Setting up utilities and services when you move to the Madison area

Electricity and natural gas

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) supplies electricity in Madison, McFarland, Monona, Middleton, Fitchburg, Cross Plains and other Dane County communities, according to MGE. MGE's natural gas service covers Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Iowa, Juneau, Monroe and Vernon counties. You can start, stop or move service through the Start, Stop or Move Service section of your MGE My Account. MGE's customer line, 608-252-7000, is staffed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for account and billing questions. If you only get gas from MGE, your electricity comes from a different provider.

Some addresses are served by another company. Alliant Energy (through Wisconsin Power and Light) serves customers across Wisconsin, and you start service on its Start, Stop or Move Service page. Several towns run their own utilities. Stoughton Utilities provides electric, water and wastewater service in Stoughton and surrounding townships and has a Start New Service page. Sun Prairie Utilities is a water and electric utility for Sun Prairie, with start and stop forms on its website.

Not sure who serves you? The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin publishes electric and natural gas service-territory maps, interactive and PDF, on its consumer maps page. The PSC notes that location accuracy depends on its source data, so if your address sits near a boundary, confirm with the utility.

Water and sewer

In the city of Madison, Madison Water Utility starts service by phone at (608) 266-4641, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If a title company is handling your home purchase, it usually arranges the transfer, and the city suggests calling to verify. Tenants call if their lease makes them responsible for the Municipal Services bill, which includes water charges, and call again when they move out so the account can close.

Outside the city, water may come from a village or city utility, a sanitary district or a private well, depending on the address. Check with your village, city or town hall. The PSC also publishes a map of Wisconsin water utilities.

Trash and recycling

Collection varies by municipality. In the city of Madison, the Streets Division picks up trash and recycling, and you can look up your schedule by address. See our trash and recycling guide for carts, large items and drop-off sites. In other communities, ask your village, city or town office who collects and what the rules are.

Internet and cable

Which providers reach your address depends on the street, and sometimes on the building. The FCC's National Broadband Map, at BroadbandMap.FCC.gov, lets you search by street address and shows the providers reporting service there and the technology each uses. Provider-reported information can differ from what's actually available, so confirm with the company once you've picked a few. If you rent, ask your landlord whether internet is included or whether the building has a preferred installer, and book an installation date early, since moving week can be busy.

Driver's license and vehicle registration

Wisconsin rules give you 60 days after establishing residency to get a Wisconsin driver's license (30 days for a commercial license), according to WisDOT and the state administrative code. You count as a resident if your principal home is in Wisconsin, you pay Wisconsin income taxes, or you're registered to vote here.

You apply in person at a DMV service center. WisDOT recommends an appointment, which you can make through its Interactive Driver License Guide. Bring proof of lawful status, proof of name and date of birth, proof of identity (your old license can count), two proofs of Wisconsin residency and your Social Security number. A vision test is required for everyone, and WisDOT lists situations where knowledge and road tests are required. If you hold a REAL ID from another state, you'll need to provide all the documents again. WisDOT also asks you to update your address with USPS before applying.

For your car, WisDOT says you must apply for a Wisconsin title and plates once you become a resident, and it gives no separate day count for vehicles. Out-of-state plates that haven't expired don't extend the deadline. You'll need your original out-of-state title, a Wisconsin license or ID, and payment. You can apply online (a mailed receipt may be required), by mail, at a DMV service center, or through a third-party agent. Check the DMV site before you start, because WisDOT posts notices when online services are down.

Library card

Madison Public Library cards are free for people who live in the Madison area or in a South Central Library System county. Bring a valid photo ID. A Full Use card needs proof of your current address; an Easy Access card doesn't, but you must give an acceptable address and can borrow fewer items at a time. Apply online or at any Madison Public Library location. Parents and guardians can request cards for children.

Dog and cat license

Madison residents with a dog or cat five months or older need a city license. You'll need proof of a current rabies vaccination and, if it applies, proof of spaying or neutering. Licenses run on the calendar year, January 1 through December 31. Apply online through the city's Licenses & Permits portal, or by mail to the City Treasurer at P.O. Box 20, Madison, WI 53701-0020. For fees, see the city's dog and cat license page. Outside Madison, check with your own town or village. Our pets guide covers vets, dog parks and more.

Change of address

File your change of address with USPS on the official USPS site or at a Post Office. USPS verifies your identity, and allows 7 to 10 business days after approval for the change to take effect, so file early. Then update your bank, employer, insurance and subscriptions. If you need help with the move itself, browse local movers and self-storage.