Medford Utility Bills Rise in August Under New City Rates

Medford’s higher city utility charges are expected to appear on bills issued in August, after new rates took effect July 1, 2026. The timing may vary by individual billing cycle, but the change applies to single-family residential customers.

The monthly city utility charge is increasing from $76.53 to $85.91, or $9.38 more per month. That amount applies to the city utility portion of the bill, not necessarily the total a household pays for water and other services.

What the city utility charge covers

The City of Medford’s new single-family rate includes several separate services. The monthly breakdown lists:

• Sewer collection and treatment: $39.05
• Public safety: $22.23
• Storm drainage: $9.63
• Parks: $8.31
• Street maintenance: $6.69

The city says the fees support sewer treatment and collection-system upgrades, storm-drain maintenance and improvements, pavement preservation and other street work, police and fire services, and parks and public-space maintenance.

Medford’s utility-billing FAQ says the street fee supports operations and maintenance, including pavement preservation, signs, striping and street-light electricity. Storm-drain fees support drainage infrastructure and work intended to minimize flooding and protect local waterways. Parks and public-safety fees support citywide services and facilities.

Why the sewer portion is increasing

Nearly half of the $9.38 increase is connected to sewer collection and treatment. The city’s breakdown shows increases of 38 cents for street maintenance, 48 cents for storm drainage, $3.96 for sewer collection and treatment, $3.08 for public safety and $1.48 for parks.

Some of the sewer-related revenue will support required upgrades at the Regional Water Reclamation Facility. City records say the facility must be upgraded to meet stricter wastewater limits established through an updated Oregon Department of Environmental Quality permit. The requirements include tighter limits on phosphorus and nitrogen discharged to the Rogue River.

The facility upgrade remains an ongoing project. The city describes it as a roughly $302 million effort serving Medford and several surrounding communities, with design, construction and regulatory milestones extending into the coming years. The rate increase supports the work and related sewer-system costs; it does not mean the upgrades are complete.

City charges are separate from Medford Water

Residents should distinguish the new city utility rate from Medford Water charges. Medford Water modified its own rates effective March 1, 2026. Those charges cover drinking-water service, including system operations, treatment, infrastructure replacement and regulatory compliance.

The City of Medford’s single-family sewer charge is a flat fee rather than a charge calculated from household water use. Other customer classes can have consumption-based components, but single-family customers do not pay an additional sewer charge based on how much water they use.

For a typical single-family customer, the practical change is an additional $9.38 in the city utility portion of the monthly bill. Customers checking an August statement should review the billing period and remember that the total bill may also include separate Medford Water charges or other applicable fees.

Sources

• City of Medford: 2026 Utility Rate Changes and Bill Breakdown
• Medford Water: 2026 Water-Rate Information