Nothing ruins the first night in a new place like standing in the dark with no hot water because nobody called the utility company. Every city in Northern Colorado handles electricity, gas, and water a little differently, some through the city itself, some through private providers, so the setup process is not one-size-fits-all. Here is exactly what to set up, who to call, and when to do it for Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley.

The General Timeline That Applies Everywhere

Regardless of which city you are moving to, the same basic rule applies: start utility setup 10 to 14 days before your move. Most providers can schedule a start date in advance, and doing it early means your power, water, and internet are live before the moving truck pulls up rather than after. Set your start date for the day before your move if possible, so you are not troubleshooting an account issue while boxes are piling up in the driveway.

You will typically need your new address, move-in date, a photo ID, and either a Social Security number or a deposit if you do not have an established credit history with the provider. Some utilities also require proof of ownership or a signed lease before they will activate service.

Fort Collins

Fort Collins is unusual in that the city itself runs almost everything.

Electric, water, wastewater, and stormwater: All four are handled directly by Fort Collins Utilities, a municipal, not-for-profit utility. You can set up new service and manage your account through the city’s MyWater and MyEnergy portal at fcgov.com, or by calling the Utilities Customer Accounts line.

Gas: Natural gas is not part of the city utility. Xcel Energy handles gas service for Fort Collins, so this is a separate account and a separate call or online signup.

Internet: Fort Collins runs its own municipal fiber network, Fort Collins Connexion, which now reaches the majority of addresses in the city. It is worth checking availability at your new address first, since city-owned fiber tends to beat national providers on both price and reliability. If Connexion is not yet available at your address, Xfinity and CenturyLink both operate in Fort Collins as alternatives.

Loveland

Loveland follows a similar municipal model to Fort Collins, with one extra step for anyone bringing their own internet expectations.

Electric and water: Both are handled by Loveland Water and Power, the city’s own utility. New service can be set up online through the city’s account portal or by calling Utility Billing. Requests can typically be processed as early as the next business day, though it is smarter to schedule at least a few days ahead during busy moving seasons.

Gas: Like Fort Collins, natural gas in Loveland runs through Xcel Energy rather than the city.

Internet: Loveland has its own city-owned fiber service, Loveland Pulse, which bills separately from your electric and water account even though it is run by the same city utility. If Pulse is not available yet at your address, national providers like Xfinity are the fallback.

Greeley

Greeley works differently from its northern neighbors, with private providers handling electricity and gas instead of the city.

Water and sewer: These are the two services Greeley runs directly. New residents set up an account through the Greeley Utility Portal, and it is worth registering as soon as you have an account number, since the city moved to a new billing system that requires account creation for online payments and autopay.

Electric: Xcel Energy provides electricity throughout Greeley, the same investor-owned utility that handles gas in Fort Collins and Loveland.

Gas: Natural gas in Greeley runs through Atmos Energy rather than Xcel, which surprises a lot of people moving from elsewhere in the region. This is a separate account from your electric service.

Internet: Greeley does not have a municipal fiber option like Fort Collins or Loveland. Quantum Fiber has a strong footprint in the city, alongside Xfinity and other regional providers, so it is worth comparing plans rather than assuming one default option.

Windsor, Timnath, and Wellington

If you are landing in one of the smaller towns between the major cities, expect a mix of providers depending on which county your specific address falls in. Windsor, for example, splits water service between its own municipal system and the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District depending on whether you are in the Weld County or Larimer County portion of town, while electric and gas typically run through Xcel Energy across all three towns. Because service boundaries can shift block by block in these newer developments, it is worth confirming your specific provider with the town’s utility billing office rather than assuming it matches your neighbor’s setup.

A Quick Pre-Move-In Checklist

  • Confirm your move-in date and schedule utility start dates 10 to 14 days ahead
  • Set up electric and gas as separate accounts in any city where the city utility does not cover gas
  • Register for water and sewer service directly through your city’s utility portal
  • Check internet availability at your specific address before committing to a provider, since fiber coverage varies block by block
  • Have your ID, move-in date, and Social Security number or deposit ready for each signup
  • Schedule a final meter read and closing bill with your old utility providers so you are not billed after move-out

For everything else to knock out before move-in day, our packing checklist guide and our address change checklist cover the rest of the pre-move logistics.

Focus on Settling In, We'll Handle the Move

Once your utilities are lined up, let Skyline Moving handle the rest. We move families and businesses throughout Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Timnath, and Wellington. Get a free quote and let’s get your move on the calendar.