Can You Get Lights Turned On During Weekends and Holidays?

Yes, you can get your lights turned on during weekends and holidays in Texas — about 95% of Texas homes have smart meters that allow remote activation 7 days a week. It’s Saturday afternoon. You just moved into your apartment. It’s dark and the fridge is warm. You try to sign up for lights and now you’re wondering: does anyone actually flip the switch on weekends?

Or maybe it’s the Fourth of July. Or Christmas Eve. And you need lights.

Here’s what really happens with weekend and holiday connections in Texas, and how to get your lights on as fast as possible regardless of what day it is.

The Short Answer

Yes, you can get lights turned on on weekends and holidays. But it depends on a few things: what kind of meter you have, which light company you choose, and whether the transmission company processes connections that day.

The best-case scenario: you sign up and your lights are on in a few hours. The worst case: you sign up on Saturday and your lights come on Monday morning. Let’s break down what determines which scenario you get.

Smart Meters Changed Everything

Most Texas homes now have smart meters. These are digital meters that can be turned on and off remotely — no technician needed. This is what makes same-day and weekend connections possible.

With a smart meter:

• The transmission company can send a remote signal to your meter to turn it on. No one has to physically show up.
• Connections can happen 7 days a week, including holidays. The system is automated.
• Processing typically takes 1-4 hours once the order goes through, though it can take up to 24 hours during busy periods.

If your address has a smart meter (and about 95% of Texas homes do), weekend connections are absolutely possible.

How It Works on Weekends

Here’s the typical flow when you sign up on a Saturday or Sunday:

1. You sign up online. Most light companies let you sign up through their website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Online signup is available 24/7, even when phone lines are closed. You pick a plan, enter your info, and submit.
2. The company sends a connection order to the transmission company (CenterPoint, Oncor, AEP, etc.). This can happen automatically, even on weekends.
3. The transmission company processes the order. If it’s a smart meter, they send the remote signal. This usually happens within a few hours, but volume matters. If lots of people are signing up (like the start of the month), it can take longer.
4. Your lights come on. You might not even notice it happen. Your meter just starts working.

The catch: some light companies don’t process enrollment on weekends. They accept your application, but they don’t send the connection order to the transmission company until Monday morning. That means even though you signed up on Saturday, your lights might not come on until Monday afternoon.

Which Companies Process on Weekends?

This varies, and companies don’t always advertise their weekend processing clearly. Here’s how to find out:

• Look for “same-day connection” or “24/7 enrollment” in the plan description. Companies that highlight this usually process on weekends.
• Check our same-day finder to see which plans at your address offer same-day connection, including weekends.
• Call the company before you sign up. Ask directly: “If I sign up today (Saturday), when will my lights be on?” If they say Monday, try another company.

Pay-as-you-go and prepaid light company plans are generally better for weekend connections and same day lights. Many of these affordable light companies process enrollments 7 days a week because their systems are more automated. Traditional post-paid plans sometimes require manual processing steps that only happen on business days.

Holidays: What to Expect

Major holidays (New Year’s, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) are hit or miss. Here’s the breakdown:

• Smart meter connections can still be processed on holidays because the system is automated. But staffing at both the light company and the transmission company is reduced.
• If you sign up on a holiday, expect 12-24 hours for connection instead of the usual 2-4 hours. Some orders might not process until the next business day.
• The week between Christmas and New Year’s is one of the slowest periods. If you need lights during this time, sign up as early as possible.

Pro tip: If you know you’re moving during a holiday period, sign up for lights 3-5 days in advance. Most companies let you set a future start date. Set it for your move-in day and the connection happens automatically, even if it falls on a holiday.

Old Meters: The Bad News

If your address has an old analog meter (the kind with spinning dials), a technician has to physically come to your location to turn it on. This means:

• No weekend connections in most cases. Technicians work business hours.
• No holiday connections.
• Connection takes 1-3 business days from when you sign up.

The good news: analog meters are rare in Texas now. Less than 5% of homes still have them. If you’re moving into a newer apartment or a home built after 2010, you almost certainly have a smart meter.

Not sure what you have? Ask your landlord or look at the meter on the side of the building. A smart meter has a digital display. An analog meter has spinning dials and a glass dome.

What to Do If You Need Lights Right Now

If it’s a weekend or holiday and you need lights immediately:

Step 1: Sign Up for Pay-As-You-Go

Pay-as-you-go plans have the fastest connection times. No credit check, no deposit, no down payment, no waiting for approval. You sign up, add money to your account, and the connection order goes out. This is how you get light service today, even on a weekend.

Enter your ZIP and filter for pay-as-you-go plans. Look for ones that advertise same-day lights.

Step 2: Choose a Company That Processes 7 Days a Week

Not all companies are equal here. Some process enrollments around the clock. Others batch everything for Monday morning. Our same-day finder shows you which ones are processing now.

Step 3: Sign Up Online, Not by Phone

If the company has online enrollment, use it. Online signups often trigger automatic processing. Phone enrollments might depend on a call center agent being available, and weekend call center hours are limited.

Step 4: Have Your Info Ready

The faster you complete enrollment, the sooner the connection order goes out. Have these ready:

• Your full legal name and date of birth
• Social Security number (for post-paid plans)
• Service address with apartment/unit number
• Your meter ID number if you have it (speeds things up — see our ESIID guide)

Step 5: Be Patient, but Follow Up

If it’s been more than 4 hours since you signed up and your lights aren’t on, call the light company. Ask for the status of your connection order. Sometimes orders get stuck in the queue and a phone call bumps them to the front.

Planning Ahead: The Best Strategy

The absolute best way to avoid weekend and holiday connection stress is to not need one. If you know your move-in date:

• Sign up 3-5 days before you move in. Set the start date for your move-in day.
• Confirm the day before. Call the company and verify your service is scheduled to start.
• Keep the old service until you confirm the new one. If you’re transferring from one address to another, overlap by a day rather than risk a gap.

This turns a stressful “I need lights RIGHT NOW” situation into a smooth, automatic process.

Bottom Line

You can absolutely get lights turned on on weekends and holidays in Texas, especially if you have a smart meter (most people do). Pay-as-you-go plans typically process the fastest. Sign up online — it’s available 24 hr a day — choose a company that processes 7 days a week, and expect 2-4 hours for connection.

If you’re in a rush, enter your ZIP and look for same-day connection options. Even on a Sunday night, there are usually plans that can get your lights on before you go to bed.

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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).