Setting Up Utilities in St. Louis: Who to Call and When
Electric, gas, water, sewer, trash — five providers, two phone calls that matter, and a meter photo that protects your deposit.
Who provides what
St. Louis utilities confuse newcomers because no single company does it all — and water and sewer are handled by different providers that bill separately.
| Service | Provider | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | Ameren Missouri — 800-552-7583 or ameren.com | About 3 business days |
| Natural gas | Spire — spireenergy.com | Up to a week |
| Water | Missouri American Water in most of St. Louis County; the city Water Division if you’re in St. Louis City | A few days |
| Sewer | MSD (Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District) — separate bill from water | Starts with occupancy |
| Trash & recycling | Varies by municipality — often billed through your city; ask city hall | Varies |
Two wrinkles worth knowing. First, ask the leasing office which utilities are in your name at all — many North County apartments include water, sewer, and trash in rent, and some master-meter gas. Get the list in writing before you set up anything. Second, in some municipalities an occupancy permit or inspection is part of moving in; the leasing office will know, and it’s their paperwork to handle, but asking early prevents a move-in day surprise.
The timeline that avoids a dark first night
At lease signing: get the utility list from the office, and ask which providers serve the address. Two weeks out: schedule electric and gas starts for the day before move-in — not move-in day itself. If a start gets delayed, you want the buffer, and summer in St. Louis without air conditioning is not a first night you want. One week out: water (if it’s in your name), internet install appointment, and USPS mail forwarding — a small ID-verification fee online at usps.com/move, or free in person at any post office. Move-in day: photograph the electric and gas meters. If a billing dispute ever comes, the photo settles it — the same habit that protects you at move-out is covered in getting your security deposit back.
Budget for the quiet costs
Utilities sometimes ask new customers without payment history for a deposit — if that’s you, ask whether a letter of credit from a previous utility waives it. Renters insurance is required by many leases and is genuinely cheap, usually well under $25 a month. Internet options depend on the exact address; check availability online rather than assuming the neighbor’s provider serves your building. All of it belongs in your move-in math — run the move-in cost calculator so the first month doesn’t surprise you.
If the move itself is the hard part
When the deposit, the truck, and the utility starts land in the same two weeks, the gap is real. Start with United Way 211 (dial 2-1-1) — they track which local agencies currently have move-in and deposit assistance open, which changes month to month. The organizations in our rent & utility assistance guide — St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army among them — sometimes help with deposits and beds, not just rent. And if a utility deposit or first bill is the blocker, LIHEAP and the utility programs in that same guide apply before you’re behind, not only after.