Average Utility Costs in Helena, MT

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

Average monthly utility costs in Helena, MT are about $173.55, 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

$173.55

Estimated average monthly utilities in Helena are ~$173.55 (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal assumptions). Average water bill estimate: ~$34.20/mo at 5,000 gallons.

Data freshness: last verified 2026-06-05
  • Electric $103.37 (60%)
  • Water $34.20 (20%)
  • Sewer $35.99 (21%)
  • Trash $0.00 (0%)

Utilities here are about 30% lower than the Montana city average, driven mainly by electric rates.

  • In Montana, 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
NorthWestern Energy
Base charge
$4.20/mo
Energy rate
$0.0992/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Monthly total
$103.37
psc.mt.gov· verified 2026-06-05

Water

Confirmed
Provider
City of Helena
Base charge
$9.92/mo
Volumetric rate
$4.86/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Monthly total
$34.20
helenamt.gov· verified 2026-06-05

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Monthly total
$35.99

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

helenamt.gov· verified 2026-06-05

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$0.00

Residential solid waste is funded via Solid Waste Assessment on property taxes; no separate monthly fee. Curbside collection included: 96-gal individual or 300-gal shared container. East Helena ($12.25/95-gal) is a separate municipality.

helenamt.gov· verified 2026-06-05

Check Internet pricing & availability in Helena

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

$173.55

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 60% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $9.92.
  • Water increases by about $4.86 per additional 1,000 gallons.

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 Montana

Montana utility costsLewis and Clark CountyUtility providers in Montana

FAQ

In Helena, 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 Helena – Utility Billing (Proposed FY26 Wastewater Rates) at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month. Your bill will vary with actual usage.
Trash in Helena 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 Helena – Solid Waste (Residential Collection).
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 Helena with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.