Moving home in US: setting up your energy
What actually happens when you move in, and what to do about it — compiled August 2026.
Provider of Last Resort (POLR) — only in deregulated states
It’s genuinely state-by-state. In the ~32 traditionally regulated states, there’s a single monopoly utility and no switching decision — just open an account with it. In the ~18 deregulated states + DC, if you don’t pick a retail provider you fall back to a designated Provider of Last Resort (or “standard offer”/”price to compare” rate), typically pricier than shopping around.
What to do
Take a meter reading with a photo/timestamp on move-in day.
Check whether your area is regulated or deregulated first — this determines whether you even have a choice to make.
In deregulated Texas, find your ESI ID (17-22 digits) to shop plans or set up service.
In a regulated area, just call the single utility serving your address — no comparison shopping applies.
Ready to compare US energy providers?
See US providers →Complete a switch through one of our approved US partners and get a pair of Warrior Headphones, worth $121 — on top of the partner’s own offer.