Lot numbers, HOA dues, and the accounts a buyer still opens

New homes and HOA communities make the split harder to see. The model home is lit, watered, and staffed on the builder's temporary accounts. Those accounts end. The buyer's local utilities, gas, water, trash, and regulated electric, start when the buyer enrolls. Internet, TV, security, home warranty, and deregulated electricity start when they are set up on a call with Utility Connect. Dues that truly include trash or water are a third category: nobody enrolls, because the association is already the customer. Say which is which, out loud.

Lot numbers and live addresses

Utilities often create the premise under a lot before the post office recognizes the street number. Send us both, plus the possession date. The buyer should repeat both when they enroll with a local utility, and we will use both when we set up the other services. When the postal address changes later, the buyer updates the local accounts themselves. Call us if a service we set up needs the new address. A mismatched bill is not a reason to pay a stranger who calls and asks for a deposit to "correct it."

What the HOA packet should list

Water, sewer, or trash that are in the dues and should not be enrolled twice
Bulk internet that is mandatory or optional, so we do not set up a conflicting plan
Gas, electric, and anything the covenant does not cover
Which of those are local enrollments, and which are set up on the call

"Handled by the HOA" should mean the association is the customer. It should not mean a volunteer will call the city in the buyer's name. "Handled on the Utility Connect call" should mean internet and the other non-local services, with the buyer agreeing. It should not mean water.

The model-home myth

Construction power is the builder's temporary account. Tell buyers that in the design studio. Staff who say "power is already on" are describing the job trailer or a vacant meter, not an account in the buyer's name. If your utility-release form exists, it should let a utility discuss premise status. It should not open a local account without the buyer. We will not be the party that opens it.

Keys and the first night

A gate fob is not a utility confirmation. A fiber install booked on our call still needs the buyer home. You can pass along access rules. You cannot enroll them with the water district, and you cannot substitute for them on the setup call. The person who agrees to the internet plan needs to be the person on the phone.

Common questions

Can the builder pre-enroll local utilities as a courtesy?

Not in the buyer's name. Temporary construction service is the builder's account if the builder is the customer. Describe those as different things in every orientation.

What if the meter is not set?

There may be nothing to enroll, and nothing to set up, until the utility can see the premise. We will not invent a start date the meter cannot support.

Should the HOA keep residents' account numbers?

No. Keep a record that you explained which services are included, which are enrolled by the buyer, and which are set up on the call.

The buyer-facing rule is the split between local utilities and the call.