Average Utility Costs in Columbus, IN

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

Average monthly utility costs in Columbus, IN are about $236.92, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water, plus sewer and trash fees. See the full breakdown and sources below.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$236.92

Data freshness: last verified 2026-05-05
  • Electric $155.70 (66%)
  • Water $25.25 (11%)
  • Sewer $55.97 (24%)
  • Trash $0.00 (0%)

Utilities here are about 10% lower than the Indiana city average, driven mainly by water.

  • In Indiana, heating and cooling often makes electric the largest share of the bill.
  • Trash and recycling are funded by the municipality at no direct monthly fee to residents; collection may be provided by a contracted hauler. Check your bill for any fees.

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
Duke Energy Indiana
Base charge
$13.70/mo
Energy rate
$0.1420/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$155.70
duke-energy.com· verified 2026-05-05

Tiered RS rate: first 300 kWh, next 700 kWh, over 1,000 kWh at lowest block—verify on Duke tariff.

Water

Confirmed
Provider
Columbus City Utilities
Base charge
$7.20/mo
Volumetric rate
$3.61/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$25.25
columbusutilities.org· verified 2026-05-05

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$55.97

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

columbusutilities.org· verified 2026-05-05

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$0.00

One trash toter per household with no recurring monthly cart fee after initial toter purchase ($65–$80 one-time per city page); extra/exchange fees apply when requested. Recycling signup separate.

columbus.in.gov· verified 2026-05-05

Check Internet pricing & availability in Columbus

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

$236.92

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 66% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $14.20.
  • Each additional 1,000 gallons of water adds about $13.18 to your water and sewer bills combined (water ~$3.61 + wastewater ~$9.57).

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.

More in Indiana

Indiana utility costsBartholomew CountyElectric providers in Indiana

FAQ

In Columbus, sewer is billed in tiers based on usage, so the rate per gallon changes with volume. Our estimate uses the rate structure from Columbus City Utilities – Wastewater rates (effective Jan. 1, 2026 schedule on CCU billing page) at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month. Your bill will vary with actual usage.
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. Indiana is a regulated electric state; our estimates use the serving utility's tariff at 1,000 kWh for comparison.
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 Columbus with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.