Moving to Nashville means setting up essential services: electricity, water, natural gas, internet, and trash. The process is straightforward if you know which providers serve your address and what documentation they require. This guide covers the setup process, typical costs, and the details that trip up newcomers.
Estimate Your Monthly Utility Costs
Before diving into provider details, get a rough estimate for your situation.
Quick Cost Estimator
| Service | Apartment (1-2 BR) | House (3 BR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (Summer) | $150-$250 | $200-$350 | AC drives summer costs |
| Electric (Winter) | $100-$180 | $150-$250 | Heat pump or electric heat |
| Electric (Mild) | $80-$130 | $120-$180 | Spring and fall |
| Water + Sewer | $40-$60 | $60-$100 | Higher with irrigation |
| Gas (Summer) | $20-$30 | $20-$30 | Minimal (pilot, cooking) |
| Gas (Winter) | $50-$80 | $80-$120 | Gas heating homes only |
| Internet | $50-$80 | $50-$80 | Fiber or cable |
| Trash | $0-$30 | $0-$30 | Often included or HOA |
Seasonal Totals
| Season | Apartment | House |
|---|---|---|
| Summer peak | $260-$420 | $330-$560 |
| Winter | $210-$350 | $310-$480 |
| Mild months | $170-$270 | $230-$360 |
| Annual average | $200-$320/month | $280-$420/month |
These estimates assume typical usage. Working from home increases costs. Older homes with poor insulation run higher. Newer construction with modern HVAC runs lower. All-electric homes skip gas but have higher winter electric bills.
Electricity: Nashville Electric Service (NES)
Nashville Electric Service is a public utility serving Davidson County. You don’t choose your electric provider; NES is it.
Setup Process
Online: Most setups can be completed at nespower.com. You’ll need your new address, move-in date, government ID, and Social Security number.
Timeline: Service activation takes one to two business days for addresses with existing meters. New construction takes longer.
Deposit: NES runs a credit check. Good credit means no deposit. Poor or no credit history triggers a deposit equal to approximately two times your expected monthly bill, typically $200 to $400 for apartments.
Connection fee: $15, charged on your first bill.
What to Expect Monthly
Nashville summers are brutal on electric bills. Air conditioning drives costs dramatically higher from June through September.
Summer months (AC running): $150 to $250 for apartments, $200 to $350 for houses.
Winter months: $100 to $180 for apartments, $150 to $250 for houses. Many Nashville homes use electric heat pumps, which are efficient but still add to winter bills.
Spring and fall: $80 to $130 when you’re running neither heat nor AC consistently.
NES offers budget billing that averages your annual usage into equal monthly payments. This smooths out the summer spikes but means paying more than actual usage during mild months.
For International Residents
If you don’t have a Social Security number, you’ll need to visit an NES office in person. The main office is located in the Gulch area. Bring your passport, visa documentation, and lease agreement. Expect a deposit regardless of your home-country credit history.
Water and Sewer: Metro Water Services
Metro Water Services handles water and wastewater for Davidson County. Like electricity, you don’t have provider options.
Setup Process
Online: Start service at nashville.gov/water. You’ll need your service address, move-in date, and identification.
Timeline: One to two business days for existing service addresses.
Fees: Processing fee of $10 to $15 on your first bill. Deposits are less common than with electric service but may apply in some situations.
What to Expect Monthly
Water bills include both water usage and sewer charges, which are calculated based on water consumption.
Typical apartment: $40 to $60 monthly.
House with irrigation: $60 to $100 or more, depending on lawn watering habits.
Note: Some apartment complexes include water in rent. Verify with your landlord before setting up service.
Water bills arrive monthly but cover the previous month’s usage. Your first bill may be prorated for a partial month.
Natural Gas: Piedmont Natural Gas
Natural gas service is optional depending on your home’s setup. Many Nashville homes use gas for heating, water heaters, and cooking. All-electric homes skip this provider entirely.
Setup Process
Online or phone: Service can be initiated at piedmontng.com or by calling customer service.
Timeline: Same-day to next-day activation for existing service.
Deposit: Credit-based, similar to NES. Typically $50 to $150 if required.
What to Expect Monthly
Gas usage is highly seasonal. Summer bills are minimal (pilot lights and occasional cooking), while winter heating drives significant costs.
Summer: $20 to $30 monthly.
Winter: $80 to $120 for houses using gas heat. Apartments with gas heat run slightly lower.
All-electric homes: Skip this section entirely. You’ll have no gas bill but higher winter electric bills.
Trash and Recycling
Trash collection in Nashville depends on where you live. The rules vary between Metro-served areas, private haulers, and managed communities.
