Average Utility Costs in Chattanooga, TN

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

Average monthly utility costs in Chattanooga, TN are about $236.20, 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

$236.20

Data freshness: last verified 2026-05-29
  • Electric $130.73 (55%)
  • Water $37.34 (16%)
  • Sewer $68.13 (29%)
  • Trash $0.00 (0%)

Utilities here are in line with the Tennessee city average.

  • In Tennessee, 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
EPB (Electric Power Board of Chattanooga)
Base charge
$9.81/mo
Energy rate
$0.1209/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$130.73
epb.com· verified 2026-05-29

EPB is the municipally owned electric utility for Chattanooga and sells EPB Fiber internet separately. TVA fuel adjustment changes monthly—see epb.com/total-monthly-fuel-cost for the current adder.

Water

Confirmed
Provider
Tennessee American Water
Base charge
$19.92/mo
Volumetric rate
$3.48/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$37.34
amwater.com· verified 2026-05-29

Sewer

Confirmed
Method
tiered
Estimated monthly
$68.13

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

chattanooga.gov· verified 2026-05-29

Trash

Confirmed
Monthly fee
$0.00

Weekly curbside garbage and every-other-week recycling for eligible residential properties inside city limits. Service is funded through property taxes—no separate monthly solid waste fee on the utility bill. One-time $75 container delivery fee may apply for existing dwellings; additional carts $75 each (max two).

chattanooga.gov· verified 2026-05-29

Check Internet pricing & availability in Chattanooga

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

$236.20

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 55% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $12.09.
  • Water increases by about $3.48 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

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

More in Tennessee

Tennessee utility costsHamilton CountyElectric providers in Tennessee

FAQ

In Chattanooga, 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 Chattanooga – Wastewater Treatment Fees (FY 2025, effective Oct 1, 2024) at the assumed 5,000 gallons per month. Your bill will vary with actual usage.
Trash in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga – Garbage 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 Chattanooga with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.