Texas Natural Gas Provider Setup for New Residents (2026)

Electric choice gets the headlines; natural gas still heats half the stoves in Dallas and Fort Worth. If your lease says “tenant pays gas,” you need an account in your name before you cook dinner night one.

Monopoly utility vs electric choice

ERCOT areas let you shop power on Power to Choose. Gas is usually one regulated utility per footprint — Atmos Energy covers much of North Texas, other brands serve San Antonio or smaller towns.

Search “[city] natural gas utility start service” — not a comparison shopping site.

Apartment vs single-family

Situation	Action
Master-metered building	Gas may be in landlord name — you reimburse or pay flat fee
Individual meter	Call utility with lease start date
All-electric unit	Skip gas; confirm stove is induction/electric

Worth knowing: carbon monoxide detectors matter when gas furnaces fire up after a summer idle.

Connection and deposits

Utilities may pull credit or charge deposits for new accounts — similar to electric. Budget $50–$150 deposit ranges depending on credit.

Provide:

• Move-in date
• Social Security number (for credit check)
• Meter access instructions if gate codes exist

Tie-in with DPS and registration

A gas bill in your name counts toward two residency documents at DPS when paired with a lease. Same for license transfer. Coordinate timing with electric setup.

Safety after move-in

If you smell rotten eggs, leave and call the utility emergency line from outside — do not flip switches.

Starting points

• Atmos Energy — Start Service
• Your city gas utility website (search municipal gas if not Atmos)