Sacramento County and the greater Sacramento region offer a robust network of utility services that support daily life, local businesses, and long‑term economic growth across the area. These services span electricity, drinking water, sewer, stormwater, and solid waste, with responsibilities shared among the County, individual cities, and regional districts that specialize in certain types of infrastructure.
Electric Service in the Sacramento Region
Most residents and businesses in Sacramento County receive electricity from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), a community‑owned, not‑for‑profit provider that has served the area for decades. SMUD is one of the nation’s largest publicly owned utilities and is widely recognized for its focus on energy efficiency, renewable power investments, and maintaining competitive rates compared with many investor‑owned utilities.
SMUD’s power mix includes natural gas generation, large hydroelectric facilities along the Upper American River watershed, and a growing portfolio of renewable resources such as wind and solar. As a result, roughly half of its electricity supply now comes from non‑carbon‑emitting sources, supporting regional climate and air‑quality goals while providing reliable service to homes and businesses.
Customers can manage billing, track usage, and enroll in savings programs through SMUD’s online account tools and payment portal, which streamline everyday account management.
Water, Stormwater, and Flood Control
Water service in Sacramento County is decentralized, with more than two dozen providers operating within the region, including the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA), the City of Sacramento, and several independent water districts. SCWA alone serves tens of thousands of connections across areas such as Laguna‑Vineyard, Mather‑Sunrise, Arden Park‑Sierra Oaks, Hood, Northgate, Walnut Grove, and the Southwest Tract, delivering treated drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.waterresources.
Within the City of Sacramento, the Department of Utilities manages drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater services, and reports that its drinking water consistently meets or exceeds state and federal quality standards. The agency operates treatment plants, storage reservoirs, and distribution pipelines that keep tap water available around the clock.
At the county level, the Department of Water Resources oversees drainage and flood control for much of the unincorporated urbanizing area, planning and maintaining stormwater systems, channels, and facilities that help protect neighborhoods when winter storms and high river flows occur.
These flood control and drainage responsibilities are critical in a region bordered by major rivers and low‑lying areas, where coordinated stormwater management reduces the risk of localized flooding and protects transportation corridors, homes, and commercial properties.
Over time, Sacramento County and regional partners have continued to invest in levees, pump stations, and improved drainage infrastructure to keep pace with growth and changing climate conditions.
Sewer, Wastewater Resource Recovery, and Environmental Services
Regional wastewater collection and treatment are primarily handled by the Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer), which serves more than 1.6 million people across unincorporated Sacramento County and cities including Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, West Sacramento, Courtland, Locke, and Walnut Grove. SacSewer operates an extensive network of sewer lines, pump stations, and related facilities that convey wastewater to a central treatment plant.
That plant, the EchoWater Resource Recovery Facility near Elk Grove, is one of the largest water resource recovery facilities in the country and is designed to treat wastewater to a high standard so it can be safely discharged or beneficially reused. Advanced treatment processes remove solids and pollutants while producing reclaimed water that can support agricultural irrigation, habitat projects, and other non‑potable uses.
Inside the City of Sacramento, some properties are directly served by the City’s sewer system, while others fall under SacSewer’s collection network depending on location and historical service boundaries. To support affordability for vulnerable residents, SacSewer offers a Sewer Lifeline Rate Assistance Program that provides ongoing bill reductions for qualifying low‑income customers.
Eligibility is based on income and other criteria and is typically reviewed on a multi‑year cycle, helping ensure that essential sewer services remain accessible while funding is maintained for long‑term infrastructure investment.
Solid Waste, Recycling, and Organics Collection
Garbage, recycling, and organics collection in the Sacramento region are provided by a mix of city services, county programs, and private haulers, depending on jurisdiction and property type. In the City of Sacramento, the Recycling and Solid Waste Division manages curbside garbage, recycling, and organics collection for single‑family households and many multifamily properties, including options for accessory dwelling units to share or request separate containers.
In unincorporated areas of the county, the Sacramento County Department of Waste Management & Recycling (DWMR) regulates commercial solid waste haulers and enforces state recycling requirements for businesses and multi‑family properties. Residential collection is provided through county programs branded as the SacGreenTeam, which offer curbside pickup of trash, recyclables, and organic waste such as yard trimmings and food scraps. Customers can use DWMR’s online tools and mobile app to look up collection calendars, schedule bulky waste pickups, report missed service, and access detailed information about reuse, recycling, and proper disposal.
The county also operates facilities such as the North Area Recovery Station, which accepts a range of materials for disposal and recycling, and supports diversion programs that reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills. These efforts help Sacramento County comply with state mandates on recycling and organics diversion while extending the life of regional disposal sites.
Consolidated Utilities Billing and Regional Coordination
A notable feature of Sacramento County’s utility landscape is Consolidated Utilities Billing & Service (CUBS), which handles billing and collection for multiple county‑provided utilities, including curbside collection services, stormwater drainage, sewer, water supply, and related charges. Through the County’s My Utilities portal, customers can view and pay bills, set up paperless statements, manage bank information, and update mailing addresses in one place rather than dealing with separate invoices for each service.
This consolidated approach helps residents and property owners navigate a complex service map that includes SMUD for electricity, SCWA and numerous water districts for water supply, SacSewer and city systems for wastewater, and county and city agencies for solid waste and recycling. For new development, accessory dwelling units, and commercial projects, regional coordination among these agencies streamlines plan review, impact fee assessment, and utility connections, supporting both growth and long‑term infrastructure reliability across Sacramento County.
Strategic planning by the County and its regional partners continues to focus on maintaining reliable service, meeting regulatory requirements, and investing in resilient infrastructure that can accommodate population growth and evolving environmental conditions. Together, these interconnected electric, water, sewer, stormwater, and solid waste systems form the backbone of Sacramento County’s built environment and quality of life.
