Quick Clicks

ELECTRICITY

Set up electrical service with Portland General Electric here.

Set up electrical service with Pacific Power here.

GAS SERVICE

Set up gas service with NW Natural.

WATER AND SEWER

Set up water and sewer service with the Portland Water Bureau.

GARBAGE AND RECYCLING

Set up garbage and recycling services in Portland, Oregon.

Connecting Portland Utilities

Let’s talk about setting up Portland utilities.

Moving — whether it’s across town or across the country — is an exciting and, let’s face it, stressful time. There’s so much to think about and to plan before, during, and after the move. It’s easy for things to get lost in the shuffle — even big things, such as setting up utilities in your new residence.

Smooth Move People is here to help! We’ve got the people and the equipment to make your move as smooth as smooth can be. We perform both local and long-distance moves, and our rates are as low as low can be.

Moving to Portland? We’ve put together a guide for you to help with setting up city services, such as water, sewer, garbage, and recycling so that your home will be up and running and humming along nicely when you arrive to begin your new life.

Even if you’re moving from within the Portland metropolitan area, there are some quirks to Portland utilities and services that you should know about.

So read on — and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.13707526_1078341032215782_2708643953053465582_n

Moving to Portland: Utilities

Moving to Portland? Welcome! You’ve joined thousands of people who have moved to a place consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States.

Electrical Service: Portland General Electric

One of the good things about living in Oregon is the relatively low energy costs. And if you’re moving to Portland, you’ll likely be dealing with Portland General Electric (PGE).

PGE has been in business for about 130 years, and they serve about 880,000 retail customers over a 4,000-square-mile service area. Their power comes from within and outside the state using a variety of resources, mainly hydroelectric, natural gas, wind, solar, and coal. The utility is planning to phase out the use of coal by 2035. And in 2020, PGE closed its last Oregon-based coal-fired power plant, “20 years ahead of schedule.”

PGE offers multiple pricing plans, and setting up your service is quick and easy.

Set up electrical service with Portland General Electric here.

Electrical Service: Pacific Power

Certain areas of Portland are serviced by Pacific Power. This utility company works in three states (Oregon, Washington, and California) and serves about 780,000 customers.

Pacific Power also provides programs to help you save money and energy. You can learn about those here. The utility generates its electricity from coal, natural gas, wind, hydro, solar, geothermal, biomass, and other “miscellaneous” sources.

Set up electrical service with Pacific Power here.

Natural Gas Service: NW Natural

downtown-portland-or-waterfrontIf your new home is equipped with gas appliances, then you’ll want to get your service set up with NW Natural. They service about 770,000 customers not just in Portland but throughout the Pacific Northwest.

NW Natural offers a number of incentives and savings programs, along with tips on managing your energy usage.

Set up gas service with NW Natural.

Water and Sewer: City of Portland

Many rental homes and communities as well as condominium associations already have water and sewer set up and paid for through your rent, association fees, HOA fees, etc. But if you’ve bought a home, you’re gonna have to get those utilities set up yourself. Here’s how.

This is one of those areas where there are a few quirks to figure out. Unfortunately, the city’s website doesn’t help much. But that’s OK! As we said, Smooth Move is here to help, so we’ve got it all laid out nice and neat for you.

You’ll likely need to figure out who your water provider is. So plug your new address into the tool found on this page. If you’re in Portland, chances are it’s the Portland Water Bureau.

To open an account with the Water Bureau, click here. You’ll need to call or email them. Be prepared to provide the following information. (This information is taken directly from the Water Bureau site.)

  • Your name and the name of the party responsible for paying the water/sewer bill, if applicable.
  • Service address.
  • Date you are legally responsible for the property. (Start service date.)
  • A mailing address where you would like your bill delivered.

Once your water and sewer service is set up, you can pay your bill here.

Garbage and Recycling: Various

Once again, those who rent and, in many cases, purchase a home within an HOA or condo association may not need to take any action. Your landlord, HOA, or property manager will likely set up service for you.flowering-cherry-tree

Setting up garbage and recycling collection services in Portland on your own involves a few more of those wrinkles we mentioned above. According to the City of Portland itself: “How you set up service depends on whether you’re at home or at work, whether you own or rent your home, and whether you live in a house or a larger building.”

First, figure out who your collector is here.

The costs for these services depend on, among other things, the size of your containers and the frequency of collection.

For homeowners, just about everything they need to know is located here. And if you get turned around (it’s easy to do), you can always go back to the main “how to set up garbage service” page.

Well, we think that about covers it! If you have any questions about moving itself, including about our fabulous and super-low rates, please get in touch with Smooth Move People today.

And best of luck to you in your new home.

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