Metro Public Works (Most of Davidson County)
If you live in a single-family home or duplex within Metro Nashville’s service area, curbside trash and recycling collection is provided by Metro Public Works.
Cost: Included in property taxes. No separate bill for residents.
Schedule: Weekly trash pickup. Recycling pickup every other week. Check nashville.gov/pw for your specific collection day.
Bins: Metro provides 95-gallon rolling carts for trash and recycling. Request bins through Metro’s website or by calling 311. Delivery takes one to two weeks.
Bulk pickup: Large items (furniture, appliances) require scheduling. Call 311 or submit online request. Limited free pickups per year, fees apply for additional.
Private Haulers (Some Areas)
Some areas outside Metro’s direct service use private trash collection companies. Your landlord or HOA will specify which provider and whether it’s included in rent or dues.
Common private haulers in the Nashville area:
- Republic Services
- Waste Management
- Red River Waste Solutions
If you’re responsible for arranging private service, expect $25 to $35 monthly for weekly pickup.
Apartments and Condos
Most apartment complexes provide dumpsters or trash rooms. Trash removal is typically included in rent or covered by HOA fees. You generally don’t need to arrange anything.
Verify with your property manager:
- Location of trash disposal
- Recycling availability and rules
- Large item disposal procedures
Recycling Details
Nashville’s curbside recycling accepts:
- Paper and cardboard (flattened)
- Plastic bottles and containers (#1-#7)
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal cans (aluminum and steel)
Not accepted curbside: plastic bags, styrofoam, electronics, yard waste.
Yard waste: Collected separately in Metro service areas. Requires biodegradable bags or loose piles at curb. Check schedule as it varies seasonally.
Internet: Multiple Providers, Variable Coverage
Unlike utilities, internet service involves choice and competition. Coverage varies by neighborhood, and the best option at one address may not be available across the street.
Google Fiber
Coverage: Downtown, East Nashville, The Gulch, 12South, Germantown, and expanding to other neighborhoods. Check availability at fiber.google.com.
Cost: $70 monthly for 1 Gbps symmetrical (same upload and download speeds).
Setup: Self-install option available. Professional installation is free but requires scheduling.
Contract: No long-term contract required.
Google Fiber is the gold standard where available. Symmetrical gigabit speeds, straightforward pricing, no data caps, no contracts. The limitation is purely geographic; if it’s not in your neighborhood, it’s not an option.
AT&T Fiber
Coverage: Broader than Google Fiber, available in most Nashville neighborhoods.
Cost: $55 to $80 monthly depending on speed tier. Plans range from 300 Mbps to 5 Gbps.
Setup: Professional installation typically required, usually free with service commitment.
Contract: Often requires 12-month commitment for promotional pricing.
AT&T Fiber is the most widely available fiber option. Performance is comparable to Google Fiber. Watch for promotional pricing that increases after the first year.
Xfinity (Comcast)
Coverage: Available nearly everywhere in Davidson County.
Cost: $30 to $100 monthly depending on speed tier. Plans range from basic broadband to gigabit.
Data caps: 1.2 TB monthly data cap applies to most plans. Unlimited data costs an additional $30 monthly.
Contract: Month-to-month available but promotional pricing often requires commitment.
Xfinity is the fallback option when fiber isn’t available. Cable internet provides good speeds but the data cap frustrates heavy users. Customer service reputation is poor, but the service itself is reliable in most areas.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Coverage: Varies based on cellular tower proximity and congestion.
Cost: $50 monthly flat rate.
Speeds: Advertised as 33 to 245 Mbps, actual speeds depend heavily on location and network load.
No data caps, no contracts.
T-Mobile works well in some locations and poorly in others. The company offers a 15-day trial period. Worth testing if you want to avoid traditional ISPs, but fiber is more reliable where available.
Checking Your Options
Before signing a lease, verify internet availability at the specific address:
- Google Fiber: fiber.google.com/cities/nashville
- AT&T: att.com/internet
- Xfinity: xfinity.com/locations
Don’t assume neighborhood-level availability extends to your unit. Some buildings have exclusive agreements with single providers.
Special Billing Situations
Not everyone sets up utilities directly with providers. Depending on your housing situation, billing may work differently.
Third-Party Utility Billing (TPUB)
Many apartment complexes use third-party billing companies to allocate utility costs among units. Instead of receiving bills directly from NES or Metro Water, you receive a consolidated bill from a company like:
- Conservice
- RealPage Utility Management
- Multifamily Utility Company
- SimpleBills
How it works: The property receives a master bill for the entire building. The billing company allocates costs to individual units based on submeters, square footage, occupancy, or a combination.
