What will your utility bill look like in a Batavia home? When you budget for a move, monthly electric, water, sewer, and refuse costs matter as much as your mortgage. In Batavia, city-run utilities come with specific rates, taxes, and billing rules that shape your bottom line. This guide shows you what to expect and how to estimate your costs with confidence. Let’s dive in.
Why utilities matter in Batavia
Batavia provides municipal electric, water, and wastewater service for addresses inside city limits, and it contracts citywide refuse pickup. Properties outside the city limits often use other providers, such as ComEd for electric. Always confirm the utility provider for the exact parcel because providers have different rates and rules. You can review the city’s service overview to verify coverage and contacts on the City of Batavia’s Services page.
- View service details: City of Batavia utility services
Electric service: what to expect
Batavia’s residential electric bills include a monthly customer charge and a per‑kWh energy charge, plus required taxes and a franchise fee.
- Monthly Customer Charge: $14.00
- Energy Charge: $0.10389 per kWh
- Electric excise tax: lower of 5% of charges or $0.0032 per kWh
- Franchise fee: 4% of total electric charges
- Month-to-month Purchased Power Adjustment Factor (PPAF) may adjust bills
You can find current rates and bill components on the city’s electric page. The city also shares background on historic supply arrangements and competitiveness.
- Rates and bill components: Batavia Electric
- Background on power resources: Electric power resources
Water rates and taxes
Batavia bills water by metered volume in CCF, with a fixed meter charge by meter size.
- Usage: $4.22 per 100 cubic feet (CCF) for 2025
- Typical meter service example (0.75 inch): $5.63 per month
- Water Utility Tax: 4% applied to base and usage charges
Check current rates and the water tax details on the city’s water page.
- Rates and water utility tax: Batavia Water
Sewer charges and summer averaging
Wastewater charges are based on water usage plus a fixed meter service charge. Batavia also uses summer sewer averaging to limit bills for outdoor water use.
Usage: $6.00 per CCF for 2025
Typical meter service example (0.75 inch): $13.54 per month
Summer averaging: sewer billed at up to 130% of your December–February average for a defined four-bill period
Program and billing details: Wastewater and summer averaging
Rate references: Batavia Municipal Code, rates section
Refuse costs in Batavia
The city contracts refuse and recycling service. Pricing depends on cart size and is billed quarterly. As an example, a 35‑gallon cart is $17.42 per month for the 7/1/24–6/30/25 period.
- Current prices: Refuse collection prices
One-time and admin fees to note
Account deposits, late fees, and reconnection fees can add short-term costs if you miss a setup step or a due date. Examples include a reconnection fee and an after-hours reconnection fee. For new builds or major upgrades, separate tap or connection fees may apply and meter size can change your fixed monthly charges.
- Startup, deposits, billing: Utility Service
- Fee schedules and policies: Batavia Municipal Code
Estimate your monthly bill
Below is an illustrative example using published 2025 rates. Your bill will vary with actual usage, meter size, and any PPAF adjustments.
Example: moderate-use household
Assumptions: 1,000 kWh electric, 10 CCF water, 10 CCF sewer, 0.75‑inch meter, 35‑gallon refuse cart.
- Electric
- Energy: 1,000 × $0.10389 = $103.89
- Customer charge: $14.00
- Subtotal subject to tax/fee: $117.89
- Excise tax: lower of 5% ($5.89) or $0.0032/kWh ($3.20) → $3.20
- Franchise fee: 4% × $117.89 → $4.72
- Estimated electric total: $125.81 before any PPAF
- Water
- Usage: 10 × $4.22 = $42.20
- Meter service: $5.63
- Subtotal: $47.83
- Water utility tax (4%): $1.91
- Estimated water total: $49.74
- Sewer
- Usage: 10 × $6.00 = $60.00
- Meter service: $13.54
- Estimated sewer total: $73.54
- Refuse
- 35‑gallon: $17.42 per month (billed quarterly)
Combined illustrative monthly total: $266.51 (about $3,198/year). Actual results depend on your consumption, meter size, summer sewer averaging, and monthly PPAF.
- Electric rates and fees: Batavia Electric
- Water rates and tax: Batavia Water
- Sewer rates and averaging: Wastewater
- Refuse pricing: Refuse collection prices
Market impacts and planning
Capital projects and future rates
The city cites water main replacements, wastewater treatment upgrades, and lift-station work as drivers of recent and planned water and sewer rate increases. This work maintains system reliability, but it can raise future bills. If you are buying or selling, review recent notices and planned projects.
- Project context: Water and Sewer Rate Increases Explained
Revenue and local tax context
Batavia applies a 4% electric franchise fee and a 4% water utility tax. The city states the franchise fee supports municipal operations and can help keep property taxes lower. Understanding this relationship can help you evaluate the full cost of ownership in Batavia.
- Fee and tax details: Batavia Electric
Municipal vs. investor-owned utilities
Municipal ownership offers local control, tailored programs, and direct communication. Rate levels, however, still depend on supply contracts and infrastructure costs. Batavia provides history and context on its supply arrangements and rate competitiveness so you can compare providers with real numbers.
- Background and context: Electric power resources
Buyer and seller checklist
Use this quick list to validate utility costs for a specific property:
- Confirm the utility provider for the exact address and whether electric is Batavia or ComEd.
- Ask for 12 months of utility bills for electric, water, sewer, and refuse, plus meter sizes.
- Reconcile bills against the city’s posted rates and note any seasonal swings.
- Check whether summer sewer averaging will apply based on the home’s winter usage.
- Review recent or upcoming city rate changes tied to capital projects.
- For new construction or remodels, confirm connection, tap, or meter fees and sizes.
- Clarify deposit and reconnection policies before move-in with the Utility Billing office.
Ready to model utility costs for a specific Batavia home and weigh them against your overall budget and goals? Reach out to Julie Riddle for a clear, data-led plan and calm, high-touch guidance from search to close.
FAQs
How do Batavia’s city-run utilities affect my monthly budget?
- Your bill combines city electric, water, sewer, and refuse charges. Rates include a per‑kWh energy charge, per‑CCF water and sewer charges, fixed meter fees, a water utility tax, and electric excise and franchise fees.
What is Batavia’s summer sewer averaging and who benefits?
- For a four-bill summer period, sewer billing is capped at up to 130% of your winter average, which helps if you irrigate lawns or fill pools. You need a winter usage history to benefit.
Are Batavia electric rates stable year to year?
- Base rates have been steady in recent years, but the monthly PPAF can change bills with market power costs. Always review the city’s current rate page and your most recent bills.
Why does the electric bill include a franchise fee and an excise tax?
- The franchise fee supports city operations and the state-required excise tax applies to electric usage. Both are calculated on your electric charges and appear on your monthly bill.
How can I get a realistic estimate before I buy a home in Batavia?
- Request 12 months of seller bills, confirm meter sizes, and plug those numbers into the city’s posted rates. Adjust for seasonal use and include refuse, taxes, and fees for a full picture.
