Everything you need to eliminate stress from your next move. Affordable moving, packing, and unpacking on residential, commercial, local, and long-distance moves.
The main focus of the company has always been great personal service and attention to detail. We differentiate ourselves from other moving companies for the following reasons:
We are an independently owned moving company based out of McAllen, Texas. In addition to being a full-service moving company serving local and statewide moves, Chapa’s Moving Service offers packaging, loading, and unloading for our clients who prefer to move themselves.
McAllen, Texas, often known as "The City of Palms" and "The Texas Tropics," is a dynamic and rapidly expanding urban center in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. It is a beautiful place to live. McAllen is situated in South Texas, just a few miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, and is the hub of the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Texas. The city is a premier destination for birders, due to its subtropical climate and status as a major stop on migratory routes. If you’re relocating here, you’ll need to set up each McAllen utility.
The city boasts significant shopping centers like La Plaza Mall that draw visitors from both sides of the border. Located directly adjacent to Reynosa, Mexico, McAllen is a critical center for international trade, logistics, and healthcare services, which make up the bulk of its robust and diverse economy. Culturally, McAllen offers a rich, bi-national experience, with strong Latin American influences evident in its arts scene, local cuisine, and vibrant community life in its various McAllen neighborhoods.
For families, the community and cities near McAllen are served by the highly-rated McAllen Independent School District, which includes nationally recognized early college programs. McAllen’s compelling mix of a low cost of living, strong economic opportunity, and unique cultural identity amongst citizens makes it one of the fastest-growing and most desirable cities in the nation.
When moving to McAllen, you’ll want to make sure your utilities are set up and ready before you move in. This guide can help you set up every McAllen utility in advance, so you won’t have to worry about them after you get there.
McAllen operates in a deregulated energy market, allowing residents to choose their preferred Retail Electric Provider (REP) from many different companies, such as Gexa Energy, Reliant, or Tara Energy. However, the physical delivery of electricity is handled by AEP Texas Central, which serves over 800,000 customers in McAllen, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and Harlingen across about 44,000 square miles.
How to Set Up Your Electricity in McAllen
There are many utility companies McAllen offers for power. To start your electric service McAllen utility, go to the Power to Choose website, which is the official electric choice website of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and enter your zip code to find the list of providers in your area. Choose a provider from the list and contact them via the phone number provided. You can also call 866-797-4839 for help choosing an electric provider.
Paying Your McAllen Electric Bill
Contact your chosen REP, such as Reliant, Gexa Energy, or Tara Energy, to pay your electric bill. Most REPs employ a variety of payment methods, such as:
Online: Nearly all utility providers McAllen has for power offer a secure online account where you can log in, view your current and past bills, and make one-time payments using a credit/debit card or bank account transfer.
Phone: You can use your provider's customer service line to submit a payment over the phone with a card, keeping in mind that some providers may charge a small convenience fee for this service.
Mail: For traditional payment, you can send a check or money order to the mailing address printed on your paper billing statement.
Visit a payment center: You can pay your bill in person at various authorized locations throughout the city. Check your specific provider's website to find the nearest authorized location.
Automatic payments (Auto-pay): You can enroll in auto-pay to have your bill amount automatically deducted from your bank account or charged to your credit card on the due date each month.
McAllen Gas Utility– Texas Gas Service
The major residential natural gas utility provider in McAllen is Texas Gas Service, a division of ONE Gas, Inc., that serves a large area of the state, including the Rio Grande Valley and many other communities in Texas.
How To Set Up Your Gas in McAllen
To start your natural gas service with Texas Gas Service, you can create an account and apply online or call customer service at 1-800-700-2443 at least a week before your move-in date.
How To Pay Your McAllen Gas Bill
Texas Gas Service offers a variety of convenient ways to pay your natural gas bill:
Online: You can pay through the secure Texas Gas Service website using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check. You will be charged a convenience fee of $1.49 per transaction.
Mobile app: Download the free Texas Gas Service mobile app and pay your bill from your smartphone.
Automatic bank draft: Enroll in this free program to have your monthly bill amount automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account on the bill's due date.
By phone: Call customer service at 1-800-700-2443 to pay your bill using an electronic check or credit/debit card through their automated system or by speaking with a representative.
Mail: Send a check or money order via U.S. mail to the payment address listed on your statement.
In-person: Pay with cash or check at authorized third-party payment locations. You can find the nearest payment authorized payment locations on the Texas Gas Service website.
Bank's online bill pay: Use your personal bank's online bill payment service, providing your 18-digit Texas Gas Service account number and the mailing address on your bill.
McAllen Water Utility– McAllen Utilities Department
The major residential water and sewer provider in McAllen is McAllen Public Utility (MPU), which provides safe drinking water sourced primarily from the Rio Grande River. McAllen Public Utilities is the first utility you should sign up for in your new home.
How to Set Up Your Water in McAllen
You have two main options to apply for water and sewer service in McAllen:
In-person: Visit the MPU Customer Relations office at 301 W. Hackberry Ave., McAllen, TX 78501
Online: You can download and complete the online application form and email the application and supporting documents to customerservice@mcallen.net.
