Utility companies in Sun City, Phoenix area (Parks: transfer, school)

[foolishsteve]

Hi, we are relocating, from the UK to Sun City next month and have purchased our home. We need to get our water and electricity transferred into our names. Our realtor gave us APS for electricity and the water companies's number. Water would be just one company that supplies water but is there more than 1 company that supplies electricity?
APS.com does not give rates for usage of electricity. Can you shop around for competitive rates?

Thanks

Steve

[Peg Fife-Bell]

Originally Posted by foolishsteve

Hi, we are relocating, from the UK to Sun City next month and have purchased our home. We need to get our water and electricity transferred into our names. Our realtor gave us APS for electricity and the water companies's number. Water would be just one company that supplies water but is there more than 1 company that supplies electricity?
APS.com does not give rates for usage of electricity. Can you shop around for competitive rates?

Thanks

Steve

In the Sun City area I believe you will not have any choice in electric service companies. It is APS out there. Most of the Valley/Phoenix Metro area is served electrically by either APS or SRP, and SRP serves most of the south and southeast valley, except for a few pockets in central and into north Phoenix areas.

APS does have different programs for usage after you have signed up. You can ask what is available in your area when you apply for service. Please don't quote me, but I think you will have to visit a local Sun City APS office to have the service turned on.

Wish I had more info for you....perhaps someone else from this forum will chime in especially if they live in the Sun City vicinity.
Peg

[wit-nit]

APS for... Electricity.
American Water for... Water.
Quest or Cox... for Phone/Cable/Internet.
Parks & Sons for ...Trash Pickup

[lyzzard]

Unfortunately you are stuck with APS. I dislike that you can't choose around as well. Call them. They should be able to turn it on over the phone/internet. They may ask you to fax over some information (visas, ID's, etc..). I have always called and never had a problem. I have never gone into one of their offices to have it turned on either.

You could go with a sattelite company for television services besides Cox/Quest. I recommend Cox for internet services just because of the way DSL works (and I hate them )

I don't know about the water though I suspect you are stuck with that company as well. Good luck!

[AZJoeD]

What is your Realtor doing to help? He is here and you are there. Obviously he cannot negotiate rates, but he certainly should be able to get you more information than you seem to have.

[foolishsteve]

Thanks for your replies.
Yes we were able to get APS to turn on the electricity as well as Water changed hands. As we have not moved in yet we do not need trash collection or phone.
Regarding phone, I too can't stand DSL and will go for Cox's fastest Internet connection so we can stream TV and use an Internet phone service like ooma.

I find it strange that your property taxes do not pay for your trash collection. We currently reside in the UK awaiting an immigrant VISA, so that we can move to Sun City. The UK Council taxes, like property taxes, include; school, police, county roads, sewage, and trash collection. It is a bit more expensive in total but I guess after we tally up what we pay for property taxes and add in trash collection that figure will be a smaller amount.

Thanks again for your replies.

Steve

[observer53]

Sun City is not incorporated as a city, so it doesn't have its own trash or water service. Most of the other suburban areas of Phoenix are incorporated cities who have their own water depts and trash removal depts. In those areas, water, sewer and trash service are all rolled into one bill, just as in Phoenix itself.

Welcome to Arizona!