Setting Up Utilities and Services When You Move to Middle Tennessee: A Practical 2026 Checklist

Short answer: in Middle Tennessee your utility providers are decided by your address, not by one regional company. Inside Davidson County, most homes get power from Nashville Electric Service (NES), natural gas from Spire (the former Piedmont Natural Gas), and water and sewer from Metro Water Services. Cross into Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, or much of Sumner County and your electricity usually comes from Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) instead, with water and sewer run by a local utility district. The fastest way to get connected: confirm each provider in writing before closing, then schedule turn-on for the day you take possession.

Service-territory lines don't follow city limits — they follow decades-old utility boundaries, which is why one of the most common things our team hears from newcomers is, "I called the wrong electric company." A home in Hendersonville, Mount Juliet, or Nolensville can sit just a few miles from Nashville and still be served by an entirely different set of companies than a home downtown. This checklist walks through exactly who provides what, county by county, with the sign-up steps and phone numbers so your lights, water, and Wi-Fi are on the day you move in.

Step 1: Electricity — NES or Middle Tennessee Electric?

Electricity is the provider most people get wrong, and it comes down to two utilities for most of the region. Both buy power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), so the underlying generation is the same — only the local distribution company differs.

Nashville Electric Service (NES)

NES distributes power to nearly 460,000 customers across roughly 700 square miles — all of Davidson County plus portions of the six surrounding counties: Sumner, Rutherford, Robertson, Williamson, Wilson, and Cheatham (NES / TVA, current as of 2026). If your new home is anywhere in Nashville proper, NES is almost certainly your provider. Start service at nespower.com or by phone at 615-736-6900; have your address, move-in date, and ID ready.

Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE)

MTE is the largest electric cooperative in the TVA region, serving more than 345,000 accounts across nearly 2,200 square miles in 11 Middle Tennessee counties — primarily Rutherford, Cannon, Williamson, and Wilson, with additional service in Sumner and neighboring counties (MTE, current as of 2026). If you are buying in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, much of Franklin and Brentwood, Mount Juliet, Lebanon, or Nolensville, MTE is likely your electric provider. Start service at mte.com; as a member-owned cooperative, MTE may ask for a membership setup and a deposit depending on credit history.

Step 2: Natural Gas — Spire (formerly Piedmont)

Natural gas is where 2026 brings a name change worth knowing. Spire completed its acquisition of the Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas business from Duke Energy on March 31, 2026, and the Spire brand began rolling out across Tennessee — branded trucks, uniforms, and IDs — starting June 1, 2026 (WSMV; Spire Inc., 2026). Spire Tennessee now serves more than 200,000 customers across the Nashville metro and surrounding communities, including Davidson County and parts of Sumner and the neighboring counties.

Here is the practical part: for now, nothing about how you set up or pay for gas has changed. During the transition — which Spire aims to complete by summer 2027 — Piedmont continues to handle billing and account servicing on Spire's behalf, so your bill, account number, and payment methods stay the same. You'll start seeing Spire-branded trucks, but you still set up service through the existing Piedmont channels.

• •Start, stop, or move gas service at piedmontng.com (the Spire Tennessee channel during the transition).
• •Customer service and emergencies: 800-752-7504.
• •Smell gas or suspect a leak? Leave the home immediately, then call 800-752-7504 or 911.
• •Not every Middle TN home uses natural gas — many newer suburban builds are all-electric. Confirm whether your home even has a gas meter before scheduling.

A note on older guidance you may find online: some sources still list "Piedmont" or "Nashville Gas" as the provider. As of mid-2026 these all refer to the same operation now owned by Spire — so don't be thrown if you see all three names while researching your address.

Step 3: Water and Sewer — Metro Water or a County Utility District

Water and sewer are the most fragmented service in the region. Inside Davidson County, Metro Water Services handles water and sewer for most homes. Step outside Davidson — or into certain suburban pockets — and you'll deal with an independent utility district instead.

Metro Water Services (Davidson County)

1. Call the Customer Services Center at 615-862-4600 to request service in your name.
2. Pay the non-refundable service initiation fee: $35 for guaranteed same-day service, or $25 for service on a later scheduled day (Metro Water Services, 2026).
3. Have your new address, move-in date, and the prior owner's account closeout in hand to avoid a billing gap.

County and city utility districts (outside Metro)

If you're moving to Sumner, Williamson, Wilson, Rutherford, or Robertson County, your water likely comes from a local district. Common ones our team sees include:

• •Hendersonville Utility District — water and wastewater for more than 14,000 homes and businesses across the greater Hendersonville area (Sumner County); 615-824-3717.
• •White House Utility District — one of the largest in the region, serving parts of Sumner, Robertson, and surrounding areas.
• •City water departments in places like Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Lebanon, which run their own systems.
• •Local districts serving Mount Juliet, Smyrna, Spring Hill, and Nolensville — names vary block by block, so confirm yours specifically.

