Utility rates & providers in Shelby County, TN

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

Shelby County’s dominant retail utility hub is Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division (MLGW), a consolidated municipal utility that provides electric, water, gas, and water-based sewer billing for a large share of Memphis and adjacent Shelby County addresses. MLGW’s published residential electric schedules combine monthly service charges with seasonal per-kWh energy blocks and TVA-related fuel adjustment riders—effective energy rates can move monthly even when nominal rate sheets are stable.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$224.65

Modeled for Memphis — your address may use different providers.

Data freshness: last verified 2026-02-11
  • Electric $109.50 (49%)
  • Water $16.00 (7%)
  • Sewer $70.00 (31%)
  • Trash $29.15 (13%)

Utilities here are about 5% lower than the Tennessee city average, driven mainly by electric rates.

  • In Tennessee, 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.

Smaller municipalities in Shelby County (Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Lakeland, Millington, Arlington, and others) operate separate municipal electric, water, or solid-waste programs in many cases—do not assume MLGW line items apply based on a Memphis mailing address alone. Residential garbage in Memphis is typically provided by licensed private haulers rather than a city-billed municipal cart fee on the MLGW statement; suburbs may franchise waste differently—confirm your hauler contract and any city or county solid-waste assessments separately.

Electricity

Confirmed — MLGW Schedule RS (seasonal energy & TVA FCA vary)

MLGW residential electric accounts are billed on published Schedule RS-style tariffs with seasonal energy rates and TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment pass-throughs described on MLGW’s residential rates pages—reconcile the effective billing month before modeling a neighbor’s bill.

Municipal electric utilities in Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, and other Shelby County cities publish separate schedules for in-town accounts—match the distributor named on your bill header.

Optional time-of-use or demand schedules may apply to enrolled accounts.

Official sources

Water

Confirmed — MLGW water schedules for served accounts; municipal water differs in suburbs

MLGW potable water for qualifying accounts is billed using adopted residential water schedules with meter minimums and volumetric blocks; storm-water or drainage fees may appear separately depending on parcel classification.

Suburban municipal water departments (for example Germantown or Collierville utilities) publish independent schedules for customers inside those cities.

Wells and purchased water arrangements should not be modeled with MLGW line items without verifying the legal supplier.

Official sources

Sewer / wastewater

Estimated — MLGW sewer for modeled Memphis accounts; verify suburb schedules

MLGW bills sanitary sewer charges for many Memphis-area accounts based on water usage and adopted volumetric schedules—large outdoor water uses may qualify for adjustments under utility procedures.

Septic systems and package plants remain common in some Shelby County parcels—confirm connection status before applying sewer volumetrics.

Suburban municipal sewer programs may bill separately from MLGW—read your combined utility statement carefully.

Official sources

Trash & recycling

Estimated — Private haulers in Memphis; suburban municipal or franchise rules vary

Memphis residents typically subscribe to licensed private haulers for curbside garbage and recycling; MLGW materials note that solid waste is not bundled on the same bill as historic municipal systems elsewhere—compare hauler quotes for cart size and pickup frequency.

Shelby County and municipal neighbors publish recycling, bulky waste, and household hazardous waste guidance that can differ by jurisdiction—use the official city or county page that matches your tax district.

Apartment communities may bundle waste in rent—confirm with property management.

Official sources

Summaries rely on MLGW residential rate publications, TVA fuel-adjustment context, and City of Memphis / Shelby County solid-waste program materials as of the last verified date. Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, and other municipal utilities publish separate schedules; private hauler markets move independently. This overview supports research—not a substitute for a metered bill or hauler contract.

Check Internet pricing & availability in Shelby 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

$224.65

Memphis

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 49% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $9.44.
  • Water increases by about $3.20 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

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

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Cities in Shelby 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
Memphis (example)$224.65

More in Tennessee

Tennessee utility costsElectric providers in TennesseeMemphis utility page

FAQ

We use base charges and per-unit rates from official provider and municipal sources for each city in Shelby 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.
No. MLGW serves a large share of Memphis and nearby Shelby County accounts, but several municipal utilities operate separate electric or water systems—use the legal name on your bill header.
We merge filings from Memphis’s modeled coordinate and a second residential sample northeast of the urban core (35.230°N, 89.780°W) so edge-community provider data supplements downtown filings—FCC research is still address-specific.

Learn more

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