Residential Rates
Fort Collins Utilities delivers safe, reliable and competitively-priced electric, water, wastewater and stormwater services. We work hard to make sure you enjoy some of the lowest rates on the Front Range.
Jump to your service rates:
Our prices are based on what it costs to serve our customers. Rates fund ongoing maintenance, infrastructure improvements and construction projects. Many factors, including fuel and wholesale costs, environmental regulations and changing energy and water demands, affect the costs of producing and providing utility services. When setting rates, we balance these factors to ensure safety, reliability and the best price possible for our customers.
We review and adjust rates regularly. Typically, City Council approves rates in November and the new rates go into effect in January. February bills reflect the new costs.
Electric rates pay for generation costs, infrastructure maintenance and grid upgrades. The tables below show pricing for different customer types. If you have a gas furnace or gas boiler, you are on the Standard Rate. If your home is "all electric", you would be on the Electric Heat Rate.
Utilities uses Time-of-Day (TOD) rates, which means your electricity price changes based on the time of day, day of the week, and season. You can save money by using electricity during lower-priced, off-peak hours, or by reducing your overall use.
Standard Time-of-Day Rates
Base Charge
|
Paid by all customers each month |
$11.95 |
|
Summer
May-September
|
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 2-7 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays*
|
30.47¢ / kWh
8.46¢ / kWh
|
|
Non-summer
October-April
|
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 5-9 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays*
|
28.09¢ / kWh
8.46¢ / kWh
|
|
Tier charge
|
Additional charge for each kWh used over 700 kWh in any month
|
2.98¢ / kWh
|
*New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (as observed)
Electric Heat Time-of-Day Rates
Utilities bills based on how a residence is heated and how much you use. If you have electric baseboards or electric heat pumps (homes without gas heating), you are most likely on the Electric Heat Rate, as shown below. Customers must average more than 1,100 kWh a month to qualify for this rate class.
| Base charge |
Paid by all customers each month |
$11.95 |
|
Summer
May-September
|
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 2-7 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays*
|
31.3¢ / kWh
9.29¢ / kWh
|
|
Non-summer
October-April
|
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 5-9 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays*
|
28.92¢ / kWh
9.29¢ / kWh
|
|
Tier charge
|
There is not a tiered charge for this rate
|
N/A
|
*New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (as observed)
How to Change Your Rate
Customers must fill out a form to request a change from the Electric Heat TOD rate to the Standard TOD rate with tier. City Code allows customers to change their rate code once per 12 months. If you are unable to fill out the form online, please call 970-212-2900 for assistance changing your rate.
Residential Solar Credit Rates
If you have solar, you will receive monthly bill credits for energy returned to the grid, based on the off-peak and on-peak hours as shown below. (Please refer to the tables above for the TOD rates for purchased energy.)
- If your home uses a gas furnace or gas boiler as the main heat source, your rate is the standard TOD rate.
- If your home is heated primarily by electric baseboards or an electric heat pump (with no gas heating), your rate is the Electric Heat TOD Rate.
- Your Time-of-Day (TOD) rate is determined by the primary heating source in your home, based on Larimer County Assessor records. Additional heating systems do not affect it.
Standard TOD rate for solar credits
This rate applies to all residential customers who have a gas furnace or gas boiler that serves as the primary heat source.
Examples:
- Residences heated with a gas furnace or boiler for any portion of the home.
- Residences heated by hot water baseboards via a gas boiler.
- Residences heated by a geothermal or mini-split heat pump without backup electric baseboard heat.
Summer
May-September |
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 2-7 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays* |
-25.10¢ / kWh
-6.36¢ / kWh |
|
Non-summer
October-April
|
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 5-9 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays*
|
-21.79¢ / kWh
-6.36¢ / kWh
|
Electric Heat TOD rate for solar credits
This rate applies to all residential customers with electric-resistive (all-electric) heating as the primary heat source for the home.