Because these boundaries are granular, the most reliable move is to ask the seller which company bills the home and set up service with that same district. Our city guides for Hendersonville, Gallatin, Franklin, Brentwood, Mount Juliet, and Murfreesboro point you to the right local contacts.

Step 4: Trash and Recycling

Trash service is not automatic everywhere, and that surprises a lot of newcomers. In Davidson County, Metro provides free curbside trash and recycling — but only to single-family homes (including duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes) inside the Urban Services District (USD). Trash is collected weekly and recycling every other week; each address gets one 96-gallon Metro trash cart, with up to three 96-gallon recycling carts at no extra charge (Metro Nashville Waste Services, 2026).

• •Confirm whether your address is in the USD and set up cart service through hubNashville at 615-862-5000 or hub.nashville.gov.
• •Homes in Davidson County's General Services District (GSD) and most suburban/rural addresses must hire a private hauler — common options include WM (Waste Management) and Republic Services.
• •Suburban cities often contract a single hauler for the whole municipality; check the city's website so you sign up with the right one (or learn it's already bundled into city services).

Step 5: Internet and TV

Greater Nashville is one of the more competitive broadband markets in the South, often called a "Gigabit City." Availability is hyper-local — fiber may be on one street and not the next — so check your exact address on each provider's site.

• •Xfinity (Comcast) — the widest cable footprint, reaching nearly every Nashville-area address (BroadbandNow, 2026).
• •AT&T Fiber — strong and expanding fiber coverage across the metro and suburbs.
• •Google Fiber — fast fiber concentrated in core urban Nashville neighborhoods and expanding outward.
• •Spectrum and fixed-wireless/5G home internet (T-Mobile, Verizon) — useful options, especially in suburban and rural pockets where fiber hasn't arrived.

Order internet 1-2 weeks ahead if a technician visit is required — install windows fill up fast around the first of the month when leases turn over.

Step 6: Driver's License and Vehicle Registration (the 30-day clock)

Tennessee gives new residents a hard 30-day deadline, and it trips up movers every year. Two different agencies handle the two tasks:

• •Driver's license: The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (Driver Services) requires you to obtain a Tennessee license within 30 days of establishing residency. Visit a full-service Driver Services Center with original documents (not photocopies); you'll surrender your out-of-state license. Details and document checklists are at tn.gov/safety (Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, 2026).
• •Vehicle registration and title: Handled by your county clerk, not the state. You must register your vehicle within 30 days of moving. File with the local county clerk — Davidson, Sumner, Williamson, Wilson, Rutherford, or Robertson, depending on where you live — and bring your out-of-state title.

Your Move-Week Utility Checklist

1. Confirm each provider by address (electric, gas, water/sewer, trash) — ask the seller, don't assume from the city name.
2. Schedule electric turn-on with NES or MTE for your possession date.
3. Set up gas with Spire/Piedmont at 800-752-7504 (only if the home has gas).
4. Start water/sewer with Metro Water (615-862-4600) or your local utility district.
5. Arrange trash — hubNashville for Metro USD homes, or a private hauler / city service elsewhere.
6. Order internet 1-2 weeks out to lock an install slot.
7. Within 30 days: get your TN driver's license (Driver Services) and register your vehicle (county clerk).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my electricity NES or Middle Tennessee Electric?

It depends on your exact address, not your city. NES covers all of Davidson County and portions of six surrounding counties, while MTE serves large parts of Rutherford, Cannon, Williamson, Wilson, and Sumner counties, among others. Many suburbs are split between the two, so confirm with the seller or a recent bill rather than guessing.

Who is the natural gas provider in Nashville now — Piedmont or Spire?

Both names refer to the same company in 2026. Spire acquired the Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas business (completed March 31, 2026) and began rolling out the Spire Tennessee brand on June 1, 2026. You still set up service and reach customer care at 800-752-7504, and during the transition Piedmont continues to handle billing, so your account number and payment methods are unchanged. Spire aims to finish the transition by summer 2027.

How long do I have to get a Tennessee driver's license after moving?

Thirty days. Tennessee requires new residents to obtain a TN driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency through the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, and to register their vehicles within 30 days through the local county clerk. The two tasks are handled by two different offices.

Does every Middle Tennessee home get free city trash pickup?

No. In Davidson County, Metro provides free curbside trash and recycling only to single-family homes in the Urban Services District. Homes in the General Services District and most addresses in surrounding counties must use a private hauler such as WM or Republic Services, or a city-contracted service. Confirm your situation before move-in so you're not left without pickup.