Average Utility Costs in Traverse City, MI

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

Average monthly utility costs in Traverse City, MI are about $206.54, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water. This estimate combines Traverse City Light & Power electric pricing with the city's local water, wastewater, and solid waste structure.

Traverse City quick take

  • Traverse City uses Traverse City Light & Power, so the electric estimate reflects a city-owned utility rather than the DTE or Consumers Energy pattern seen across much of Michigan.
  • Water and sewer can carry a large fixed-cost component in Traverse City, which is one reason the non-electric share of the bill is easy to overlook at first glance.
  • Trash service is included as a clearly labeled baseline estimate because the city or contractor publishes the service setup more clearly than a simple recurring residential monthly price.
  • In Michigan, city-specific water and wastewater rules often create bigger local differences than the statewide electric-market structure does.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$206.54

Data freshness: last verified 2026-03-21
  • Electric $113.00 (55%)
  • Water $18.36 (9%)
  • Sewer $51.18 (25%)
  • Trash $24.00 (12%)

Utilities here are about 20% lower than the Michigan city average, driven mainly by electric rates.

  • In Michigan, heating and cooling often makes electric the largest share of the bill.
  • City-provided trash is billed at a monthly fee ($24.00 in our estimate).

Water

Confirmed
Provider
City of Traverse City Water & Sewer
Base charge
$16.80/mo
Volumetric rate
$0.31/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$18.36
traversecitymi.gov· verified 2026-03-21

Trash

Estimated
Monthly fee
$24.00

Traverse City confirms an exclusive GFL contract for curbside waste and recycling, but the city page does not publish a simple standard monthly household rate. This is a provisional baseline estimate for comparison.

traversecitymi.gov· verified 2026-03-21

Total estimated monthly utilities

$206.54

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 55% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $10.25.
  • Water increases by about $0.31 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 Traverse City →

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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More in Michigan

Michigan utility costsGrand Traverse CountyElectric providers in Michigan

FAQ

Because in Michigan, water, sewer, and trash charges can swing the household total substantially even when electric service follows the same DTE, Consumers Energy, or municipal pattern as nearby communities. Looking at the full bill is usually more useful for relocation budgeting.
No. Most Michigan households are served by the local assigned utility or a municipal utility for their address. That is why the electric number on this page is built from the local utility structure rather than a plan-shopping marketplace.
Trash in Traverse City 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 Traverse City – Trash & Recycling.
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 Traverse City with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.