Average Utility Costs in Berkeley, CA

Estimated monthly utility costs (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal)

Average monthly utility costs in Berkeley, CA are about $656.95, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water. This estimate uses Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) for electric service, EBMUD water rates, EBMUD wastewater treatment charges, Berkeley's sewer service fee, and Berkeley's residential 32-gallon trash service.

Berkeley quick take

  • Electric is based on Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)'s current residential E-1 pricing, so Berkeley reflects a high-cost investor-owned utility rather than a municipal power system.
  • Water comes from EBMUD, where a 5/8-inch to 3/4-inch meter already carries a meaningful fixed charge before any water use is added.
  • Berkeley sewer is unusually expensive because the bill effectively layers EBMUD wastewater treatment charges together with the City of Berkeley's own sewer service fee based on water use.
  • Trash is based on Berkeley's city-run 32-gallon weekly residential service at about $61.66/month, and rates already include weekly recycling and compost pickup.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$656.95

Estimated average monthly utilities in Berkeley are ~$656.95 (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal assumptions). Average water bill estimate: ~$79.59/mo at 5,000 gallons.

Data freshness: last verified 2026-03-21
  • Electric $430.82 (66%)
  • Water $79.59 (12%)
  • Sewer $84.88 (13%)
  • Trash $61.66 (9%)

Utilities here are about 30% higher than the California city average, driven mainly by electric rates.

  • In California, heating and cooling often makes electric the largest share of the bill.
  • City-provided trash is billed at a monthly fee ($61.66 in our estimate).

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
Base charge
$23.80/mo
Energy rate
$0.4070/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$430.82
pge.com· verified 2026-03-21

PG&E tiered residential pricing varies by baseline usage and seasonal credits; Berkeley is modeled with the current E-1 schedule.

Water

Confirmed
Provider
East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)
Base charge
$26.85/mo
Volumetric rate
$10.55/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$79.59
ebmud.com· verified 2026-03-21

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$84.88

Tiered structure simplified to a representative monthly estimate at assumed usage.

ebmud.com· verified 2026-03-21

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$61.66

Using Berkeley's 32-gallon weekly residential trash service at $61.66/mo. The published rate includes weekly trash, recycling, and compost collection. Other cart sizes are available, and some hillside fire zones pay an added fire fuel surcharge.

berkeleyca.gov· verified 2026-03-21

Total estimated monthly utilities

$656.95

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 66% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $40.70.
  • Water increases by about $10.55 per additional 1,000 gallons.

Why we don't cover internet

Internet service varies widely—many providers, different plans, introductory offers, and bundles make it hard to compare apples to apples. We focus on electric, water, sewer, and trash where rates are more standardized, but we do offer a tool to help you compare internet service providers in your area.

Check available internet service providers in Berkeley →

Assumptions

  • Electric: 1000 kWh/month
  • Water: 5,000 gallons/month

What these labels mean

  • Confirmed — From this area's rate schedule.
  • Benchmark — From an official typical (e.g. state commission 1,000 kWh); not city-specific.
  • Delivery only — Regulated delivery charges only (e.g. Texas); supply varies by plan.
  • Estimated — From other or incomplete sources; use as a rough guide.
Sources

Wondering if solar makes sense for you? Try our solar payback calculator to find out.

Nearby Cities Utility Costs

Other cities in Alameda County. Click a city for full breakdowns.

CityEst. total/mo
Berkeley (this)$656.95
Oakland$629.25

More in California

California utility costsAlameda CountyElectric providers in California

FAQ

Berkeley sewer charges are not just one line item. Berkeley properties pay EBMUD wastewater treatment charges, and the City of Berkeley also applies a separate sewer service fee on the EBMUD water bill based on water use. That layered structure makes Berkeley's sewer estimate look much higher than cities that show only one wastewater charge.
Yes. Berkeley water service is provided by EBMUD, the same regional utility that serves Oakland and several nearby East Bay cities. Actual bills can still differ because local sewer fees, parcel-based wet weather charges, elevation surcharges, and trash service structures are not identical from city to city.
This page uses Berkeley's 32-gallon weekly residential trash service as the comparison baseline. Berkeley also offers 20-, 64-, and 96-gallon options, and hillside fire zones may pay an additional fire-fuel surcharge on top of the standard monthly rate.
In Berkeley, sewer is billed in tiers based on usage, so the rate per gallon changes with volume. Our estimate uses the rate structure from EBMUD Wastewater Rates + City of Berkeley Sewer Service Fees at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month. Your bill will vary with actual usage.
Trash in Berkeley is provided by the city as part of municipal utilities and is billed at a monthly fee. Rates and services are set by the local government; our estimate uses the fee from City of Berkeley Residential Waste Services.
We use base charges and per-unit rates from official provider pages. Electric = base + (rate × assumed kWh). Water = base + (rate per 1,000 gal × assumed gallons / 1,000). Sewer is either a flat fee or a percentage of water. Trash is a fixed monthly fee. See the Methodology page for full formulas.
Actual bills depend on your usage, seasonal rates, taxes, fees, and provider-specific rules. Our estimates use fixed assumed usage (e.g., 1,000 kWh, 5,000 gal) for comparison. Your home may use more or less.
Each component shows a 'last verified' date. We aim to update from official sources periodically; always confirm current rates on the provider's site before making decisions.

Learn more

For tips on understanding your bill, comparing cities, and how electric and utility rates work by state, see our blog. Compare Berkeley with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.