
Reno utilities are essential! Maybe you're moving to Reno for the first time, or maybe you're relocating from one Reno home to another one. Whatever your living situation is, you need to set up City of Reno utilities in a timely fashion. You're responsible for starting utility accounts and paying your bills on time, so it's important to know all the details.
The Reno Municipal Code provides some regulations for Reno utilities. Title 12 of the Reno Municipal Code dictates laws for water and sewer services, including what the City of Reno should do during water shortages. The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) oversees all utility companies in Nevada, including all providers of Reno utilities.
Nevada is an energy choice state, meaning that you can choose your own Reno natural gas provider. All residents use the same Reno electric, water, and sewer providers, with a few choices for internet providers Reno. Study these providers, and you can figure out how to make the most out of Reno utilities. Here's what to know about Reno utilities.
Before you start looking at Reno utilities, you should understand the cost of City of Reno utilities. The cost of living index compares the cost of items in a city or metropolitan area to the national average, including the cost of utilities. The Reno cost of living index for utilities is 91.5, meaning that Reno utilities are 8.5% less expensive than the national average.
Here is the cost of Reno utilities every month, according to Doxo:
The U.S. Energy Information Administration found that Nevada households paid an average of 13.36 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity in July 2025. Nevada households also paid an average of $13.50 for every thousand cubic feet of natural gas. Both of these expenses for Reno utilities were lower than the national average for residential units.
The cost of Reno utilities may increase over the next two years. According to KENV, the City of Reno is proposing an 8% increase in sewer user rates to take effect on October 1, 2025. Another 8% hike would then occur on October 1, 2026. The rate increase is due to the increased cost of chemicals, electricity, and insurance at water facilities in Reno. According to the Nevada Current, NV Power, the main Reno electric company, is proposing a 9% rate increase in Southern Nevada. However, the company would waive service charges for low-income residents, so some residents would pay less for Reno utilities.
NV Energy provides electricity for all residents in Reno. NV Energy began serving customers over 150 years ago, and its service area now covers nearly 46,000 square miles. The service area covers all of Reno, Sparks, Las Vegas, and Elko. The Reno electric company serves nearly 1.3 million residents across Nevada, as well as over 50 million tourists who use Reno utilities during vacations.
You can start NV Energy services online. If you prefer to talk to an NV Energy representative, you can call customer service at 702-402-5555. To start Reno electric services, you must provide:
After providing this information, you can schedule a time to turn on your Reno electricity. NV Energy will only turn on electricity during weekdays, and you may not be able to schedule an appointment for a week or more. NV Energy recommends requesting the start of your NV Energy service at least seven days in advance.
You must pay a deposit for Reno utilities, due with your first Reno electric bill. The Reno utilities deposit is based on the average historic monthly bill at your new address. If your home is a new construction, you will pay a fee of $100. You can pay your deposit in three equal installments once you receive your first bill for Reno utilities. NV Energy will waive the deposit if you can provide the Reno power company with a letter of good credit from your previous utility company.
The NV Energy electric rate schedules as of July 1, 2025, apply to all residents in Reno equally. If you're the property owner of a single-family home, you will pay a basic service charge of $18.50 a month. Each kilowatt-hour of electricity costs $0.10996. Residents in multi-family units pay a basic service charge of $9.25 a month and $0.10601 per kilowatt-hour.
You have a few options for specialty NV Energy rates:
NV Energy does not run its own hardship programs to pay for Reno utilities. You can contact Nevada 211, United Way Southern Nevada, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for support.
You can pay your NV Energy bill in a few ways:
NV Energy is also the main natural gas provider to Reno residents. The company provides natural gas to over 145,000 customers in the Reno-Sparks area. NV Energy's service area for natural gas services is limited to the Truckee Meadows, so some cities near Reno do not receive NV Energy services for natural gas. Nevada is an energy choice state, so you are permitted to choose another natural gas provider. However, there are no major Reno natural gas providers besides NV Energy.
You can use the same process to start electricity services and start your Reno natural gas services. NV Energy does not require a separate security deposit for natural gas services if you're also using NV Energy for electricity. If you are only ordering natural gas, you will need to pay a deposit based on your address's monthly gas bill. NV Energy recommends requesting the start of your natural gas services at least one week in advance of moving day. You can transfer your Reno utilities services or request maintenance by logging into your NV Energy account.
You can pay your natural gas bill the same way you pay your NV Power bill for electricity. You can pay both Reno utilities with the same NV Power bill. If you need help paying your bill for City of Reno utilities, you can contact the Special Assistance Fund for Energy (SAFE). SAFE offers one-time annual assistance for paying your Reno utilities bill.
