Average Utility Costs in Bellingham, WA

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

Average monthly utility costs in Bellingham, WA are about $285.65, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water. This estimate uses Puget Sound Energy (PSE) for electric service and layers in the local water, wastewater, and solid waste setup residents actually deal with.

Bellingham quick take

  • Electric service here is based on Puget Sound Energy (PSE), which fits Washington's standard utility structure rather than a retail electricity shopping market.
  • Water and sewer are meaningful parts of the all-in bill here, with wastewater estimated at about $58.18/month in this comparison.
  • Trash is shown as a clearly labeled baseline estimate because the city confirms the service structure, but the current public pricing is handled by the contracted hauler rather than shown as one simple city-posted monthly line.
  • Bellingham is a strong comparison market because city utility costs include not just water and sewer, but also stormwater and the Lake Whatcom watershed charge that many readers would miss on a quick glance.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$285.65

Data freshness: last verified 2026-03-21
  • Electric $131.95 (46%)
  • Water $65.52 (23%)
  • Sewer $58.18 (20%)
  • Trash $30.00 (11%)

Utilities here are about 5% lower than the Washington city average, driven mainly by sewer.

  • In Washington, 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.

Electric

Confirmed
Provider
Puget Sound Energy (PSE)
Base charge
$13.95/mo
Energy rate
$0.1180/kWh
Assumed usage
1000 kWh
Estimated monthly
$131.95
pse.com· verified 2026-03-21

Water

Estimated
Provider
City of Bellingham Utilities
Base charge
$47.07/mo
Volumetric rate
$3.69/1,000 gal
Assumed usage
5,000 gal
Estimated monthly
$65.52

Uses the city's published inside-city 2025 single-family water base of $28.94 plus the Lake Whatcom watershed base of $18.13. Volumetric water plus watershed charges are normalized to about $3.69 per 1,000 gallons. Bellingham approved a 2026 increase path, but the clean public line-item table available in this pass was the published 2025 monthly schedule.

cob.org· verified 2026-03-21

Sewer

Estimated
Method
flat
Estimated monthly
$58.18

Inside-city single-family sewer is $58.18/month for up to 8 CCF on the published 2025 rate sheet. The city announced larger 2026 increases, but the 2025 line-item schedule was the clearest public table available in this pass.

cob.org· verified 2026-03-21

Trash

Estimated
Monthly fee
$30.00

SSC is the contracted residential hauler in Bellingham and publishes service options, but not a simple citywide monthly cart table in an easy public format. This is a clearly labeled baseline estimate for comparison.

ssc-inc.com· verified 2026-03-21

Total estimated monthly utilities

$285.65

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 46% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $11.80.
  • Water increases by about $3.69 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 Bellingham →

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 Washington

Washington utility costsWhatcom CountyElectric providers in Washington

FAQ

Because in Washington, local water, wastewater, and solid waste policies can change the real monthly household total much more than many residents expect. Bellingham is easier to compare accurately when those local charges are shown alongside the electric benchmark.
Washington cities do not all bill utilities the same way. Bellingham, for example, combines standard water and sewer charges with stormwater and a Lake Whatcom watershed line, while other cities rely more heavily on county wastewater or private trash contracts.
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. Washington is a regulated electric state; our estimates use the serving utility's tariff at 1,000 kWh for comparison.
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 Bellingham with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.