Average Utility Costs in Portage, MI

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

Average monthly utility costs in Portage, MI are about $291.78, 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

$291.78

Data freshness: last verified 2026-06-06
  • Electric $201.90 (69%)
  • Water $27.84 (10%)
  • Sewer $48.00 (16%)
  • Trash $14.04 (5%)

Utilities here are in line with the Michigan city average.

  • In Michigan, heating and cooling often makes electric the largest share of the bill.
  • City-provided trash is billed at a monthly fee ($14.04 in our estimate).

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
Consumers Energy
Base charge
$8.00/mo
Energy rate
$0.1939/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$201.90
michigan.gov· verified 2026-06-06

Water

Confirmed
Provider
City of Portage
Base charge
$8.74/mo
Volumetric rate
$3.82/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$27.84
portagemi.gov· verified 2026-06-06

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
capacityCommodity
Estimated monthly
$48.00
portagemi.gov· verified 2026-06-06

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$14.04

Trash $14.04/mo billed directly by WM ($42.12/qtr). Recycling funded via voter-approved millage on property taxes. Yard waste optional $10.50/mo (Apr–Nov).

portagemi.gov· verified 2026-06-06

Check Internet pricing & availability in Portage

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

$291.78

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 69% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $19.39.
  • Each additional 1,000 gallons of water adds about $10.85 to your water and sewer bills combined (water ~$3.82 + wastewater ~$7.03).

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 Kalamazoo County. Click a city for full breakdowns.

CityEst. total/mo
Portage (this)$291.78
Kalamazoo$275.20

More in Michigan

Michigan utility costsKalamazoo CountyElectric providers in Michigan

FAQ

Trash in Portage 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 Portage – WM Residential Waste Contract (Year 1, from March 2026).
In Portage, sewer is billed using a capacity-plus-commodity structure: a capacity charge based on your equivalent residential unit (ERU) and a volumetric charge for usage. Our estimate uses the rates from City of Portage – Sewer Rates (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month.
We use base charges and per-unit rates from official provider pages. Electric = base + (rate × assumed kWh); in Michigan we use DTE or Consumers Energy published rates (including time-of-use blends where applicable). 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. Michigan utilities offer time-of-use and standard rates, so your plan affects your bill. Our estimates use fixed assumed usage (e.g., 1,000 kWh, 5,000 gal) 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 Portage with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.