Average Utility Costs in Pasadena, CA

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

Average monthly utility costs in Pasadena, CA are about $358.50, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water. This estimate uses Pasadena Water and Power (PWP)'s residential electric tariff, Pasadena Water and Power water and sewer rates, and the city's standard 60-gallon refuse bundle.

Pasadena quick take

  • Pasadena uses Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) for both electricity and water, so this page reflects a municipal utility tariff rather than Southern California Edison.
  • Electric base charges are already about $13.46/month before any usage, and 1,000 kWh pushes usage into Pasadena's higher residential distribution tiers.
  • Water starts with a sizable fixed monthly meter charge of about $43.25, which means Pasadena's all-in water bill is meaningfully affected by the base fee, not just usage.
  • Trash is based on Pasadena's 60-gallon mixed-waste bundle at about $35.19/month, while sewer is modeled from the city's fixed plus volumetric residential rate structure.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$358.50

Estimated average monthly utilities in Pasadena are ~$358.50 (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal assumptions). Average water bill estimate: ~$60.08/mo at 5,000 gallons.

Data freshness: last verified 2026-03-21
  • Electric $251.39 (70%)
  • Water $60.08 (17%)
  • Sewer $11.84 (3%)
  • Trash $35.19 (10%)

Utilities here are about 30% lower 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 ($35.19 in our estimate).

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
Pasadena Water and Power (PWP)
Base charge
$13.46/mo
Energy rate
$0.2379/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$251.39
pwp.cityofpasadena.net· verified 2026-03-21

Municipal electric tariff. Estimate uses Pasadena's current winter residential flat-rate schedule at 1,000 kWh; local taxes and surcharges are excluded.

Water

Confirmed
Provider
Pasadena Water and Power (PWP)
Base charge
$43.25/mo
Volumetric rate
$3.37/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$60.08
pwp.cityofpasadena.net· verified 2026-03-21

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$11.84

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

pwp.cityofpasadena.net· verified 2026-03-21

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$35.19

Using Pasadena's standard 60-gallon mixed waste bundle for single-family residential service at $35.19/mo. A PWP sample bill also shows the 60-gallon refuse bundle billed at $70.38 over a 61-day cycle, which aligns to about $35.19/mo.

cityofpasadena.net· verified 2026-03-21

Total estimated monthly utilities

$358.50

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 70% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $23.79.
  • Water increases by about $3.37 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 Pasadena →

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

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Nearby Cities Utility Costs

Other cities in Los Angeles County. Click a city for full breakdowns.

CityEst. total/mo
Pasadena (this)$358.50
Long Beach$456.33
Los Angeles$481.22

More in California

California utility costsLos Angeles CountyElectric providers in California

FAQ

Pasadena is served by Pasadena Water and Power, a city-owned municipal utility. That means this page uses Pasadena's own residential electric tariff instead of Southern California Edison rates that apply in many nearby cities, so Pasadena can compare quite differently from other Los Angeles County markets.
Pasadena Water and Power has a meaningful fixed monthly meter charge for a standard residential account before any usage is added. At the site's 5,000-gallon assumption, most of the volumetric charge remains in Tier 1, so the fixed meter charge is a major reason the all-in water estimate is still substantial.
This Pasadena estimate uses the city's standard 60-gallon mixed-waste bundle for single-family residential service. That bundle includes mixed waste plus recycling and yard waste or organics service, which makes it a reasonable baseline for comparing Pasadena with other city-run trash systems.
In Pasadena, sewer is billed in tiers based on usage, so the rate per gallon changes with volume. Our estimate uses the rate structure from City of Pasadena Water & Power Rates Card (effective July 1, 2025) at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month. Your bill will vary with actual usage.
Trash in Pasadena 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 Pasadena FY 2025 General Fee Schedule.
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 Pasadena with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.