NV Energy gas rates for Northern Nevada are a combination of a basic service charge and a gas consumption charge per therm. The basic service charge is $16.00 per month per meter, and the gas consumption charge is $0.41270. You may also need to pay a Deferred Energy Accounting Adjustment (DEAA) of $0.05 per therm.
Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) is the official water utility for all of Truckee Meadows, which includes Reno and Sparks. TMWA serves nearly 500,000 customers, and it was established in 2001. It's a community-owned water utility overseen by elected officials and citizens from Reno, Sparks, and other communities in Washoe County.
To start or transfer your Reno water services, you need to contact TMWA by phone. Call customer service at 775-834-8080. You must provide your personal information, including your address in Reno. TMWA workers will set up your Reno water services as soon as possible, but it may take up to five business days to process your request.
TMWA may ask for a deposit to start water services. If your home previously had TMWA water services, your deposit will be a one-time payment of 150% of the monthly rate for the previous year of services. If your home didn't have TMWA services, you will make a one-time payment of $100. Your deposit is due on your first water bill, but you can distribute the deposit payment over three bills for City of Reno utilities.
TMWA has two charges for its Reno utilities services, which you pay simultaneously on your water bill. The first is a customer charge per billing period, which is based on your water meter size. Here is what the customer charge is like:
| Meter size | Charge per meter |
| Up to 3/4" | $23.02 |
| 1" | $25.32 |
| 1 1/2" | $28.81 |
| 2" | $33.39 |
| 3" | $37.98 |
| 4" | $43.70 |
| 6" | $50.66 |
The second charge for City of Reno utilities is a commodity charge per 1,000 gallons. The charge applies to all meter sizes. Here is what the commodity charge is like:
| Tier | Gallons used per billing period | Charge per 1,000 gallons |
| 1 | 0 to 6,000 gallons | $2.14 |
| 2 | 6,001 to 25,000 gallons | $3.45 |
| 3 | Greater than 25,000 gallons | $4.05 |
Most Reno water department consumers pay the commodity charge of Tier 1. If you use over 6,000 gallons, you pay the Tier 1 rate for the first 6,000 gallons you use, then the Tier 2 rate for your remaining water usage. If you use over 25,000 gallons, you pay the Tier 1 rate for the first 6,000 gallons, then the Tier 2 rate for the next 19,000 gallons, then the Tier 3 rate for the remaining water. Be aware of the water you use and take note of how much you use a month to avoid paying too much for City of Reno utilities. Your water meter may be located in your basement.
Your TMWA bill also includes a mandatory Regional Water Management Fee, which is 1.5% of your monthly bill. This Reno water company fee covers the cost of water planning, treatment, and management. You also pay a Right of Way Toll, which gives TMWA the ability to use property controlled by the government. This fee is 5% of your monthly bill.
TMWA does not run its own hardship programs to pay for Reno utilities. You can perform a TMWA bill pay by:
Waste Management Reno (WM) provides Reno trash and recycling services. You can set up services on the Waste Management Reno website after providing your address to check availability. You can view your WM pickup schedule online as well. Most homes in Reno receive Reno trash pick-ups on Wednesday, with recycling taking place every week.
Waste Management Reno provides each home with a 35-, 64-, or 96-gallon cart, depending on trash demand and the size of your home. You will receive a 64- or 96-gallon recycling cart. Here are the monthly City of Reno residential rates for trash and recycling pickups:
WM charges a new customer account activation fee for Reno utilities. You can pay $54.23 to set up your account and have your cart delivered, or you can pay $30.12 without delivery.
Seniors using a 35-gallon trash cart and a 64-gallon recycling cart pay a monthly rate of $18.38. Low-income seniors using the same carts can pay a rate of $13.79. If you need an additional trash cart, you can buy a 64-gallon cart for $13.01 or a 96-gallon cart for $12.46. An additional 64-gallon trash cart costs $8.53, while an additional 96-gallon cart costs $7.49. You can complete a Waste Management Reno pay bill by performing a Waste Management Reno login on the WM site.
You have a few options for quality internet providers Reno:
All four of these internet providers Reno provide Wi-Fi with speeds of over 1,000 Mbps. T Mobile Reno also provides mobile phone and device services. Net NV is the largest locally-run internet provider in Reno. Its service area covers all of Reno, as well as surrounding cities like Washoe City and Carson City.
Reno utilities are easy to set up, repair, and transfer! NV Energy provides electricity and natural gas for all Reno residents, while WM takes care of trash and recycling, and TMWA provides water. You can set up your City of Reno utilities accounts by visiting each provider's website or making a phone call. Rates are available online, and you can also pay your utility bills online.
Now that you know how Reno utilities function, you can get started on your moving journey. Move 4 Less employs the best Reno movers, with over 50,000 successful moves completed. Call 702-381-1200 for a free estimate today.
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