How to Set Up Utilities in Your Northern Virginia Home

Moving into a new home can be exciting and scary, especially if you are relocating to a new city. One of the most necessary (but less exciting) tasks is setting up all of your utilities.

If you are new to Northern Virginia, the company that takes care of a specific utility may depend on whether you are in city limits or not. It can get a bit confusing, but Smart Settlements is here to help!

Electricity

Dominion Virginia Power

Contact Dominion to schedule your start date as soon as you know it. Most homes in Northern Virginia are supplied by Dominion. A map of electricity providers can be found here.

• How to start service: Register online or call (866) 366-4357.
• Deposit: A $14.41 connection charge will be added to your first bill, along with a deposit based on estimated charges for the upcoming 12-month period.

City of Manassas Electric

If you are within the city limits of Manassas, then you can connect to the city’s electric service along with its water and sewage services.

• How to start service: Fill out this form and submit it to the city office.
• Deposit: New service incurs a $25 charge and a $150 deposit for electricity.

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC)

If you are moving to Fairfax, Loudoun, or Prince William county, then NOVEC may be an electricity option for you.

• How to start service: Request service online or call (888) 335-0500.
• Deposit: A new connection fee of $40 will be added to your first bill. In many cases, new customers must also pay a $300 deposit, either in full with the first month’s bill or spread out over the first three bills.

Sunpower

Looking for a greener energy option? Solar Power may be a solution for your home.

• How to start service: Contact them online to check availability or call (800) 786-7693.
• Deposit: Contact SunPower for specific estimates on installation and equipment costs.

Natural Gas

Washington Gas

Many gas-connected homes in Northern Virginia use Washington Gas as their provider. If your new home does not currently use gas but you would like to add it, see availability at this website, then fill out the Service Information Request Form and follow this checklist.

• How to start service: Fill out this online form or call (844) 927-4427.
• Deposit: Washington Gas completes a soft credit check to determine if a deposit is required. If the home is already set up for gas, a service initiation fee is applied. For completely new gas service, there is a set-up fee for adding gas to your new home.

Columbia Gas of Virginia

Columbia Gas of Virginia provides gas service for the Fairfax cities of Herndon and Chantilly.

• How to start service: If gas is already installed at the home, call (800) 543-8911. If you want to add gas to your home, check the availability here.
• Deposit: Although it depends on the tenant’s credit, most customers must pay a deposit when starting new service. The deposit is paid back when service is stopped or after 12 months of successful payments.

Water and Sewer

In the state of Virginia, water and/or sewage services are handled by either the city or county.

Virginia American Water

Residents in Alexandria city and county and Dale City use Virginia American Water for water and sewage services.

• How to start service: Create an online account here, request service online here, or call (800) 452-6863.
• Deposit: New American Water customers may be subject to a deposit.

Arlington Water & Sewer

The City of Arlington provides water and sewage services to residents living in the city and in Arlington County.

• How to start service: Call (703) 228-6570.
• Deposit: You will pay a $25 fee to turn on the water at your new residence.

Fairfax Water

Fairfax Water takes care of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the city of Falls Church.

FOR NEW RENTERS:

• How to start service: Fill out the form from this webpage and then email it to tenantform@fairfaxwater.org or fax it to (703) 466-6863.
• Deposit: New tenants will incur a $190 Lien Offset payment.

FOR NEW OWNERS:

• How to start service: Fill out the form online or call (703) 698-5800.
• Deposit: On your first bill, you will have an additional new account charge of $37.

Town of Vienna Water & Sewage

Although in Fairfax County, the Town of Vienna provides its residents with water and sewage services.

FOR NEW TENANTS:

• How to start service: Renters must fill out this form online.
• Deposit: You will pay a one-time account set-up fee of $35, and you will have a $225 Lien Offset deposit that will later be applied to your last bill.

FOR NEW OWNERS:

• How to start service as an owner occupant: Fill out this form online.
• How to start service as a landlord: Fill out this form online.
• Deposit: You will pay a one-time account set-up fee of $35.

Town of Herndon Water & Sewage

Although in Fairfax County, the Town of Herndon provides its residents with water, sewage, and recycling services.

