Utilities & Internet Guide — Waco Metro Area¶
Electricity¶
Texas has a partially deregulated electricity market. In McLennan County, Oncor owns and maintains the power lines (the "wires company") but does NOT sell electricity directly to residents. You choose your own Retail Electricity Provider (REP).
How It Works¶
- Go to PowerToChoose.org — the official Texas PUC comparison site
- Enter your zip code and compare plans by rate, contract length, and renewable content
- Sign up directly with your chosen provider — Oncor handles the physical connection
Cost Estimates¶
| Season | Avg Monthly Bill | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (Jun–Sep) | $150–$250+ | A/C runs constantly; hottest months push higher |
| Mild months (Oct–May) | $80–$130 | Heating and cooling loads much lower |
| Annual average | ~$150–$175/mo | Based on typical 1,500–2,000 SF home |
Texas summer heat is the dominant driver of electricity costs. A/C accounts for 40–60% of summer electric bills. See Weather Overview for context.
Tips¶
- Fixed-rate plans are common and protect against summer price spikes; compare 12-month plans
- Green/renewable plans are available at competitive rates through PowerToChoose
- Budget billing is available through most REPs to smooth out seasonal swings
- After Winter Storm Uri (Feb 2021), variable-rate plans became high-risk in Texas — stick to fixed rates
Natural Gas¶
Atmos Energy (Mid-Tex Division) is the natural gas provider for Waco, Hewitt, Woodway, Robinson, and most of McLennan County. Atmos is a regulated utility — you cannot choose a different provider.
- Website: atmosenergy.com
- Service setup: Call Atmos or set up online when moving in
- Average monthly bill:
- Winter (heating season): ~$80–$120/month
- Summer: ~$25–$40/month (water heating only)
- Annual average: ~$60–$70/month
- Note: Rates increased ~6.8% effective Oct 2024 following a settlement between Atmos and ~180 Texas cities including Waco, Hewitt, Woodway, and Robinson. Average residential bill rose from ~$52/mo (2019) to ~$81/mo (2023).
Water & Wastewater¶
Water is provided by each city independently. When moving, contact your city's utility department to set up service.
| City | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Waco | City of Waco Water Utility | Avg bill ~$41–$46/mo (8,000 gal); rates increased Jan 2025 |
| Hewitt | City of Hewitt | Separate billing from Waco |
| Woodway | City of Woodway | Separate billing |
| Robinson | City of Robinson | Separate billing |
| Lorena | City of Lorena | Separate billing |
| Bellmead | City of Bellmead | Separate billing |
| Lacy Lakeview | City of Lacy Lakeview | Separate billing |
- City of Waco Water: waco-texas.com/Departments/Water-Utility-Services | MyWacoWater: mywacowater.com
- Note: Waco is implementing rate increases through 2025–2026 to fund major water and sewer infrastructure projects
Trash & Recycling¶
- City of Waco: Republic Services handles residential collection; curbside recycling available
- Hewitt, Woodway, Robinson, Lorena: Each city contracts separately — verify with city hall at time of move-in
- Recycling: Curbside recycling varies by city; most suburbs offer it. Waco has a recycling drop-off center if curbside isn't available
Internet Providers¶
The Waco metro has solid coverage from cable and fiber providers. Fiber is expanding but not yet universal.
Provider Comparison (March 2026)¶
| Provider | Technology | Max Speed | Starting Price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Cable | 2 Gbps | ~$30/mo | 86–91% of metro |
| AT&T | Fiber / IPBB | 5 Gbps fiber | ~$34–$55/mo | 68–70% of Waco |
| Astound Broadband | Fiber / Cable | 2 Gbps | ~$40/mo | 88% |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 5G | ~415 Mbps | ~$30/mo | 60% |
| Verizon Home Internet | 5G | ~300 Mbps | ~$35/mo | 63% |
| Nextlink Internet | Fixed Wireless | 500 Mbps | ~$30/mo | 97.5% of region |
| XNET WiFi | Fixed Wireless | 2 Gbps | ~$65/mo | 51% |
| Starlink | Satellite | ~350 Mbps | ~$80/mo | 100% (anywhere) |
| Viasat | Satellite | 150 Mbps | ~$70/mo | 100% |
| HughesNet | Satellite | 100 Mbps | ~$40/mo | 100% |
Source: BroadbandNow, March 2026
Coverage Notes¶
- Spectrum (cable) is the widest-coverage provider and available to most Waco metro households; reliable speeds, no data caps on most plans
- AT&T Fiber is expanding in Waco; check availability at your specific address at att.com — fiber is faster and more consistent than cable
- Hewitt / Woodway (West Waco area): Both Spectrum and AT&T serve the area well; Astound Broadband also has strong coverage
- Rural areas (Lorena, McGregor, West, Clifton, Groesbeck, Mexia): Fixed wireless (Nextlink) or satellite (Starlink) may be the best option; Starlink at ~$80–$120/mo is the best satellite choice for remote workers needing reliable speeds
- Fiber coverage: ~47.5% of Waco proper has fiber access; expanding annually
Recommendation by Use Case¶
| Use Case | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Remote worker (reliability priority) | AT&T Fiber (if available) or Spectrum cable |
| Budget-conscious | T-Mobile 5G Home or Spectrum entry plan |
| Rural / outside city limits | Nextlink fixed wireless or Starlink |
| Backup / travel | T-Mobile or Verizon 5G hotspot |
Cell Phone Coverage¶
All four major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Dish/Boost) have solid coverage throughout the Waco metro core. In rural fringe areas (Clifton, Groesbeck, McGregor outskirts), coverage can be spotty — verify with carrier maps before committing.
- AT&T has strong coverage throughout McLennan County (also owns local wireline infrastructure)
- Verizon and T-Mobile are competitive in the city; check coverage maps for specific rural addresses
Quick Setup Checklist When Moving In¶
- [ ] Set up electricity provider via PowerToChoose.org (do this 1–2 weeks before move-in)
- [ ] Contact Atmos Energy to start gas service
- [ ] Contact your city's water utility for water/wastewater
- [ ] Order internet service (Spectrum and AT&T allow online sign-up; allow 1–5 days for installation)
- [ ] Confirm trash/recycling pickup day with city