NEWS FROM THE CITY OF ST. CHARLES
June Utility Bills Reflect Rate Changes for Water, Wastewater & Electric
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (April 7, 2026) – Utility rate adjustments for City of St. Charles water, wastewater, and electric utility customers were approved at the April 6, 2026, City Council meeting and become effective on the utility bills issued in June.
The City is enacting a series of annual rate increases for water and wastewater over the next four years. To help offset the rate increases, the City is implementing a 5% reduction in all electric rates.
These adjustments are necessary to meet required unfunded federal mandates and fund needed improvements. Three critical priorities have been identified from Utility Master Plans to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality services to the community:
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Replace lead water service lines – The EPA requires communities to replace all lead water service lines within 10 years—a shortened deadline from the original 30-year requirement. The new 10-year requirement is an unfunded mandate, meaning no state or federal funding is provided. As a result, the City must implement the program using its own financial resources. City Council approved the lead line replacement policy in March of 2024.
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Replace aging infrastructure - Water main breaks lead to service disruptions and boil orders. More breaks also increase maintenance and staff costs. Over the past three years, the average number of water main breaks has doubled, climbing to more than 200 in 2025.
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Increase water and wastewater system capacity to support long-term community growth and development - The City has experienced significant growth over the past five years, with continued expansion expected in the near term. Enhancing capacity and treatment infrastructure will be critical to supporting long-term development needs, including redevelopment sites such as the former Charlestowne Mall.
The City has funded the first year from our reserves to help minimize the impact to our residents and businesses. The City also has looked at other ways to pay for these improvements. Over the past three years, we’ve used $11 million from reserves to support water projects.
We will continue exploring other funding options—like grants and loans—but we also need a reliable funding source now so we can properly plan for and complete these required projects.
The following are the approximate rate changes for typical residential customers, effective with bills issued in June of the following years.
Electric Rates Decreasing
2026: Electric usage rates and monthly charges are all decreasing by 5% in June 2026.
2026: $13-$16/month increase in base rate; increase of $5.70/thousand gallons used
2027: $9-$12/month increase in base rate; increase of $4.68/thousand gallons used
2028: $3-$5/month increase in base rate; increase of $1.64/thousand gallons used
2029: $2-$3/month increase in base rate; increase of $.90/thousand gallons used
Wastewater Rate Increases
2026: $3/month increase in base rate; increase of $.80/thousand gallons used
2027: $3/month increase in base rate; increase of $.89/thousand gallons used
2028: $3/month increase in base rate; increase of $.97/thousand gallons used
2029: $3/month increase in base rate; increase of $.85/thousand gallons used
EPA Mandate Fee: Increase from $2.75 to $4.45 per month in 2026.
The initial overall impact of the rate adjustments for a typical residential customer beginning with bills issued in June 2026 is estimated to be a net 17% total increase, which include electric, water and wastewater charges (actual percentage will vary by each customer’s usage profile), with smaller overall net increases in 2027 through 2029. The portion of the water rate increases implemented to fund lead service line replacements is planned to be temporary until the project is complete.
For more information visit our Utility Rates and Infrastructure Funding page on the City website.
About the City of St. Charles
The City of St. Charles, Illinois, is guided by the three driving principles in its Mission: Service. Tradition. Community. Together, these principles create a thriving environment for people who live or visit here, and for businesses to prosper. Our City has gained national recognition as a family-friendly town and wide acclaim for its architecture, living up to its nickname Pride of the Fox. Conveniently located 35 miles west of Chicago, in Kane and northwestern DuPage Counties, St. Charles is home to 33,000 residents and a balanced mix of more than 2,000 businesses that employ approximately 28,700 people. More at stcharlesil.gov, and follow us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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