What to expect:
- Monthly bill from the billing company, not the utility provider
- Service fees added ($3 to $8 per billing cycle is common)
- Allocation methods vary; ask your leasing office how costs are divided
- Payment typically due to the billing company, not included in rent
Before signing a lease with TPUB: Ask for average utility costs for your specific unit size. The leasing office should have this data. Allocation-based billing can result in higher costs than direct metering if you’re a low-usage resident in a building with high-usage neighbors.
Utilities Included in Rent
Some apartments advertise “utilities included.” This phrase means different things at different properties.
Common variations:
- Water only included (most common)
- Water and trash included
- Water, trash, and gas included
- All utilities included (rare, usually furnished or short-term rentals)
What’s almost never included: Electricity and internet. If a listing says “utilities included” without specifics, assume it means water.
Get specifics in writing: Before signing, confirm exactly which utilities are included and which you’re responsible for. The lease should specify this clearly.
HOA-Covered Services
If you’re buying or renting a condo, townhouse, or home in a managed community, some utilities may be covered by HOA fees.
Commonly covered by HOA:
- Water (master-metered buildings)
- Trash and recycling
- Basic cable or internet (some communities)
- Exterior maintenance and landscaping
Rarely covered by HOA:
- Electricity (almost always individual responsibility)
- Gas (usually individual)
- Internet (usually individual, but some communities have bulk agreements)
What to verify: Request the HOA’s list of covered services before committing to a property. HOA fees range from $150 to $600+ monthly in Nashville depending on amenities and coverage.
Setup Checklist and Timeline
Two Weeks Before Move-In
- [ ] Verify internet availability at new address
- [ ] Schedule internet installation if needed (fiber installation appointments can book out)
- [ ] Set up NES account online
- [ ] Set up Metro Water account online (unless included in rent or TPUB)
- [ ] Set up Piedmont account if your home has gas appliances
- [ ] Confirm with landlord/HOA which services they handle
One Week Before
- [ ] Confirm all activation dates align with your move-in date
- [ ] Ensure you have required documentation ready (ID, lease, SSN or passport)
- [ ] Note any deposit requirements and budget accordingly
- [ ] For Metro-served homes: request trash/recycling bins through 311 or nashville.gov
Move-In Day
- [ ] Verify electricity is active (lights work)
- [ ] Verify water is active (faucets work)
- [ ] Test gas appliances if applicable (stove ignites, water heater is producing hot water)
- [ ] Meet internet installer or complete self-install
- [ ] Locate trash disposal area (dumpster, bins, or curbside spot)
First Month
- [ ] Watch for first bills from each provider (or from TPUB company)
- [ ] Set up autopay to avoid late fees
- [ ] Consider budget billing for NES if you prefer predictable monthly amounts
- [ ] If bills seem unexpectedly high, verify meter readings and request usage history
Common Issues and Solutions
“I don’t have a Social Security number”
Visit provider offices in person with passport and visa documentation. NES and Metro Water have processes for international residents but require in-person verification.
“My apartment says utilities are included”
Verify exactly what’s included. “Utilities included” might mean water only, or it might mean everything except electric. Get specifics before assuming.
“The previous tenant didn’t cancel service”
This happens. Call the provider and explain you’re a new tenant. They’ll transfer service to your name without interruption once they verify your lease.
“I need internet today”
T-Mobile Home Internet ships quickly and activates immediately. Use it as a bridge while waiting for fiber installation if needed.
“My bills are higher than expected”
Request an energy audit from NES (often free or low-cost). Common culprits: old HVAC systems, poor insulation, water heaters set too high, phantom power draws from electronics.
“I’m getting billed by a company I don’t recognize”
If you’re in an apartment, it’s likely a third-party utility billing company. Check with your leasing office to confirm the billing company is legitimate before paying.
“My trash wasn’t picked up”
For Metro service: Verify your collection day at nashville.gov/pw or call 311. Bins must be at curb by 6 AM on collection day. If missed, report through 311.
Provider Contact Information
NES (Electric)
- Website: nespower.com
- Phone: 615-736-6900
- Office: 1214 Church Street (Gulch area)
Metro Water Services
- Website: nashville.gov/water
- Phone: 615-862-4600
Piedmont Natural Gas
- Website: piedmontng.com
- Phone: 800-752-7504
Metro Public Works (Trash/Recycling)
- Website: nashville.gov/pw
- Phone: 311 (within Nashville) or 615-862-5000
Google Fiber
- Website: fiber.google.com
- Phone: 866-777-7550
AT&T
- Website: att.com
- Phone: 800-288-2020
Xfinity
- Website: xfinity.com
- Phone: 800-934-6489
Utility costs and setup procedures verified through provider websites and Nashville area resources. Prices reflect early 2025 rates. Actual costs vary by specific address, home size, usage patterns, and seasonal factors.