Average Utility Costs in Wilkes-Barre, PA

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

Average monthly utility costs in Wilkes-Barre, PA are about $422.15, 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

$422.15

Data freshness: last verified 2026-07-21
  • Electric $130.79 (31%)
  • Water $112.66 (27%)
  • Sewer $162.70 (39%)
  • Trash $16.00 (4%)

Utilities here are about 40% higher than the Pennsylvania city average, driven mainly by sewer.

  • Trash is provided by private haulers; residents choose their own. Our estimate reflects typical rates for the area—contact haulers for exact pricing.

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
PPL Electric Utilities
Base charge
$0.00/mo
Energy rate
$0.1308/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$130.79
pplelectric.com· verified 2026-07-21

PA allows supplier choice. PPL delivers; Price to Compare is default supply. Competitive suppliers may offer lower rates.

Water

Confirmed
Provider
Pennsylvania American Water
Base charge
$18.80/mo
Volumetric rate
$18.77/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$112.66
amwater.com· verified 2026-07-21

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$162.70

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

amwater.com· verified 2026-07-21

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$16.00

Pay-per-bag: large garbage stickers $2 each (30-lb limit, affix to resident-supplied bag); small blue bags $6.25/5-pack ($1.25/bag). No flat monthly fee—$16/mo shown assumes ~8 large stickers (~2/week); actual cost varies with household usage.

timesleader.com· verified 2026-07-21

Check Internet pricing & availability in Wilkes-Barre

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

$422.15

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 31% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $13.08.
  • Each additional 1,000 gallons of water adds about $48.31 to your water and sewer bills combined (water ~$18.77 + wastewater ~$29.54).

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

Wondering if solar makes sense for you? Try our solar payback calculator to find out.

More in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania utility costsLuzerne CountyElectric providers in Pennsylvania

FAQ

In Wilkes-Barre, sewer is billed in tiers based on usage, so the rate per gallon changes with volume. Our estimate uses the rate structure from PA American Water – Wastewater Rate Zone 1 SSS Residential (eff. Aug 7, 2024) 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 Wilkes-Barre with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.