Heat is the utility that differs most from a city apartment. On the East End most homes burn fuel oil or propane delivered by truck, and in a house the lease is what governs who pays and who orders. Browse year-round rentals by town and ask the questions below about each one before you sign. They cost nothing and they decide the monthly number.
Ask the owner
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What fuel heats the house? | Oil and propane arrive by truck and are billed per gallon; electric and gas are billed monthly. |
| Is the tank full at move-in, and must it be full at move-out? | Neither is automatic. Put the answer in the lease. |
| Who has the delivery account? | If it is the owner’s, ask how you will reorder; if it is yours, ask the last delivery date. |
| Is the hot water oil, electric or gas? | It changes your summer and winter bills. |
| Is there a septic system or cesspool? | Ask when it was last pumped and whether the owner limits water use. |
| Is water from the Water Authority, a village system or a private well? | It decides who you call and what you pay. |
| Who handles trash? | See the trash and permit guide. |
The state’s heating-season rule, heat from October 1 through May 31, applies to multiple dwellings, according to the Attorney General. Houses follow their leases, so write fuel arrangements into yours. See the lease basics for what a lease cannot waive.
How East End homes are heated
In the Town of East Hampton 49% of homes heat with oil and 25% with propane; utility gas serves 15%. In the Town of Southampton oil is 53%, propane 12% and utility gas 24%. The Village of Southampton is the exception, at 58% utility gas. The heating guide shows every hamlet.
Start electric service: PSEG Long Island
New customers request service online. PSEG Long Island says it emails a confirmation when the request is complete, sends a My Account registration email three business days after service becomes active, and delivers the first bill within the first 30 days. Time-of-Day pricing is the standard rate for all new residential accounts.
Start water service: Suffolk County Water Authority
If the home is on Suffolk County Water Authority, the start-service request takes about five minutes and asks for photo ID. For a tenant the Authority lists a $30 initiation fee, a $35.45 quarterly basic service charge, a $20 quarterly water quality treatment fee and a $50 tenant deposit. Owners pay no deposit. The amounts appear on the first bill. Check the Authority’s schedule of fees for the current numbers.
Start gas service: National Grid
Where gas lines exist, National Grid asks you to call at least a week before you move; it wants five to seven days’ notice so a crew can turn service on. The number on the company’s page is 1-800-930-5003, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A house without a gas line may not qualify for one: National Grid confirms availability and distance requirements when you apply, usually within one to two business days.
Internet
Do not assume cable internet is available at a rural address. Internet on the East End explains how to check before you sign.
Questions people ask
Is a security deposit charged by the water authority?
Suffolk County Water Authority lists a $50 tenant deposit and says owners pay no deposit. It also lists a $30 initiation fee and quarterly service charges on the first bill.
How much notice does National Grid want to start gas service?
National Grid asks for 5 to 7 days' notice so a crew can visit, and says to call at least a week before you move.
Sources
- PSEG Long Island, Start New Residential Service
- PSEG Long Island, Turning on Electric Service
- Suffolk County Water Authority, Start or Stop Service
- National Grid, Check, Start, Stop, or Transfer Service (Long Island)
- New York Attorney General, Residential Tenants' Rights Guide
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024, table B25040 (house heating fuel)
Checked October 2026. Rules, fees and hours change; confirm with the office or operator before you act.