Denver utility guide
Denver utilities: who provides what, and what it costs
Denver utilities come from five providers: Denver Water supplies water; Denver Wastewater Management handles sewer (billed on the Denver Water bill) and storm drainage; Denver Solid Waste Management collects trash, recycling and compost; and Xcel Energy supplies electric and natural gas. Internet is mostly Xfinity or Quantum Fiber, depending on the address. For a single-family Denver home with a medium trash cart, water, sewer, storm drainage, the sidewalk fee and trash come to about $128 to $140 a month before Xcel and internet (as of October 24, 2026).
| Utility | Provider | Typical cost (October 24, 2026) | Billed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Denver Water | About $57 a month for a typical home. 2026 rates: $20.91 fixed charge plus $3.02, $6.54 or $9.45 per 1,000 gallons by tier; the two upper tiers include a temporary drought charge through April 30, 2027. | Monthly |
| Sewer | Denver Wastewater Management (on the Denver Water bill) | $29.40 a month at 5,000 gallons, $41.16 at 7,000: $5.88 per 1,000 gallons of winter water use, $16.06 minimum. | Monthly |
| Storm drainage and sidewalks | Denver Wastewater Management | Average single-family home $190.53 a year (about $16 a month), plus the $150-a-year sidewalk fee on the same bill. | Twice a year |
| Trash, recycling, compost | Denver Solid Waste Management | $9, $13 or $21 a month for a 35-, 65- or 95-gallon trash cart; recycling and compost are included. | Quarterly |
| Electric and natural gas | Xcel Energy | No published average; ask the seller for 12 months of bills. The PUC approved increases of about $5 a month for electric (August 29, 2026) and about $5.16 a month for gas (October 6, 2026). | Monthly |
| Internet | Xfinity or Quantum Fiber (Lumen), by address | Varies by plan; fiber is not available on every block. | Monthly |
What is the average water bill in Denver?
About $57 a month for a typical single-family home in 2026: Denver Water’s example customer using 104,000 gallons a year pays about $684 a year. Summer bills run higher because lawn watering moves use into the upper tiers, which carry the temporary drought charge from May 2026. Sewer is added to the same bill, about $29 to $41 a month for most homes, based on winter water use.
Who do I call to set up utilities for a Denver home?
Start or transfer water and sewer with Denver Water (one account) and electric and gas with Xcel Energy a week or two before closing. Storm drainage and trash are billed by the City and County of Denver to the property; pick the trash cart size with Denver Solid Waste Management. Condo and townhome dues often cover water, sewer and trash, so read the HOA budget first.
The whole monthly picture, from the mortgage to groceries: cost of living in Denver.
A Denver listing can show the price and the HOA dues, but the monthly cost still depends on the exact address. Before you compare two homes, check the water, sewer, storm drainage, trash, electric, gas, and internet for each one — and how the HOA handles utilities when there is one. You are not chasing one perfect estimate; you are building a clean list of what is confirmed and what is still unknown before the inspection and offer deadlines arrive.
Start With the Address, Then Pull the Records
Water, sewer, and storm drainage
Check Denver Water setup or transfer steps, Denver wastewater billing, storm drainage items, and whether any final bill or transfer item needs to be handled at closing.
Electric and gas
Check Xcel service start, stop, or transfer. Ask the seller whether the home has a smart meter, a time-of-use rate plan, electric vehicle charging, older mechanical systems, or heavy seasonal use.
Trash and internet
Confirm city trash, recycling, and compost service or whether a building or HOA handles it. Check internet availability by exact address or unit, not just by neighborhood.
The property record
Use the Denver property records to confirm the parcel, the building type, and the address before you rely on listing notes — so the numbers you gather stay tied to the same home you are comparing.
Compare Monthly Costs by Property Type
Detached home
Expect more direct responsibility for water, sewer, storm drainage, trash, electric, gas, yard irrigation, service lines, and system upkeep. Ask for recent bills when the seller can provide them.
Condo or loft
Read the dues sheet and budget before assuming which services are included — your Kenna Real Estate Group agent can gather them from the association. Building utilities, trash, water, heat, cooling, parking, storage, and move-in fees vary building to building.
Townhome
Check whether water, exterior irrigation, snow removal, trash, roof, siding, and shared-area utilities sit with the owner, the association, or a special district's service charge.
Older or remodeled home
Pair utility records with inspection notes. A sewer scope (a camera inspection of the sewer line), service-line condition, panel capacity, HVAC age, insulation, windows, drainage, and appliance type can matter as much as the account setup.
What to Compare Before You Choose One Home
Confirmed bills
Keep actual bills separate from estimates or listing comments. If a bill is seasonal, ask the seller which months it covers before you compare it with another home.
Provider setup
Check which account must be opened, transferred, or closed. Ask the provider about timing so the transfer does not become a scramble the week of closing.
Property systems
Review inspection notes for sewer scope, drainage, meters, electrical panel, gas appliances, HVAC, irrigation, and service-line concerns.
Unknown items
If one number is not verified, mark it unknown instead of guessing. That makes the risk visible before offer timing gets tight.
Compare Monthly Costs Before You Write an Offer
- Electric and gas: recent bills, the rate plan, the mechanical systems, and anything that draws heavy power.
- Water and sewer: current account handling, how the sewer charge is calculated, irrigation use, and any closing transfer item.
- Storm drainage: parcel or billing status and whether a separate charge applies.
- Trash or building service: city cart size, building service, or HOA handling.
- Internet: provider availability, installation timing, equipment fees, and unit-level limits.
- What the HOA dues include: the dues sheet, budget, reserve notes, and service list.
- Permits and past work: check whether major remodel, plumbing, electrical, or mechanical work appears in city records.
Official Places to Check
Use these links as a starting point. Provider details and account rules can change, so confirm the exact address before relying on a number. Links in this section were checked July 9, 2026.
Questions Buyers Ask
Should I use a Denver utility estimate from an old article?
How should I check Denver water and sewer before buying?
Can HOA dues change the utility comparison?
Should I check internet availability before making an offer?
What is the cleanest way to compare two Denver homes?
Have a Denver Utility Question?
Ask Kenna Real Estate Group before offer deadlines crowd out the monthly-cost comparison. Bring the listing, the address, any HOA documents you have, and the utility items you still need to verify.