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Moving can be one of the hardest things you ever do. You probably have a long to-do list of items large and small that you need to tackle ahead of moving day. One thing you don’t want to overlook is getting utilities turned on in your new home. As a general rule, you should have most utilities turned on at least the day before you move in to make your relocation easier.
Despite being a large city, San Diego doesn’t have many options for utility providers. Many services are provided by the city but you currently only have one option (SDG&E) for electricity and natural gas. Some utilities in San Diego allow you to start/stop service online, but keep in mind it may take several days before your utilities are turned on. To be on the safe side, plan to have your San Diego utilities scheduled about two weeks before your move if you’re relocating from outside the service area.
Ready to get started? Here’s what you should know about getting utilities turned on in San Diego.
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is the only provider of electricity and natural gas in San Diego. About 29% of SDG&E’s energy comes from natural gas, 27% from unidentified sources, 21% from wind, and 20% from solar. Owned by Sempra Energy, SDG&E provides energy to over 3.3 million consumers with 840,000 natural gas meters and 1.4 million electric meters in the region. In 2020, SDG&E was named the Investor-Owned Utility of the Year.
Note that San Diego’s new public utility, San Diego Community Power, is set to launch in 2021. The provider will offer cleaner energy than SDG&E with a goal of 50-60% renewable energy with rates 2-4% lower than SDG&E.
How to Set up an SDG&E Account
To start/stop or move electric service in San Diego, you must call SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343 Monday to Friday between 7 am and 8 pm or Saturday 7 am to 6 pm. Unfortunately, this can’t be done online.
Average Cost for Electricity and Natural Gas in San Diego
In the standard tiered billing system, SDG&E customers pay 23 cents a kilowatt-hour in the winter and 27 cents per kilowatt-hour in the summer. When usage exceeds 130% of the baseline, the price can go up to 43 cents in the summer and 40 cents in the winter. When usage exceeds 400% of the baseline, rates can climb to 55 cents per kilowatt hour in the summer and 47 cents in the winter.
While this policy was set up by the California Public Utilities Commission to conserve energy, it can be extremely costly when San Diego experiences a heat wave. In 2018, for example, some customers faced monthly bills of more than $650 which included a $200 surcharge for exceeding the residential monthly baseline.
While electricity rates in California are higher than most of the country, SDG&E charges more than Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric, two other major investor-owned utilities. The system average for SDG&E is 22.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.
How to Pay Your SDG&E Bill
There are several ways to pay your SDG&E bill. With an online account, you can pay online at SDGE.com and enroll in automatic payments. Other ways to pay include:
SDG&E mobile app on Android and Apple devices
Credit or debit card without an SDG&E account using BillMatrix ($1.50 convenience fee)
Sewer and water in San Diego are provided by the City of San Diego. The average water bill for a San Diego household is $80 per month, about twice as high as the national average. San Diego has one of the state and country’s highest water rates.
How to Set up a San Diego Water Account
To set up San Diego water service, you can use the online Customer Care Center, call 619-515-3500, or visit the Public Utilities Department Payment Center at 525 B Street in downtown San Diego.
How to Pay Your San Diego Water Bill
There are several ways to pay your water and sewer bill. You can pay for free online using MyWaterSD or automatic deductions (with registration). You can also pay in person at payment locations or pay by mail by sending payment to: City of San Diego Public Utilities Department
Customer Care Center
PO Box 129020
San Diego, CA 92112-9020
Contact Information for the San Diego Public Utilities Department
San Diego has offered trash collection for over 100 years with 410,000 tons of trash collected from more than 289,000 homes every year. Trash collection is a weekly service with a collection day based on where you live. You can search for your address here to find your trash pick-up day.
If you do not qualify for city trash service, you can get service through Waste Management which offers trash collection and recycling services.
How to Set up a San Diego Trash Account
To set up new trash and recycling services, you can submit a request online. This requires entering an Assessor’s Parcel Number. You do not need to do this if the address already has trash service. To have the trash service transferred to your name, you can contact the Environmental Services Department at 858-694-7000.
If your home does not receive trash service through the City of San Diego, you can start service through Waste Management by calling (619) 596-5100
How to Pay Your San Diego Trash Bill
San Diego has a unique century-old rule called the People’s Ordinance. Under this rule, people in San Diego who live in single-family homes do not pay for trash service. Those who do not must pay for trash pick-up. This rule has made San Diego the only major city in California that does not charge residents a trash service fee beyond regular taxes. Regulations have made many homeowners ineligible for the free city pick-up, however, and San Diego no longer picks up trash for most apartment and condo complexes.
Contact Information for San Diego Trash Services
City of San Diego Environmental Services Department
San Diego Internet Providers | Cox, Spectrum & AT&T
You have many options for internet providers in San Diego. The internet providers can vary a bit depending on which area of San Diego you live in, however. You can choose from cable, DSL, and even fiber-optic internet depending on the speed you need.
Cox is the main cable internet provider in San Diego with prices starting at $20 per month. Spectrum also offers cable internet. Both providers offer TV as well as internet services to potentially bundle your services and save money.
AT&T offers DSL internet in San Diego with prices starting at $30 per month. In some areas, fiber-optic is available starting at $40/month. AT&T Fiber starts at $50/month.
Contact Information for San Diego Internet Utilities
Now you should be all set to turn on utilities at your new home in San Diego. Ready to take the next step and actually get ready for the move itself? Turn to Republic Moving & Storage for the help you need on moving day. Call our San Diego movers to get a free moving estimate!
Bill Lovejoy
Bill Lovejoy is the president of Republic Moving and Storage. Purchasing the assets of Republic Relocations in May 2008. In 2008, Republic did $700K of business and today is over $15 Million. Republic was named AMSA’s 2010 Agent of the Year for Service Excellence after only two years in business.
Bill is proud that he grew up doing every facet of the business from a local mover, over the road driver, salesperson, operations manager, and general manager. (and just about everything else in between) Before purchasing Republic, Bill was with Bekins Moving and Storage where he served as a Senior Vice President and was a partner. He was responsible for three HHG companies as well as two logistics companies.
A proud Father of six children, and a lovely wife, Carol, Bill constantly works to keep a balance between work and family Life. Bills “stress relieving” hobbies include racket ball, basketball, tennis, and golf.
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