How to Set Up Utilities in Vancouver, WA

Moving into a new home in Vancouver, WA comes with a short but important to-do list: get the power on, get the water running, and make sure the trash gets picked up. The tricky part is that Clark County is not served by one single utility company. Depending on whether your address sits inside Vancouver city limits or out in unincorporated county, your water, sewer, and garbage can each come from a different provider — while electricity comes from the same place for everyone. This guide walks you through exactly who to call, what they cover, and the order to do it in, whether you're a new renter setting up service for the first time or a landlord preparing a rental for the next tenant.

Vancouver, WA Utility Companies at a Glance

Here's the complete provider list for Clark County in one place. Find your utility, find your provider, and note the phone number — these are the accounts you'll set up before (or right at) move-in.

Swipe to see phone numbers →

Who Is the Electric Company in Vancouver, WA?

This is the simplest question on the list, because there's only one answer. Clark Public Utilities — known locally as Clark PUD — provides electricity to every home and business in Clark County, including all of Vancouver. There is no second electric company to shop around between, and no deregulated "choose your supplier" system the way some states have.

What makes Clark PUD a little different is that it's a customer-owned public utility, not an investor-owned corporation. That means the people it serves are also its owners. To start, stop, or transfer electric service, call (360) 992-3000. You'll typically need the service address, your move-in date, and a piece of ID; new accounts may involve a deposit depending on credit history. Because Clark PUD also handles water in much of the unincorporated county, that single phone number can cover two of your utilities at once if you live outside the city.

Do I Need to Set Up Gas in Vancouver, WA?

Maybe — and only if your home actually has it. Not every home in Vancouver, WA is connected to natural gas. Plenty of homes here are all-electric, using electric furnaces, heat pumps, and electric water heaters. If that's your home, you can skip gas entirely.

If your home does have a gas furnace, water heater, range, or fireplace, your provider is NW Natural, reachable at (800) 422-4012. Not sure either way? Two quick checks: look for a gas meter on the exterior of the home (a small gray fixture with dials and a pipe running into the house), or simply ask your landlord or property manager before move-in. If there's no meter and no gas appliances, there's nothing to set up.

Setting Up Water, Sewer & Stormwater

Inside Vancouver city limits

If your home is within Vancouver city limits, you have it easy: City of Vancouver Utility Billing combines water, sewer, and stormwater onto a single bill. One account, one payment, one phone call. Set it up at (360) 487-7999. Have your service address and move-in date ready, and ask whether a final/opening meter read needs to be scheduled.

In unincorporated Clark County

Outside city limits, water and sewer split into two separate providers. Water across much of the unincorporated county comes from Clark Public Utilities — the same (360) 992-3000 number you used for electricity. Sewer in large parts of the unincorporated county is handled by the Clark Regional Wastewater District (CRWWD) at (360) 750-5876. (Some rural properties are on private septic systems instead of public sewer — if that's your home, there's no sewer account to set up.)

Other Clark County cities

If you're moving to Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, or Washougal, those cities run their own municipal water and sewer systems for addresses inside their limits. You'll set up water and sewer directly with the city rather than with Vancouver or the county — though electricity (Clark PUD) and garbage (Waste Connections) stay the same.

Garbage, Recycling & Organics

For trash, recycling, and yard/food waste (organics), most of Clark County is served by Waste Connections of Washington, reachable at (360) 892-5370. Their service area covers Vancouver, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, La Center, Washougal, Yacolt, and the unincorporated county. You'll choose a cart size and pickup schedule when you set up the account. If you're renting a single-family home, garbage service is often already established at the address — a quick call confirms whether you need to start a new account or simply put the existing service in your name.

Internet & TV

Internet and TV are entirely up to you — there's no county-wide provider, and availability varies street by street. The main options in Vancouver and Clark County are Xfinity/Comcast, Ziply Fiber, and CenturyLink/Brightspeed. Because installation can require scheduling a technician, it's worth setting this up a week or two ahead if you work from home and can't afford a gap in service.