• How to start service: Landlords must fill out this authorization form online and new tenants fill out this start service form. Call (703) 435-6814 for questions.
• Deposit: There is a $200 deposit for all new tenants. In addition to water and sewage, tenants also pay $4 quarterly for recycling services.

City of Manassas Water & Sewage

If you are within the city limits of Manassas, then you can use city electric, water, and sewage services.

• How to start service: Fill out this form and submit it to the city office. Call (703) 257-8219 with questions.
• Deposit: New service incurs a $25 charge for water, $25 for sewage, and a $100 deposit for both water and sewage for a total of $150.

Prince William County Service Authority

For most of Prince William county, residents receive water service from the Service Authority.

• How to start service: Fill out this form online. Questions can be directed to customerservice@pwcsa.org or (703) 335-7950.
• Deposit: There is a $35 application fee. If you are a tenant, you must also pay a $250 advance to start service.

Town of Leesburg Water and Sanitary Sewer

The Town of Leesburg takes care of water and sewage services for Leesburg and Purcellville.

• How to start service: Tenants must fill out the water request form online, and the landlord must fill out this form and deliver it to the Town of Leesburg Finance Department Counter on the first floor of Town Hall.
• Deposit: New residents will have a $30 setup charge and $150 deposit.

Town of Hamilton Water & Sewage

Hamilton is a small town in Loudoun County that offers water and sewer services to many residents in and out of town.

• How to start service: Call (540) 338-2811 for questions and to start service to your new home.
• Deposit: New in-town residents will have a one-time fee of $50 on their first bill while out-of-town residents pay a $25 fee.

Town of Roundhill Water and Sewer Services

• How to start service: To request new service, call (540) 338-4772.
• Deposit: A reconnection fee of $125 will be charged to the account upon starting service. Bills are issued every two months.

Loudoun Water (Formerly Loudoun Sanitation Authority)

For the rest of Loudoun County, you most likely need the services of Loudoun Water.

• How to start service: Fill out this form online and call (571) 291-7880 with specific questions.
• Deposit: New tenants pay an account fee of $30 and an advance of $200 when they start service.

Cable and Internet

Verizon FIOS

As with many media companies, you save money if you purchase both cable and internet services from Verizon, although many bundled packages require long-term contracts. However, ordering either standalone cable or internet is possible. If your home does not currently have FiOS, check the availability in your area.

• How to start service: Order packages online or call (877) 225-9137.
• Deposit: Many current promotions eliminate the deposit and set-up fees. There may be equipment rental fees added to your bill, though.

Comcast Xfinity

Like Verizon, Xfinity offers the best rates for long-term contracts that include both cable and internet. However, you can order either cable or internet as its own service. See if Xfinity is available in your area.

• How to start service: Order your package(s) online, chat with a representative on their website, visit an Xfinity store, or call (800) 934-6489.
• Deposit: Yes, there are typically activation and/or installation fees that range from $50 to $90, depending on what work needs to be completed. There may also be equipment rental fees added to your bill.

COX

As with the companies listed above, Cox offers better rates when you bundle cable, internet, and/or home phone service. But, you can choose individual services and receive pricing for each one. Cox does not serve all areas of Northern Virginia, but you can check availability based on your zip code here.

• How to start service: Shop for packages online or call (703) 480-1798.
• Deposit: Any new Cox customer with six or fewer months of payment history does need to pay a deposit, which will be returned after twelve successful monthly payments.

Satellite Television

The best satellite packages typically involve 12- or 24-month contracts and often have promotional elements that expire after a certain amount of time.

DirecTV

• How to start service: Call (877) 660-0107.
• Deposit: Deposits may be required for equipment.

Dish Network

• How to start service: Order online or call (855) 587-0782.
• Deposit: One-time fees may be required for the equipment you use.

DISCLAIMER: The information gathered here is deemed reliable as of the date of publication, but each aforementioned company has the right to change its information, rates, and processes. Contact each company for specific answers and the most updated information.

For additional information on this topic contact Evelyn Miller, Partner, at 202-753-7400.

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