Residential Rates

Fort Collins Utilities is proposing rate increases to help maintain reliable utility services, replace aging infrastructure and keep pace with inflation. City Council will consider the increases at first reading on Nov. 3.

Proposed Rate Increases

A residential customer who receives all four Utilities services could see a 9.3% increase next year, or just under $19/month for an average customer.

Residential Monthly Bill Comparison 2026 to 2027

Read our news article on these proposed rates for more information.

*New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (as observed)

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.

*New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (as observed)

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. 

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.

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.

*New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (as observed)

*New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (as observed)

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. 

Single-family and duplex water rates have a base charge and three tiers. Water costs more per gallon as use increases.

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.

Volume charges are based on your average water use from December, January and February. This is called your winter quarter average (WQA).

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.

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.

Supporting Documentation to Include:

• Customer Information (Name, Service Address, Account Number)
• Date leak was discovered
• Date repairs were made
• Copy of the repair bill with receipt. Include a description of the problem and what repairs were done.

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: $0.00541

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.

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.

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.