How to Set Up Utilities When You Move In: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Here's the order that keeps things simple and prevents arriving to a dark, waterless house:

1. Confirm your jurisdiction first. Use the Clark County GIS property lookup to verify whether your address is City of Vancouver or unincorporated county. This single step tells you who your water and sewer providers will be.
2. Set up electricity with Clark PUD — (360) 992-3000. Everyone needs this, so do it first. If you're in the county, ask them to start your water at the same time.
3. Set up water & sewer. Inside the city, call City of Vancouver Utility Billing (360-487-7999) for the combined bill. In the county, Clark PUD covers water and CRWWD (360-750-5876) covers sewer. In Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, or Washougal, call that city directly.
4. Check for gas. If the home has gas appliances or a meter, set up NW Natural (800-422-4012). If it's all-electric, skip it.
5. Start garbage & recycling with Waste Connections (360-892-5370), or put existing service in your name.
6. Arrange internet/TV with Xfinity, Ziply Fiber, or CenturyLink/Brightspeed — and schedule any installation early.
7. Time it right. Make these calls 3–5 business days before move-in (a full week during busy seasons) and request your specific start date.

There's no single "Vancouver utility company." Get your jurisdiction right first, and the rest of the list falls into place — power, water, sewer, and garbage, each from the provider that actually serves your address.

A Note for Landlords

If you own a rental, utilities are one of the most overlooked sources of friction — and risk. When a tenant moves out and the power gets shut off, the next showing happens in a cold, dark house. And in Washington, unpaid municipal water and sewer charges can attach as a lien against your property, not the former tenant's. Keeping service in the right name at every transition matters, and it ties directly into your obligations under Washington's habitability laws, which require working heat, water, and power before a tenant can move in.

New to the area and still getting the lay of the land? Our guides to moving to Vancouver, WA, the cost of living in Vancouver, WA, and living in Vancouver, WA cover everything else you'll want to know before and after the boxes are unpacked. Questions about a specific rental? Get in touch — we're local, and we know exactly who serves your address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the electric company in Vancouver, WA?

Clark Public Utilities (Clark PUD) is the electric provider for all of Vancouver and Clark County, Washington. It's a customer-owned public utility, not an investor-owned company, and there's no second electric company to compare against. To start, stop, or transfer service, call (360) 992-3000.

How do I set up utilities when I move to Vancouver, WA?

Start with electricity through Clark Public Utilities (360-992-3000), since every home uses it. Then confirm whether your address is inside city limits or unincorporated county to know your water/sewer provider: City of Vancouver Utility Billing (360-487-7999) inside the city, or Clark PUD for water plus CRWWD (360-750-5876) for sewer in the county. Add garbage with Waste Connections (360-892-5370), gas with NW Natural (800-422-4012) only if the home has it, and an internet provider of your choice. Call a few business days before move-in.

Do I need to set up gas service in Vancouver, WA?

Only if your home actually has natural gas. Many Vancouver homes are all-electric. If yours has a gas furnace, water heater, range, or fireplace, set up service with NW Natural at (800) 422-4012. If everything runs on electricity, you can skip gas. When in doubt, look for a gas meter outside or ask your landlord.

Who provides water, sewer, and garbage in Clark County?

It depends on jurisdiction. Inside Vancouver city limits, City of Vancouver Utility Billing (360-487-7999) bills water, sewer, and stormwater together. In unincorporated county, water often comes from Clark Public Utilities (360-992-3000) and sewer from Clark Regional Wastewater District (360-750-5876). Garbage and recycling across most of the county run through Waste Connections of Washington (360-892-5370). Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and Washougal run their own municipal water and sewer.

How long before move-in should I set up utilities?

Call your providers at least three to five business days before your move-in date, and a full week ahead during busy periods. Electricity and water can usually be activated quickly, but scheduling a start date in advance avoids arriving to a home with no power or water. Allow extra time for natural gas in case a technician visit is needed.

Written by Avenir Gedarevich, Washington State Designated Broker (License #25011405) at VPMG Property Management in Vancouver, WA.