Electricity: Idaho Power

Most of Treasure Valley is served by Idaho Power, one of the lower-cost electric utilities in the western United States. The residential rate runs approximately 11.76 cents per kilowatt-hour on the primary energy charge, making Idaho's residential electricity rate among the lowest in the country — roughly 30–40% below the national average.

For a typical 2,000–2,400 square foot home, expect to pay around $90–$130 per month, averaging close to $108 annually. Summer months push higher as air conditioning runs hard against Boise's July and August heat (100°F+ days are normal). Winter stays moderate because most homes heat with natural gas rather than electric resistance. Homes with electric heat pumps or EV charging will run higher.

Idaho Power offers a Time-of-Day rate for homeowners who can shift usage to off-peak hours (9 pm–9 am), which can produce savings for households with EVs or flexible schedules. They also run energy efficiency rebate programs worth checking at signup.

Idaho Power Rate Snapshot (2026)

Base customer charge: ~$5/month · Energy: ~11.76¢/kWh · Power cost adjustment surcharge adds a small variable amount depending on the year's hydro generation. Idaho Power's hydroelectric-heavy generation mix is why rates stay this low.

Water & Sewer

Water service in the Boise metro is primarily handled by Veolia (formerly United Water Idaho) for City of Boise accounts. Rates follow a tiered structure: a base service charge of around $14/month plus roughly $2.57 per 1,000 gallons used. The average household uses about 5,000 gallons per month, producing a water bill in the $25–$30 range.

Sewer service is billed separately by the City of Boise and typically runs around $60–$68 per month for a residential account — this is the larger of the two charges and catches some newcomers off guard. Trash collection (City of Boise) adds roughly $25–$30/month depending on cart size.

Service Provider Typical Monthly
Water Veolia / City of Boise ~$27
Sewer City of Boise ~$64
Trash / Recycling City of Boise ~$27
Water + Sewer + Trash Total ~$118

Suburban cities like Meridian, Nampa, and Eagle have their own utilities with similar structures and pricing, though specific rates vary. Well and septic homes — common on larger lots on the valley's fringe — obviously see no water or sewer bills, though maintenance costs apply.

Natural Gas: Intermountain Gas

Intermountain Gas serves the bulk of the Treasure Valley for natural gas. Residential bills swing dramatically with the seasons: winter heating months (November through February) can push gas bills to $80–$120, while summer months with no heating load often drop to a simple base charge of around $11/month.

Intermountain Gas implemented a 6.02% rate increase effective January 2026, the result of a state-approved rate case. Even with the adjustment, Idaho's natural gas rates remain competitive with other western states. An average household spending $40–$90 in winter and $11–$20 in summer works out to roughly $55–$75 per month averaged across the year.

Homes with natural gas furnaces, water heaters, dryers, and ranges will obviously run higher in winter. A gas range and dryer alone can add $10–$20/month versus all-electric alternatives. New construction in Treasure Valley increasingly offers all-electric options, and heat pump water heaters have become popular with the Idaho Power rebate incentive.

Groceries

Treasure Valley residents have solid access to competitive grocery options across all price points. WinCo Foods — a Boise-headquartered employee-owned chain — is the local price leader and draws households from across the metro for its bulk bins, no-frills pricing, and 24-hour locations. For a family of four shopping primarily at WinCo, a monthly grocery budget of $750–$900 is realistic and achieves meaningful savings over national chains.

Smiths (Kroger), Fred Meyer, and Albertsons cover the middle tier with loyalty card pricing. Whole Foods (downtown Boise) and Natural Grocery serve organic-focused shoppers. Costco in Meridian handles bulk-buying households efficiently. Farmers markets run weekly in Boise (Capitol Boulevard), Meridian, and Nampa from May through October, offering seasonal produce at strong values.

Using USDA's Moderate Cost Food Plan benchmark adjusted for the region, a family of four (two adults, two school-age children) typically spends $850–$1,100 per month on groceries, including household consumables. Solo households run $350–$500. These figures are below the national average, in part because Idaho has no state sales tax on groceries.

Idaho's Grocery Tax Advantage

Idaho does not apply state sales tax to grocery food items. This provides real savings compared to the majority of states. The Idaho Grocery Credit also offers qualifying lower-income households a $120 annual credit per person to offset grocery costs.

Putting It All Together

For a typical Treasure Valley household in a 2,000–2,500 sq ft home, a reasonable monthly utility and grocery budget looks like this:

Category Notes Monthly Est.
Electricity (Idaho Power) Annual average $90–$130
Natural Gas (Intermountain) Annual average $55–$75
Water + Sewer + Trash City of Boise rates $115–$125
Groceries Family of 4, mid-tier shopping $850–$1,100
Total Household Estimate $1,110–$1,430

For comparison, the same basket in Seattle typically runs $300–$500/month more, and in the San Francisco Bay Area, often $600–$900 more — driven primarily by higher electricity rates and significantly higher grocery costs. The Treasure Valley won't win every cost-of-living category, but utilities and groceries are genuine strengths.

Rate & Provider Resources