Utility rates & providers in New Hanover County, NC

Representative example: Wilmington (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal)

New Hanover County is anchored by Wilmington on the Cape Fear River and Atlantic coast. For Wilmington, we benchmark residential electric using Duke Energy Progress and the North Carolina Public Staff’s published typical monthly bill at 1,000 kWh—consistent with other Duke Progress coastal cities in the dataset. Retail electric service is still address-specific; always confirm the legal name on your bill before comparing rates.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$274.98

Modeled for Wilmington — your address may use different providers. Estimated total ~$274.98; water ~$44.06/mo at 5,000 gal (when that is the city assumption).

Data freshness: last verified 2026-03-21. County overview narrative last verified 2026-04-12.

Data freshness: 2026-03-21
  • Electric $164.83 (60%)
  • Water $44.06 (16%)
  • Sewer $42.09 (15%)
  • Trash $24.00 (9%)

Utilities here are about 10% higher than the North Carolina city average, driven mainly by electric rates.

  • In North Carolina, 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).

Potable water and sanitary sewer for many qualifying service-area accounts are billed by Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA), which publishes consolidated rates and fees schedules with fixed water charges, volumetric water rates, and residential sewer components. Residential trash for many qualifying Wilmington accounts is described by the City of Wilmington as a monthly cart-size-based fee billed through CFPUA—confirm the current amount on official city and CFPUA materials. Beach towns and unincorporated pockets may use different retail water or solid waste arrangements; match each bill to the provider named in the header.

Utility breakdown by service

Line-item style summary for New Hanover County—figures are from the county overview below, not copied from a single city page. Jurisdiction notes, narrative, and official sources follow in each card.

Electricity

Benchmark

Benchmark — Duke Energy Progress typical bill @ 1,000 kWh (Public Staff) for Wilmington modeling

Duke Energy Progress is the investor-owned utility most Wilmington addresses use in public mapping summaries; residential schedules are NCUC-reviewed and summarized for shoppers through the Public Staff’s typical monthly bill at 1,000 kWh.

North Carolina does not offer retail electric choice for standard Progress residential service—compare tariffs and assistance programs rather than shopping for a competing wires provider.

Verify the distributor on your bill at addresses near municipal boundaries and large apartments—ZIP codes can span more than one certified territory.

Official sources

Water

Confirmed

Confirmed — CFPUA retail water schedules (published rates & fees)

CFPUA publishes fixed monthly water service charges and volumetric water rates for qualifying inside-service-area residential accounts in its rates and fees materials.

Service area boundaries matter—addresses outside CFPUA’s published service area may use other retail water authorities or wells.

Irrigation meters and large meters use different schedules; open the current PDF rather than extrapolating from a residential snapshot.

Official sources

Sewer / wastewater

Confirmed

Confirmed — CFPUA sewer components (published rates & fees)

CFPUA publishes residential sewer charges for qualifying accounts in the same rates and fees materials used for water.

Septic systems are outside typical CFPUA retail sewer line items.

New connections and capacity assurance are development-specific—use CFPUA engineering and planning materials for projects.

Official sources

Trash & recycling

Confirmed

Confirmed — City of Wilmington materials describing CFPUA-billed residential trash fees

The City of Wilmington’s recycling and trash FAQ materials describe residential trash as a monthly fee billed through CFPUA for many qualifying accounts, with cart-size tiers.

Beach municipalities and unincorporated county routes may use different programs or private subscription—confirm jurisdiction.

Apartments may be served privately—confirm with your property manager when applicable.

Official sources

Summaries rely on the North Carolina Public Staff’s Duke Energy Progress typical-bill materials, NCUC/Duke Energy customer references, CFPUA published rates and fees, and City of Wilmington recycling/trash FAQ materials as of the last verified date. Non-CFPUA water systems, cooperative electric pockets, private solid waste, and beach-town programs are parcel-specific—this overview supports research, not a substitute for a metered bill or development determination.

Check Internet pricing & availability in New Hanover County

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

$274.98

Wilmington

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 60% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $14.90.
  • Water increases by about $5.16 per additional 1,000 gallons.

Assumptions

  • Electric: 1,000 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

Full line-item breakdown: Wilmington utility page. County overview cards above cite additional regional sources.

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Cities in New Hanover County

Estimated monthly utility totals

Totals use each city's modeled usage and tariffs on file—see the city page for electric, water, sewer, and trash breakdowns.

CityEst. total/mo
Wilmington (illustrative pattern)$274.98

More in North Carolina

North Carolina utility costsElectric providers in North CarolinaWilmington utility page

FAQ

We use base charges and per-unit rates from official provider and municipal sources for each city in New Hanover County. Electric uses city or provider tariff data; water, sewer, and trash use city or provider rate schedules. Each city page shows assumed usage (kWh, gallons) and source links.
Cities in the same county can have different electric providers, municipal water and sewer systems, and trash contracts. Rates and fee structures vary, so estimated monthly totals differ. Use the comparison table and city links to see details.
Each city page shows a 'last verified' date and links to official sources. Always confirm current rates on the provider's or city's website before making decisions.
CFPUA is the regional water and wastewater authority for many qualifying addresses, while the city publishes policy and customer-facing explanations for solid waste billed through the utility bill in many Wilmington accounts. Always match each charge to the authority named in the billing header.
Not necessarily. Incorporated beach towns often operate their own solid waste programs or contracts. Use the municipality’s official solid waste pages for your parcel.
Most urban New Hanover comparisons use Duke Progress in the Public Staff benchmark, but certified territories can still differ by exact street. Confirm the legal service provider on your bill.

Learn more

For tips on understanding your bill, comparing cities, and how electric and utility rates work by state, see our blog. Compare Wilmington with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.