Portland guide to moving and transfering utilities

In addition to connecting to the internet, there are many other things you need to get ironed out while settling into your new home. The City of Portland has a website that’s a central hub for all the services you need, including gas, electricity, water, waste collection, and recycling.

Powering up in Portland

Let’s start with electricity since you can’t do much else without it. Many Portlanders get their power from Portland General Electric (PGE). Visit their website to confirm that they service your new address. If PGE isn’t an option, other sources, such as Pacific Power, are available.

Establishing service with either company can be done online. You’ll need to provide your social security number (SSN) or other valid form of government-issued identification, your birthday, new address, and the date you would like service to begin. Customer service representatives can assist in transferring service to your new residence. Most service requests take one or two days to process, but you can schedule your start date further in advance if you prefer.

Getting natural gas service

Setting up natural gas service through Northwest Natural is a quick and simple process. Visit the NW Natural website and provide your name, SSN, service address, and the date you want gas turned on at your new home. Once you create an online account, you can manage services, pay your bill, and make changes to your account.

Hooking up to water in Portland

The Portland Water Bureau is your source for “the best drinking water in the world.” The Water Bureau is one of many public services the City of Portland provides. You can establish a new service and stop or transfer an existing water account on the City of Portland’s website. Submit a request by providing your name, home address, start date, and contact information. If you’re renting, you’ll also need to provide your landlord’s name.

Finding trash pickup and recycling

To set up trash collection and recycling, go to the City of Portland’s website to find private service companies contracted by the city. Enter your address online, and you’ll be matched with the company responsible for trash pickup in your neighborhood. Next, contact the company to create an account and select your trash container. Fees are based on container size, so choose the size that best fits your needs. Recycling and compost bins are included at no additional charge.