Moving to Lake Havasu City...couple questions (budget, getaway)

[Dan Ochoa]

I will be moving my family to LHC in the very near future, and was wondering if anyone here can help me figure what an average electricity and water bill may be like during the summer months. Before I go any further let me say that we have been regularly going to LHC for the past few years as my family owns a home there that was originally intended as a getaway. The recent economic slow down and particularily the construction slow down has prompted me to move to the getaway house full time. I was offered a decent job there in town and it's much more promising than sitting home here in So. Cal.
That being said, I understand the seasonal trends there and I am fully aware how hot it gets in mid may through september. What I don't know is what our utilities will be like since we are usually there for a week or two at a time and our utility bills reflect a small amount of usage. Being that the AC will be running so much and the pool will have a good amount of water lost to evaporation I am almost scared to know what the cost may be, however I need to create an accurate budget before I move. Any help or advice that anyone may be able to offer would be greatly appreciated.

[tfsbecause]

I don't know about LHC, but I assume it's the same as here. I am in the phoenix area. anyway you can call the electric company, give them the address of a house nearby similar to your own (not saying that it's not yours) and ask for the high and low electic bill of that residence.

It would give you an idea what your's would run. Just try to make sure it's a full time resident you're calling on, like they have kids or something, to get more accurate results.

[Steve_Brasher]

A lot of the cost will be dependant on the quality of the construction, size of home,type of installed windows the seer rating of the a/c and of course the amount of insulation in the home and attic. If it is an older home than it may be well worth calling the local insulation company to reblow the attic space to get back to an R-50 rating.

My guess on electric bill for your area in the summer will be about $350 - $450 depending on the factors above. Call the electric company to find out what the previous bills for the home were and if the rates are the same as they were on the previous summer.

[WestcoastBrit]

I rent a 1900 sf home built in 2005. Water is included in the rent but electric runs $400/$450 a month during June/July/August/September. Lowest bills run around $150 in winter.

[Dan Ochoa]

Thanks for the info so far...I appreciate it very much. The home we will be living in was built about 10 years ago but was built very well including good insulation and quality dual pane windows. It is 1450 square feet and the garage is not connected to the cooling ducts.

[Arizona Bound]

Running or installing a swamp cooler would reduce your a/c costs.

[Havasu]

Like Arizona bound said a swamp cooler is your best way to save costs.I have a 1600 sq ft home and the costs are around $200 in the summer but I keep it at 84. As far as pool water evaporating it wont kill your budget unless your hooked up to sewer then it might take a bit. The size of your house should not be to expensive to cool unless you keep the thermostat low. Hope this helps. See you on the Lake.....

[Arizona Bound]

As Havasu has mentioned.. IF you have a POOL, and you are on
city-water, you are MUCH better off with a septic... because your
city-sewer costs are based on how much city-water you use. So
when your POOL needs water, you are not paying city-sewer to
keep your POOL full or to water plants-trees/shrubs. And IF you have
a POOL, salt-water filtration is the best way to go...