed plus ID required.
• Billing: Fixed service charge + volumetric water + sewer (roughly 2× water gallons).
• Payment Assistance: The Water Help Program offers up to $200 per year for seniors, disabled, or income-qualified households, administered by Total Community Action.
• Conservation tip: SWBNO gives away high-efficiency showerheads and faucet aerators during quarterly outreach events, worth grabbing in a city where groundwater intrusion can muddy supply.

Trash, Recycling & Yard Waste

Residential garbage is city-funded; you don’t pick a hauler. The city is split into 5 service areas:

• Service Area 1: Richard’s Disposal
• Service Area 2: IV Waste
• Service Area 3: Waste Pro
• Service Area 4: Richard’s Disposal
• Service Area 5: KBS

Key Information

• Pickup cadence: 2 × week garbage, 1 × week recycling (blue cart, opt-in).
• French Quarter / DDD note: A separate Downtown contract is pending council approval but collection remains uninterrupted.

Best Internet Providers in New Orleans

Telecom is competitive in New Orleans, and speeds can vary widely by neighborhood. It’s smart to run an address check with each provider before making a decision.

• Cox Communications
  Cox is the most widely available provider in New Orleans (over 90%), offering speeds up to 2 Gbps via cable. They’re known for contract-free options and bundle packages with TV and phone service. Their Panoramic Wi-Fi gateway is popular for large households and renters alike.
• AT&T Fiber
  In select neighborhoods (about 65% of the city), AT&T offers fiber internet with symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gbps. It’s fast, reliable, and includes perks like HBO Max on select plans. However, coverage is limited to certain areas like parts of Uptown, Mid-City, and Lakeview.
• T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
  This fixed wireless service offers around 200 Mbps speeds in most areas with strong cell coverage. It’s easy to self-install, doesn’t require a contract, and includes a price-lock guarantee. Great for renters or as a flexible backup option.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet
  Another fixed wireless option with speeds ranging from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps depending on signal strength. Verizon includes unlimited data, no contracts, and often throws in free streaming devices or trial subscriptions as sign-up bonuses.
• Satellite Internet (Starlink, HughesNet, Viasat)
  Satellite providers serve rural or outlying areas of Orleans Parish and can also be useful during storm recovery. Starlink (low-Earth orbit) offers faster speeds and lower latency than older satellite options, but comes at a premium price.

Tips for choosing a provider in New Orleans

1. Check infrastructure at your address. Fiber is often buried and more resilient during storms, while cable and fixed wireless may go down in an outage.
2. Watch for bundles. Cox is the main provider that offers internet + TV + phone bundles if you’re looking for a single bill.
3. Plan for hurricane season. Fixed wireless (like T-Mobile and Verizon) depends on home electricity, so consider a battery backup (UPS) for your router.

Green Energy & Conservation in New Orleans

With subtropical heat, aging infrastructure, and a growing interest in climate resilience, New Orleans has steadily expanded its green energy and conservation efforts. From rooftop solar and smart home incentives to ambitious citywide climate goals, there are many ways residents can reduce energy use and support clean power.

1. Energy Smart Program (Entergy New Orleans)

Energy Smart is the city’s cornerstone conservation program, launched in partnership with Entergy New Orleans and regulated by the New Orleans City Council. It offers a wide range of rebates, incentives, and free upgrades to help residents reduce their utility bills.

Residential incentives include:

• Smart thermostat rebates: $50–$100 back when you install a qualifying smart thermostat.
• HVAC tune-up incentives: Up to $150 for high-efficiency upgrades or seasonal servicing.
• LED lighting giveaways: Free LEDs are available through community events and some online orders.
• Home energy assessments: Free or low-cost walkthroughs from approved contractors to identify air leaks, duct issues, and insulation gaps.
• Heat pump water heaters: Up to $1,000 in incentives for efficient upgrades.
• Low-income weatherization: For qualifying households, Energy Smart offers free insulation, duct sealing, and other improvements with no out-of-pocket cost.

2. Green Power Option (Renewable Energy Credits)

If you rent, live in a condo, or can’t install rooftop solar, Entergy’s Green Power Option lets you voluntarily support clean energy through Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). These RECs are tied to solar generation from facilities in Louisiana and are Green-e Energy certified, ensuring environmental integrity.

How it works:

• You can opt to match 25%, 50%, or 100% of your monthly electricity use.
• The charge is small, generally 0.5¢ to 2¢ per kilowatt-hour.
• Entergy retires the corresponding RECs on your behalf, reducing overall carbon emissions.

Sign up through your Entergy account dashboard.

3. Rooftop Solar & Net Metering

New Orleans has one of the most progressive net metering policies in the state. Residents who install solar panels can:

• Offset energy use with rooftop generation.
• Sell excess energy back to the grid at a retail rate through Entergy’s Advanced Meter Net Metering program.
• Reduce backup needs with battery storage (especially helpful during hurricane season).

