Moving to a New Place? Your Texas Lights Checklist (Even With Bad Credit)

Most people call the light company two days before they move. Then they find out they need a $350 deposit, or there’s a switch hold from an old address, or the new place already has service in someone else’s name. Now they’re scrambling.

Don’t be most people.

Moving is already chaos. Boxes everywhere, lease signatures, the truck rental, that one piece of furniture that won’t fit through the doorway. The lights should be the easy part. And if you plan ahead, it can be. Even if your credit has seen better days.

Here’s the checklist, broken down by when you need to do each thing.

4 Weeks Before: Check Your Situation

Before you call anyone, you need to know what you’re working with.

Look at your current light bill account. Log in and find:

Your contract end date (if you’re on a fixed-rate plan)
Any early termination fee listed in your contract
Your current rate per unit of power

This matters because in Texas, you choose your light company, and if you’re under contract, there might be a cancellation fee. Here’s the thing though: Texas law requires light companies to waive that fee if you’re moving. You just need to prove it. A copy of your new lease or a utility bill with your new address usually works.

Check if you owe money. Old debt can follow you. If you left an unpaid balance at a previous address, even years ago, it can trigger a switch hold that blocks you from getting service anywhere in Texas until it’s resolved. Better to find this out now than the day you’re standing in an empty apartment with a dead phone.

Get a letter of credit. If you’ve been paying your current light bill on time for 12 months, ask for a letter of credit. This is basically a reference letter proving you pay your bills. It can waive the deposit at your new address, even if your credit score isn’t great. Request this now, before you close the account.

2-3 Weeks Before: Shop and Schedule

This is the window where most light companies want you to set up new service. Waiting until the last minute can mean rush fees or just not having lights when you arrive.

Compare light companies at your new address. Different companies have different credit requirements. Company A might demand $400 upfront. Company B might approve you with nothing down. Same address, different policies. Enter your new ZIP code at NoDepositLights.com to see which companies serve that area and what they’re likely to charge you.

Know your options if credit is a problem:

Traditional plans with no deposit: Some companies approve customers that others reject. Worth checking.
Deposit payment plans: Some companies split the deposit over 2-3 monthly payments instead of requiring it all upfront. You usually have to call and ask; it’s not advertised.
Prepaid lights: No credit check, no deposit, $40-$75 to start, lights on same day. Higher rates per unit, but when the alternative is a $300+ deposit, prepaid gets you in the door. Our how prepaid works guide explains the details.

Schedule the overlap. Set your new lights to turn on 1-2 days before you move in. Set your old lights to turn off 1-2 days after you move out. This overlap gives you power for cleaning, last-minute packing, and the reality that move-out day never goes as planned.

Yes, you’re paying for a few extra days at two addresses. It’s worth it. Moving into a dark apartment with no way to charge your phone is worse.

1 Week Before: Confirm Everything

Things get lost. Orders don’t go through. Now’s the time to double-check.

Call both light companies. Verify your start date at the new address and your end date at the old one. Ask for confirmation numbers or emails.

Provide your forwarding address. Give your old light company your new address. They need it for the final bill. They also need it if you’re claiming the early termination fee waiver for moving.

Clear any outstanding balance. If you owe money at the old address, pay it now. A balance on your account when it closes can end up in collections and become a switch hold for your next move.

Moving Day: Document Everything

This takes 30 seconds and can save you hours of arguing with customer service later.

Take a photo of your old meter. The reading should be lower than or equal to what they bill you for. If it’s not, you have proof.

Take a photo of your new meter. If the previous tenant left a balance, or if the company tries to charge you for usage before your move-in date, this photo is your defense.

Test the lights. Flip the main breaker. Walk through and check that outlets work. If something seems off, call the light company while you’re still at the property. Same-day fixes are easier than trying to explain the problem over the phone a week later.

What If There’s a Switch Hold?

A switch hold means a light company you owed money to in the past has flagged your account. No other company in Texas can give you service until you resolve it.

This isn’t rare. And it catches people off guard at the worst possible moment.

If you discover a switch hold:

Find out who placed it (your new light company can tell you)
Contact that company directly
Ask about payment plans or settlements

Some companies will release the hold if you make a partial payment or set up an installment plan. Others want the full amount. Either way, you need to negotiate directly with whoever placed the hold, not the company you’re trying to sign up with.

Our switch hold guide walks through the full process, including what to do if the debt isn’t actually yours.

What If You Have Bad Credit?

Traditional light companies run credit checks. If your score is below a certain threshold, they require a deposit. In Texas, that deposit is usually 1/6 of your estimated annual usage, which works out to around $200-$350 for most households.

You have options:

Letter of credit: 12 months of on-time payments to your current light company = no deposit required, regardless of your credit score. Get this letter before you close your account.

Prepaid lights: No credit check at all. You pay in advance for what you use. Rates are higher, but you’re not tied to a contract, and there’s no deposit to save up for. You can switch to a traditional plan later after you’ve built 12 months of payment history.

65+ or family violence survivor: Texas law requires deposit waivers for customers over 65 (with no delinquent balances) and for survivors of family violence (with documentation). These aren’t advertised on company websites, but they’re your right under state rules.

Shop around: Different companies, different thresholds. One company’s $400 deposit requirement might be another company’s $0. Check your options before you assume the worst.

The Quick Checklist

4 weeks out:

Check your current contract for termination fees
Verify you don’t have old debt or a switch hold
Request a letter of credit from your current company

2-3 weeks out:

Compare light companies at your new address
Schedule service to start 1-2 days before move-in
Schedule old service to end 1-2 days after move-out

1 week out:

Call to confirm both start and end dates
Provide forwarding address to old company
Pay any outstanding balance

Moving day:

Photo of old meter
Photo of new meter
Test that lights actually work

One More Thing

If your credit is rough and deposits keep blocking you, prepaid isn’t a life sentence. Get through 12 months of on-time payments, request a letter of credit, and use it to switch to a cheaper traditional plan.

The system makes the first move hard on purpose. But once you’re through, every future move gets easier. You’ll have payment history, a letter of credit, and light companies competing for your business instead of demanding money upfront.

Start by checking what’s available at your new address. Enter your ZIP at NoDepositLights.com and see your options today.

Related reading:

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For official rules, visit the Public Utility Commission of Texas. NoDepositLights.com is powered by Compare Power (PUCT License BR190020).