Utility rates & providers in San Francisco County, CA

Representative example: San Francisco (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal)

San Francisco is a consolidated city-county: most residential electric meters are served by PG&E under CPUC tariffs, while the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) provides regional water supply and local wastewater services for many accounts.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$741.06

Estimated average monthly utilities in San Francisco are ~$741.06 (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal assumptions). Average water bill estimate: ~$91.66/mo at 5,000 gallons.

Data freshness: last verified 2026-03-22. County overview narrative last verified 2026-04-13.

Data freshness: 2026-03-22
  • Electric $470.00 (63%)
  • Water $91.66 (12%)
  • Sewer $126.65 (17%)
  • Trash $52.75 (7%)

Utilities here are about 40% 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.
  • Trash is provided by private haulers; residents choose their own. Our estimate reflects typical rates for the area—contact haulers for exact pricing.

Dense multifamily construction, rent-controlled housing, and sub-metering can complicate which entity bills each line item—renters should confirm whether utilities are master-metered or tenant-of-record.

Utility breakdown by service

Line-item style summary for San Francisco County—figures are from the county overview below, not copied from a single city page. Jurisdiction notes, narrative, and official sources follow in each card.

Electricity

Confirmed

Confirmed — PG&E residential modeling for San Francisco city page.

Coastal climate zones affect baseline allocations on Schedule E-1; fog belt homes may see different tier breakpoints than inland Bay neighbors.

Community choice programs such as CleanPowerSF can alter generation charges while PG&E delivers power.

Official sources

Water

Confirmed

Confirmed — SFPUC retail water schedules for qualifying San Francisco accounts.

SFPUC publishes meter charges, volumetric rates, and capital improvement surcharges adopted by the commission.

Hetch Hetchy and regional supply contracts influence long-term rate paths—read commission resolutions for major changes.

Official sources

Sewer / wastewater

Confirmed

Confirmed — SFPUC wastewater charges paired with water service classes.

Wastewater fees often track measured flows and include treatment and collection components.

Properties served by private laterals or pump stations may see additional maintenance assessments.

Official sources

Trash & recycling

Confirmed

Confirmed — City Refuse Rate Division / franchised collection.

San Francisco uses city-administered refuse rates with cart sizing for diversion compliance; downtown density affects collection frequency.

Commercial waste audits and recycling ordinances differ from residential programs.

Official sources

Summaries use CPUC consumer hubs, the utility links cited in each card, and the anchor city’s modeled tariffs on this site as of the overview date. Community choice aggregation, CARE/FERA, medical baseline, franchise fees, and parcel-specific surcharges can change your statement—confirm on your bill.

Check Internet pricing & availability in San Francisco County

Internet service varies widely—many providers, different plans, introductory offers, and bundles make it hard to compare apples to apples. That's why we don't estimate internet on this page like we do for electric, water, sewer, and trash. Use our tool to compare providers for your address or ZIP code.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$741.06

San Francisco

What changes your bill most?

Assumptions

  • Electric: 1,000 kWh/month
  • Water: 5,000 gallons/month

What these labels mean

  • Confirmed — From this area's rate schedule.
  • Benchmark — From an official typical bill or PSC comparative statistic; not every meter will match.
  • 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

Full line-item breakdown: San Francisco utility page. County overview cards above cite additional regional sources.

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Cities in San Francisco County

Estimated monthly utility totals

Totals use each city's modeled usage and tariffs on file—see the city page for electric, water, sewer, and trash breakdowns.

CityEst. total/mo
San Francisco (illustrative pattern)$741.06

More in California

California utility costsElectric providers in CaliforniaSan Francisco utility page

FAQ

We use base charges and per-unit rates from official provider and municipal sources for each city in San Francisco County. Electric may reference a CPUC-regulated investor-owned schedule (PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E), a municipal utility (for example LADWP, SMUD, or a city PUD), or another published tariff; water, sewer, and trash follow city, district, or franchise programs. Each city page shows assumed usage (kWh, gallons) and outbound links to primary sources.
California counties typically include many jurisdictions. Electric delivery territory, community choice aggregation enrollment, water/sewer enterprise boundaries, and solid-waste programs all follow the provider that serves your meter—not the county name on your mail. Compare city pages and match the legal name printed on your bill.
Open the county internet providers page at /california/county/san-francisco-county-utility-costs/internet-providers for FCC-backed research merged for cities we model here, plus an address-level comparison tool. Availability is still specific to your building and unit.
Each city page shows a 'last verified' date and links to official sources. Enriched county overviews add CPUC and utility hubs below. Confirm current rates on the utility’s or government’s primary tariff page before making decisions.
They are separate enterprises. PG&E typically delivers electricity (and gas where applicable) under CPUC oversight, while SFPUC provides water and wastewater for many San Francisco accounts. Your bill may include charges from both.

Learn more

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