Incentives for solar in New Orleans:

• Federal Solar Tax Credit (ITC): 30% credit through 2032 on system + installation costs.
• Property Tax Exemption: Louisiana exempts solar equipment from property taxes.
• Local permitting: The city has streamlined solar permitting with most applications approved in under 2 weeks.

4. Community Solar Projects

If you can’t go solar at home, New Orleans has begun rolling out community solar, where residents can subscribe to a portion of a shared rooftop or solar farm and receive credits on their Entergy bill.

• The city’s first 5 MW of rooftop solar was installed on schools and municipal buildings.
• These are open to renters, condo owners, and low-income households.
• No equipment or maintenance costs required.

5. Citywide Climate & Energy Goals

New Orleans adopted an official Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard (RCPS) in 2020, which mandates:

• 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040
• Interim target of 70% renewable by 2030
• Promotion of distributed generation, energy storage, and equity-focused access to clean energy

This policy guides Entergy’s investments and opens up future funding for residential clean energy programs.

6. Storm-Hardening & Efficiency Tax Incentives

In a hurricane-prone region, energy resilience and conservation go hand in hand. Louisiana residents can take advantage of:

• State tax deduction (up to $5,000) for storm shutters, generators, solar battery systems, and other storm-hardening upgrades.
• Sales tax holiday for emergency preparedness supplies before hurricane season.
• Federal tax credits for energy-efficient windows, insulation, and HVAC systems through the Inflation Reduction Act.

7. Water Conservation & Green Infrastructure

New Orleans has also turned attention to reducing stormwater runoff and overburdened sewer systems:

• Rain barrels and bioswales are encouraged through the city’s “Living with Water” initiative.
• SWBNO giveaway programs occasionally include faucet aerators and water-saving kits.
• Urban gardening and tree planting supported by nonprofits like SOUL NOLA contribute to climate adaptation while improving air and soil quality.

Financial Assistance & Bill Relief in New Orleans

New Orleans summers are hot and humid, and utility bills can spike, especially for those with fixed or limited incomes. Thankfully, there are several programs that offer direct help with electric, gas, water, and sewer bills. Whether you need one-time relief or ongoing support, here are your best options:

1. LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)

This federally funded program provides annual or crisis-based bill payment assistance for electric and gas services.

• Covers: Electricity and natural gas
• Who’s eligible: Households earning ≤60% of the state median income
• What it offers: One-time payments applied directly to your Entergy bill, plus additional help during extreme weather
• How to apply: Through Total Community Action at 1410 S. Norman C. Francis Parkway or tca-nola.org
• Tip: Appointments book up fast, apply early in the season.

2. Entergy “The Power to Care” Program

Funded by customer donations and matched by Entergy shareholders, this program helps seniors and individuals with disabilities during emergency situations.

• Covers: Entergy electric and gas bills
• Who’s eligible: Age 60+ or permanently disabled, with verified income hardship
• What it offers: One-time emergency bill payment assistance
• How to apply: Contact Total Community Action or Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans

3. SWBNO Water Help Program

This locally funded initiative helps vulnerable residents manage water and sewer charges.

• Covers: Water and sewer bills through Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO)
• Who’s eligible: Seniors, people with disabilities, or low-income households
• What it offers: Up to $200 per year in bill credit
• How to apply: Through Total Community Action, which verifies eligibility and handles enrollment

4. City of New Orleans Utility Assistance Program

During times of elevated need (like heat waves, hurricanes, or economic downturns), the City of New Orleans may offer temporary utility bill relief grants.

• Covers: Varies—can include electricity, gas, water, or combined housing assistance
• Who’s eligible: Varies by funding cycle; typically income-based
• What it offers: Emergency bill assistance or arrears forgiveness
• How to apply: Check nola.gov/community-development or call 311 for updates on availability

5. United Way of Southeast Louisiana & Partner Nonprofits

Community organizations frequently collaborate with Entergy and city agencies to offer additional utility aid during the summer and holiday months.

• Covers: Electricity, gas, and sometimes water
• Who’s eligible: Generally low-income households or those experiencing sudden hardship
• What it offers: Emergency bill support, utility relief funds, free box fans, and energy-saving kits
• How to access: Follow United Way SELA and local nonprofits like HandsOn New Orleans or Catholic Charities for open enrollment announcements

Helpful Tips for Applying:

• Gather your photo ID, proof of residence, proof of income (last 30 days), and a current utility bill before applying.
• Programs often open seasonally, especially ahead of summer and winter spikes, apply early!
• If you’re recovering from a storm or disaster, Entergy and SWBNO may offer deferred payment plans or late-fee waivers, just ask.

New Orleans Internet Connectivity

Fastest Internet Providers in New Orleans

New Orleans Drinking Water Quality Information

Clean drinking water is essential for maintaining good health and overall well-being. Safe, contaminant-free water helps prevent the spread of diseases, supports proper hydration, and ensures the body's vital functions operate smoothly.