Average Utility Costs in Chapel Hill, NC

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

Average monthly utility costs in Chapel Hill, NC are about $332.96, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water. This estimate uses Duke Energy Progress for electric service and layers in the local water, wastewater, and solid waste charges that residents actually budget around.

Chapel Hill quick take

  • Electric service is benchmarked from Duke Energy Progress, which fits North Carolina's regulated utility structure rather than a retail electricity shopping market.
  • Chapel Hill relies on a regional water or wastewater authority, so the non-electric part of the bill reflects more than just a city utility department.
  • Trash is shown as a clearly labeled baseline estimate where the public service pages are easier to confirm than a simple posted monthly fee table.
  • Across North Carolina, local water, wastewater, and trash policies can change the full household bill more than many residents expect.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$332.96

Data freshness: last verified 2026-03-21
  • Electric $164.83 (50%)
  • Water $68.44 (21%)
  • Sewer $77.69 (23%)
  • Trash $22.00 (7%)

Utilities here are about 30% higher than the North Carolina city average, driven mainly by water.

  • In North Carolina, heating and cooling often makes electric the largest share of the bill.
  • Trash is provided by private haulers; residents choose their own. Our estimate reflects typical rates for the area—contact haulers for exact pricing.

Water

Confirmed
Provider
Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA)
Base charge
$25.71/mo
Volumetric rate
$8.55/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$68.44

OWASA 5/8-inch residential water service is $25.71/month. The stored effective rate reflects the first two residential blocks at 5,000 gallons.

owasa.org· verified 2026-03-21

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$77.69

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

OWASA 5/8-inch residential sewer service is $20.99/month and sewer volume is billed at $11.34 per 1,000 gallons up to 15,000 gallons.

owasa.org· verified 2026-03-21

Trash

Estimated
Monthly fee
$22.00

Chapel Hill documents town solid waste service and fee assistance, but the current simple recurring household charge was not exposed cleanly in the public page text. This is a provisional baseline estimate.

chapelhillnc.gov· verified 2026-03-21

Total estimated monthly utilities

$332.96

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 50% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $14.90.
  • Water increases by about $8.55 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 Chapel Hill →

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 North Carolina

North Carolina utility costsOrange CountyElectric providers in North Carolina

FAQ

This page uses the local regulated-utility benchmark so readers can compare Chapel Hill with other North Carolina cities on the same 1,000 kWh basis. Your actual bill can still vary with season, riders, usage pattern, and the specific utility territory tied to your address.
Because household utility costs are not just about electricity. In North Carolina, city or regional water, wastewater, and solid waste charges can add a meaningful fixed monthly cost, so the full utility bill is often more useful than the electric number alone.
In Chapel Hill, sewer is billed in tiers based on usage, so the rate per gallon changes with volume. Our estimate uses the rate structure from OWASA – Summary of Rates effective October 1, 2025 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. 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 Chapel Hill with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.