How To Pay Your McAllen Water Bill
Here are several convenient ways to pay your City of McAllen water bill:
Online: Make payments online using the McAllen utility login customer portal via credit/debit card or electronic check.
Auto-pay: Sign up for automatic payments, which are automatically deducted from a designated bank account or credit card each month on the due date. This service is typically free of charge.
In-person: Pay your bill in person at the McAllen Public Utility Customer Relations office located at 301 W. Hackberry Ave., McAllen, TX 78501
Drop box: A secure night drop box is available 24/7 outside the main MPU office for after-hours check or money order payments.
By phone: Call the MPU customer service number at (956) 681-1600 to make a payment over the phone using a credit or debit card.
Mail: Traditional payments by check or money order can be mailed to the address provided on your monthly billing statement.
Bank's online bill pay: Utilize your personal bank's online bill payment service using your 10-digit MPU account number.
McAllen Trash and Recycling Pick-up Utilities – McAllen Public Utilities Solid Waste Management Department
McAllen public utilities, like trash, are managed by the city. The major residential trash and recycling provider in McAllen is the City of McAllen's Solid Waste Management Department, serving approximately 36,800 residential customers in McAllen.
How to Set Up Your Trash/Recycling Pickup in McAllen
When you sign up for other McAllen public utilities, such as water service, you will be automatically enrolled in garbage collection and provided with a black cart. To set up recycling service in the city, and to receive the blue recycling cart, you have three options:
In-person: Visit the McAllen Recycling Center at 4101 N. Bentsen Rd., McAllen, TX 78504
By phone: Call the Solid Waste Department at (956) 681-4020 or the Recycling Center at (956) 681-4050.
How to Pay Your Trash/Recycling Pickup Bill in McAllen
With this McAllen utility, you will pay your trash and recycling fees as part of your water bill.
McAllen Internet Service Providers – Various
The major internet and cable television providers in McAllen are Spectrum and AT&T, with other options available for specialized services like fiber or fixed wireless.
Details for the Main Providers
Spectrum
Primarily offering cable internet and TV services, with fiber options in limited areas
Address: 8001 N 10th St, Suite 100, McAllen, TX 78504
Phone: 1-844-203-0010
AT&T
Provides both traditional DSL and high-speed fiber-optic internet services
Address: 1400 East Expressway 83, Ste. 115, McAllen, TX 78503
Phone: 1-800-288-2020
T-Mobile
Offers wireless 5G home internet services
Address: 2200 South 10th Street, Suite B77, McAllen, TX 78503
Phone: (956) 331-2890
Smartcom
Offers fiber internet services
Address: 600 Ash Ave, McAllen, TX 78501
Phone: (956) 687-7070.
The average cost of internet service in McAllen is about $50 per month, although the cost will vary depending on the type of plan choose, the internet speed, and other options available from your internet service provider.
McAllen Utilities Cost
The average monthly electric bill in McAllen is $163, about 5% higher than the national average.
Other average McAllen utility costs:
Water: $110 per month
Natural gas: $75 per month
Trash and recycling: $15.50 per month
FAQs About McAllen Public Utilities
How Do I Set Up Utilities in McAllen, TX?
Utilities in McAllen are managed by the City of McAllen Public Utility. New residents can set up water, wastewater, and trash services by submitting a utility application through the city’s website or visiting City Hall in person. Proof of identity, a service address, and a deposit may be required. Electric service in McAllen is provided by Magic Valley Electric Cooperative.
How Can I Pay My McAllen Utility Bill?
McAllen utility bills can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person through the City of McAllen Public Utility billing system. Online payments are available through the city’s utility portal and allow residents to pay using a bank account or credit card. In-person payments can be made at designated city payment locations, and automatic bill pay options are also available.
How Do I Report a Problem With the City of McAllen?
Residents can report issues such as water leaks, street concerns, code enforcement issues, or service interruptions by contacting the City of McAllen directly about the McAllen utility. Reports for a McAllen utility can be submitted online through the city’s service request system or by calling the appropriate city department. Emergency issues should always be reported by calling local emergency services.
Is There a McAllen Utility App?
Yes, the City of McAllen Public Utility offers online account access that allows residents to view bills, make payments, and manage utility services from a mobile device. While McAllen does not have a standalone branded utility app, the city’s mobile-friendly portal provides many of the same features through its official website.
Moving to McAllen? Chapa’s Moving Service Can Help
Moving is stressful enough without the worry of arriving at your new home only to realize you haven’t set up every McAllen utility. Prevent stress and anxiety by scheduling your utility and internet services in advance. This McAllen utilities guide simplifies the setup process, providing a one-stop source for arranging all necessary services before you move. Plan ahead for peace of mind and make your hectic move a little easier.
If you’re moving to McAllen, you need the best team to help you. Our McAllen movers can assist with long distance moving, local moving, packing, and so much more. Give us a call at 956-686-3247 for a free quote!
Chapa's Moving Service
We are an independently owned moving company based out of McAllen, Texas. In addition to being a full-service moving company serving local and statewide moves, Chapa’s Moving Service offers packaging, loading, and unloading for our clients who prefer to move themselves.