Examples:
- Residences heated solely by electric baseboard heaters.
- Residences heated by an electric heat pump through a central duct system.
- Residences heated by a geothermal or mini-split heat pump with backup electric baseboard heat.
|
Summer
May-September
|
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 2-7 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays*
|
-25.72¢ / kWh
-6.98¢ / kWh
|
|
Non-summer
October-April
|
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 5-9 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays*
|
-22.41¢ / kWh
-6.98¢ / kWh
|
*New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (as observed)
Community Solar Credit Rates
Community Solar customers receive credits for solar energy returned to the grid by the Riverside Community Solar Project array. The rate is based on off-peak and on-peak hours as shown below. (Please refer to the tables above for the TOD rates for purchased energy.)
Summer
May-September |
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 2-7 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays* |
-24.02¢ / kWh
-5.28¢ / kWh |
|
Non-summer
October-April
|
On-peak: Monday-Friday, 5-9 p.m.
Off-peak: All other hours, weekends and major holidays*
|
-20.71¢ / kWh
-5.28¢ / kWh
|
*New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (as observed)
How Our Electric Rates Compare
Our customers' average bills are consistently among the lowest along the Front Range. The Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU) compares electric rates among municipalities, investor-owned, and cooperative utilities.
CAMU surveys utilities to determine the average cost of electricity in Colorado. Based on that data, Utilities' price for 700 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of use is typically less than the average across other utilities.
Average residential electric bill, based on 700 kilowatt-hours of use (as of July 2025):
| Fort Collins Utilities |
$100 |
| Municipal Utilities |
$105 |
| Co-Op Utilities |
$115 |
| Investor Utilities |
$122 |
Water rates help pay for water delivery, infrastructure maintenance and repairs and capital projects.
Single-family and Duplex Water Rates
Single-family and duplex water rates have a base charge and three tiers. Water costs more per gallon as use increases.
| Monthly Rates |
Single-family |
Duplex |
|
Base charge
|
$21.19
|
$22.36
|
|
|
Volume Charge (per 1,000 gallons)
|
Volume Charge (per 1,000 gallons)
|
|
Tier 1
|
$3.279 for the first 7,000 gallons
|
$2.838 for the first 9,000 gallons
|
|
Tier 2
|
$3.769 for 7,001-13,000 gallons
|
$3.263 for 7,001-13,000 gallons
|
|
Tier 3
|
$4.335 for 13,000 gallons or more
|
$3.754 for 13,000 gallons or more
|
If you exceed the Tier 1 threshold, you will be billed at the Tier 2 rate until 13,000 gallons are reached. If you exceed the Tier 2 threshold, Utilities will bill you at the Tier 3 rate.
Multi-family Water Rates
Multi-family customers have seasonal rate increases. The volume charge is 25% higher during the six lawn-watering months (May-October) than in other months (November-April).
| Monthly Rates |
Winter (November-April) |
Summer (May-October) |
|
Base charge, per account
|
$15.99
|
$15.99
|
|
Additional charge, per dwelling unit
|
$5.33
|
$5.33
|
|
Volume Charge, per 1,000 gallons
|
$2.325
|
$2.907
|
Wastewater rates help pay to run and maintain our wastewater collection (sewer) system.
Rates
Volume charges are based on your average water use from January, February and March. This is called your winter quarter average (WQA).
| Monthly Rates |
Single-family |
Duplex |
Multi-family |
|
Base charge
|
$21.57
|
$25.12
|
$3.39/unit
|
|
Volume Charge, per 1,000 gallons
|
$4.192
|
$3.773
|
$4.315
|
|
Minimum WQA
|
3,000
|
4,000
|
N/A
|
|
Rate class average WQA gallons for customers who have not established a WQA
|
4,000
|
6,200
|
3,200/unit
|
More about Winter Quarter Average (WQA)
Utilities calculates the WQA in winter months because this best represents indoor water use (which typically goes down your drains and into the wastewater system). These charges are calculated each April and apply to bills until the following April.
