Living in Chico, CA means paying four separate utility providers: PG&E for electricity and natural gas, California Water Service (Cal Water) for water, the City of Chico for sewer, and North Valley Waste Management for curbside trash inside city limits. Using current published rates, a single-family home with a standard water meter and median water use pays about $40 per month for water, roughly $38 per month for sewer, and anywhere from about $200 to $400 per month for electricity depending on season and usage. Summer air conditioning is the single biggest swing factor in the cost of living in Chico, CA.
Who provides utilities in Chico, CA?
If you're moving to Chico, these are the accounts to set up. Each one bills separately.
- Electricity and natural gas: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) serves all Chico ZIP codes (95926, 95927, 95928, 95929, 95973).
- Water: California Water Service, Chico District, 2222 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, (530) 893-6300. The district draws groundwater from 68 wells and delivers it through 373 miles of pipeline.
- Sewer: City of Chico, billed through Util360 at chico.util360.com. Sewer arrives as its own bill, separate from Cal Water, a change that took effect July 1, 2023.
- Trash, recycling, and organics: North Valley Waste Management holds the residential franchise inside city limits. Three-cart service (garbage, recycling, organics) is mandatory.
Properties in unincorporated Butte County outside city limits may use a septic system instead of city sewer and may have a different trash hauler. Check the property disclosures and the Butte County hauler map for any address outside Chico city limits.
How much is the electric bill in Chico, CA?
PG&E charges the same per-kWh rates across its entire service area. What changes by location is the baseline allowance, the amount of electricity billed at the lower Tier 1 price. Chico sits below 1,500 feet in Butte County, which places it in PG&E Baseline Territory S.
Current figures from PG&E's Schedule E-1 tiered rate (effective June 1, 2026):
- Tier 1 (within baseline): $0.32561 per kWh
- Tier 2 (above baseline): $0.40702 per kWh
- Base Services Charge: $0.79343 per day, about $24 per month, for most households (lower amounts apply to households enrolled in the CARE or FERA assistance programs)
- Territory S baseline: 15.0 kWh per day in summer (June 1 through September 30) and 10.2 kWh per day in winter (October 1 through May 31) for homes with gas heat; all-electric homes receive 17.8 and 23.7 kWh per day
Here is what that math produces on a 30-day bill for a home with gas heat on Schedule E-1:
| Monthly usage | Season | Estimated electric bill |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | Winter | About $202 |
| 750 kWh | Summer | About $292 |
| 1,000 kWh | Summer | About $394 |
These are illustrative usage levels, not Chico averages. Many PG&E customers are enrolled by default in a time-of-use plan (E-TOU-C, peak 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.), which prices electricity by time of day instead of tier. Natural gas is billed separately by PG&E. Request the last 12 months of utility bills from the seller during escrow for the most accurate picture of a specific home.
How much is the water bill in Chico, CA?
Cal Water's Chico District rates, approved by the California Public Utilities Commission and effective July 1, 2026, for a standard 5/8 x 3/4-inch residential meter:
- Monthly service charge: $29.29
- 1 to 6 Ccf: $0.6017 per Ccf
- 7 to 18 Ccf: $2.4046 per Ccf
- 19 to 29 Ccf: $3.0055 per Ccf
- Over 29 Ccf: $3.6057 per Ccf
One Ccf equals 100 cubic feet, or about 748 gallons. Applied to Cal Water's own published Chico median usage figures, the base charges come to:
| Usage level | Monthly water use | Base charges |
|---|---|---|
| Median, February | 6 Ccf (4,488 gallons) | About $33 |
| Median, year-round | 9 Ccf (6,732 gallons) | About $40 |
| Median, August | 20 Ccf (14,961 gallons) | About $68 |
These figures exclude temporary surcharges, credits, and the CPUC fee, so actual bills run slightly higher. The summer jump comes almost entirely from landscape irrigation. Lot size and yard type have a direct effect on this line item.
How much is sewer in Chico, CA, and is it going up?
A typical single-family sewer bill in Chico runs about $38 per month under current rates. That number is under review. In March 2026, the Chico City Council advanced a plan that would raise the typical household sewer bill to about $98 per month in the first year, followed by 3% annual increases, reaching about $111 per month by 2031. The city attributes the increase to deferred maintenance on its 288 miles of sewer lines and required upgrades at the Water Pollution Control Plant.
On September 15, 2026, the council continued the public hearing to November 17, 2026 to review how sewer rates are divided among customer classes. The increase is subject to California's Proposition 218 protest process, and the rates in the public notice are the maximum the council can adopt. Anyone buying a home in Chico this fall should budget for the proposed rate, not the current one, until the council votes.
How much do trash and recycling cost in Chico, CA?
Rates depend on cart size. Contact North Valley Waste Management at (530) 893-7777 for current residential rates at a specific address. Two items worth knowing before move-in day:
- The City of Chico Composting Facility permanently closed on August 28, 2026. Curbside organics collection continues as normal. Self-hauled green waste now goes to Old Durham Wood Co., 1156 Oroville-Chico Hwy, Durham.
- Paint, chemicals, and other household hazardous waste go to the Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 1101 Marauder Street (Friday and Saturday hours).
How does Chico's weather affect utility bills?
Chico has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. Based on NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals:
- July: average high of 95.2°F, with the hottest day of a typical year reaching about 108°F
- January: average high of 56.1°F and average low near 36°F
- Precipitation: about 27 inches per year, concentrated from November through March, with almost none in July and August
The practical result: electricity peaks June through September from air conditioning, water peaks at the same time from irrigation, and winter bills shift toward natural gas for heating. From a construction standpoint, attic insulation, duct condition, window type, and the age of the HVAC system have more effect on a Chico summer bill than square footage alone. These are worth asking about during a home inspection.
Where can I learn more about living in Chico, CA?
Utilities are one line in a larger budget. For the rest of the picture:
- Housing costs and overall affordability: Is It Expensive to Live in Chico, CA?
- Insurance availability and premiums: Can You Get Homeowners Insurance in Chico, CA Right Now?
- Setting up accounts, DMV, and other move logistics: Moving to Chico, CA in 2026: A Relocation Checklist
- Current prices and inventory: Butte County Real Estate Market Update
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the electric company in Chico, CA?
PG&E provides both electricity and natural gas throughout Chico. Chico falls in PG&E Baseline Territory S, which sets how much electricity is billed at the lower Tier 1 rate.
Who provides water in Chico, CA?
California Water Service (Cal Water), Chico District. As of July 1, 2026, a standard residential meter carries a $29.29 monthly service charge plus tiered usage rates, and a median-use month costs about $40 before surcharges.
Why do I get separate water and sewer bills in Chico?
Since July 1, 2023, the City of Chico bills sewer directly through Util360. Cal Water bills only for water.
Are Chico sewer rates increasing?
A proposed increase would raise the typical household sewer bill from about $38 to about $98 per month in the first year. The City Council continued the public hearing to November 17, 2026.
Sources: PG&E Schedule E-1 (effective June 1, 2026); Cal Water Schedule CH-NVR-1-R (effective July 1, 2026); NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Chico University Farm station. Sewer figures come from City of Chico actions reported by KRCR and Action News Now. Utility rates change; confirm with each provider before relying on a figure.