Utilities in Billings, MT: Water, Sewer, Electric and Gas Costs in 2026

Last reviewed and updated October 21, 2026.

What do utilities cost for a home in Billings, MT? Inside Billings city limits, City of Billings water costs $8.95 a month plus $4.97 per 1,000 gallons for the first 10,000 gallons, and wastewater adds $8.00 a month plus $5.95 per 1,000 gallons, under rates effective July 1, 2026. Electric and natural gas depend on the provider at the address; the Montana Public Service Commission's January 2026 summary put typical residential bills at $89 to $118 for electricity and $82 to $93 for gas.

In my work as a Real Estate Broker with The Morales Group at Engel & Völkers Billings, the first cost question relocating buyers ask me is what the utilities run at the specific house they are looking at, and the honest answer is that it varies a lot by area. A house on city water and sewer in town, a house on a well and septic system outside the city, and a newer home versus a 1950s home can have very different monthly bills. This guide covers what you can pin down before you write an offer. For the full monthly budget, see my Billings cost of living breakdown.

What does City of Billings water and sewer cost?

City of Billings residential water and wastewater rates effective July 1, 2026 are set by City Council resolutions adopted May 27, 2025 (water and wastewater fees) and June 23, 2025 (wastewater retail fees). For a standard 3/4-inch residential meter, the rates are:

Water rates step up in higher usage tiers, so summer lawn watering is what moves a Billings water bill most. As a worked example from those rates, a household inside Billings city limits that uses 5,000 gallons of water in a month pays $33.80 for water ($8.95 plus 5 x $4.97), before wastewater and other charges on the bill.

What should you ask the seller about utility bills?

Ask for the last 12 months of water, electric and gas bills for the house. A full year shows the summer water peak and the winter heating peak, which is a better estimate than any citywide average. Rates are public; usage at that specific house is what you cannot look up.

What do electricity and natural gas cost in Billings?

The Montana Public Service Commission's 2026 Gas and Electric Rate Summary compares regulated utilities on standard assumptions of 750 kWh of electricity and 100 therms of natural gas over 30 days. For January 2026, the most recent month in the summary:

Which company serves a Billings address depends on the address, so confirm the electric and gas provider for the specific house. Your bill will also differ from the PSC assumptions: winter is when Billings heating bills peak, and the size, age and insulation of the house and the furnace or boiler type matter more than the rate. Check the heating system's type and age during your inspection. For winter conditions, see Billings weather by season.

Is a home on city water or a private well?

Homes inside Billings city limits are generally served by the City of Billings water system, and many properties outside the city, especially acreage, rely on a private well and a septic system. The fastest way to tell is a City of Billings water bill or a water meter. A well-served home has a pressure tank in the utility area and a well head in the yard.

Some properties on the edge of town have both: a house on city water and an older well still on the lot. Ask whether the well is active, what it is used for and whether it has been properly separated from the house plumbing.

What does a private well cost to own?

A well owner pays no water usage bill, but pays for the electricity to run the pump and owns every repair: the pump, the pressure tank, any treatment equipment and testing. A well also needs power to deliver water, so an outage means no water pressure until power returns. Budget for eventual equipment replacement rather than treating well water as free.

What should you check before buying a Billings-area home with a well or septic system?

Treat the well and septic system as their own inspections, not part of a general home inspection. On rural and acreage purchases around Billings, I have clients order a pump and flow test on the well and a camera inspection of the septic system. The problems I have seen are failed septic systems, systems that are undersized for the number of bedrooms, unpermitted systems, and low-yield wells that need a cistern to keep up with the house.

Also order a lab water-quality test on a private well, since the owner, not a utility, is responsible for what comes out of the tap. Ask the seller for the well log, maintenance records and any history of the well losing pressure in summer. Septic permits in Yellowstone County are issued through RiverStone Health. The full checklist, including water rights paperwork, is in what to check on water and septic before buying acreage near Billings.

Can a property outside city limits connect to Billings city water?

Sometimes, but plan on it taking approval, not just a plumber. Whether a property outside city limits can connect to City of Billings water or sewer, and on what terms, goes through the City, and annexation into the city may be required. Ask City of Billings Public Works before you count on a connection in your plans or your price.

The City's fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists a water main tapping fee of $164 per tap for a tap two inches or smaller ($380 over two inches) and a flushing, testing and chlorinating fee of $170 per visit. A private contractor's cost to run the service line from the main to the house is on top of those fees and depends on distance and site conditions.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the water bill in Billings, MT?

A City of Billings water bill inside city limits starts with an $8.95 monthly charge for a 3/4-inch meter plus $4.97 per 1,000 gallons for the first 10,000 gallons, under rates effective July 1, 2026. At 5,000 gallons a month, water alone comes to $33.80 before wastewater charges.

Is well water or city water cheaper in Billings?

Well water has no monthly usage charge, so month to month a well is usually cheaper than City of Billings water at $4.97 per 1,000 gallons (July 1, 2026 rate). A well owner still pays for pump electricity, testing and every repair, and a pump or pressure tank replacement can cost more than years of water bills.

Who provides electricity and natural gas in Billings?

Billings-area electric and natural gas service depends on the address, so confirm the provider for the specific house. The Montana Public Service Commission's January 2026 summary lists typical residential bills for NorthWestern Energy ($118.10 electric, $81.90 gas) and Montana-Dakota Utilities ($89.25 electric, $92.77 gas) at 750 kWh and 100 therms.

Can you keep a well after connecting to city water in Billings?

A well can sometimes stay in use for outdoor irrigation after a house connects to City of Billings water, but the two systems have to stay physically separated so well water cannot enter the public supply. Confirm the requirements with City of Billings Public Works and a licensed plumber.

Moving to Billings and comparing houses on city water with acreage on a well? My guide to moving to Billings covers the rest of the move, and you can schedule a strategy session to go through the utilities at the specific homes you are considering.

Sources: City of Billings Resolution, FY26-27 Water/Wastewater fees (adopted May 27, 2025); City of Billings Resolution, FY26-27 Wastewater Retail fees (adopted June 23, 2025); Montana Public Service Commission, 2026 Gas and Electric Rate Summary (January 2026 figures).

Gene Hauck is a Real Estate Broker and REALTOR® with The Morales Group at Engel & Völkers Billings, 1921 1st Ave N, Billings, MT 59101. He works with buyers relocating to Billings, real estate investors and Billings-area homeowners selling their homes. Montana license RRE-BRO-LIC-135399. Call or text 406-861-4844.