The minimum WQA is 3,000 gallons (4,000 gallons for duplexes). Customers who haven't been in a residence long enough to establish a WQA are billed based on the rate class average found in the table above in the wastewater rates drop-down menu.
Did You Recently Fix a Leak? Adjust your WQA.
You can adjust your WQA if you discover and fix a leak. After WQA is recalculated for the new year and you can prove your WQA was based on water usage that included a leak, you have 60 days after recalculation to provide documentation.
A Billing Representative will review your usage reports. The reports need to show less water use and you must show there was a leak that has been repaired. Provide supporting documentation in an email with attachments to UtilitiesBillingGroup@fortcollins.gov, or a written letter addressed to: City of Fort Collins Utilities, Attn: Utility Billing, PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580.
Stormwater rates pay for construction and maintenance of our stormwater system, which helps protect residents and businesses during storms and floods.
Rates
Your stormwater charge is a fixed fee based on lot size and percentage of surfaces that do not absorb water. Surfaces that do not absorb water are also known as impervious areas.
All developed properties within city limits pay stormwater rates. They are based on:
- Lot Size: Includes total square footage plus your share of any open space (if applicable)
- Runoff Factor: Based on impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, and paved areas
- Per Square Foot Charge: $0.00510
| Property Type |
Monthly Rate Formula |
Notes |
|
Single-family (under 12,000 square feet)
|
$0.00510 × runoff factor × lot area (up to 12,000 square feet)
|
Standard rate applies to entire lot area up to 12,000 square feet
|
|
Single-family (greater than 12,000 square feet)
|
$0.00510 × runoff factor × first 12,000 square feet + $0.00128 × runoff factor × area greater than 12,000 square feet
|
Reduced rate applies to portion exceeding 12,000 square feet
|
|
Duplex and Multi-family
|
$0.00510 × runoff factor × total lot area
|
Applies to entire lot area
|
| Rate Factor |
Percent of Impervious Area |
Rate Factor Category
(based on land use) |
|
.25
|
0-.30
|
Very light
|
|
.4
|
.31-.50
|
Light (typical for residential)
|
|
.6
|
.51-.70
|
Moderate
|
|
.8
|
.71-.90
|
Heavy
|
|
.95
|
.91-1.00
|
Very heavy
|
Typical Bill Comparison
Below is a table that shows a typical residential customer's bill comparison, based on average annual use.
| Service |
2024 |
2025 |
Price Difference |
Percent Change |
|
Electric (700 kilowatt-hours/month)
|
$88.42
|
$94.16
|
$5.75
|
6.5%
|
|
Water (10,000 gallons/month)
|
$53.04
|
$56.75
|
$3.71
|
7%
|
|
Wastewater (4,800 gallons/month WQA)
|
$36.97
|
$39.18
|
$2.22
|
6%
|
|
Stormwater (8,600 square feet lot, light runoff)
|
$23.09
|
$24.47
|
$1.39
|
6%
|
|
Total average bill
|
$201.52
|
$214.56
|
$13.07
|
6.5%
|
- Electric: 6.5% average increase due to higher generation costs and grid upgrades to add resiliency and transition to our energy future.
- Water: 7% increase to help fund capital projects like pipe and meter replacements.
- Wastewater: 6% increase to help fund capital projects like improvements at the Drake Water Reclamation Facility and collection system replacement.
- Stormwater: 6% increase to help fund capital projects like the Oak Street Outfall and stream rehabilitation.
What is the difference between base rates and usage charges?
For most services, rates include both base charges and usage charges. Base charges cover fixed costs like maintenance and system readiness, while usage charges are for the service you consume.
What are PILOTs?
Payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) are payments our utilities make to the City's general fund, similar to the taxes and fees a private utility company would pay. PILOTs are already built into your electric, water, and wastewater rates, so there’s nothing extra to calculate or pay. PILOTs help fund important City services that benefit the whole community.