How much is electricity bill for a 1-bedroom? (Austin: apartment complex, condos)

[artichoke63]

Hi Everyone,

Can someone tell me what I can expect to pay in the summer for my electricity bill in order to keep my A/C running in a one or two-bedroom apartment?

Thanks,

Artie

[Trainwreck20]

In an apartment, this can vary quite a bit. Generally speaking, if you are on lower floors, not on the end, and are mostly shielded from direct sun, you can get by very cheaply. If you are on a top floor on the south end of a block, it could be quite a bit more. New apartments are much better insulated than older apartments. As for actual dollar cost, that isn't very helpful, is it? You can actually get historical bills for specific units, if you know which one you are looking at. Contact the City of Austin Utilities, and I am sure they will let you know what you need to do to get copies (if you are looking in the city, anyway). Many people do this for houses, but you could look at a couple of apts to get an idea.

[jeepman]

Originally Posted by artichoke63

Hi Everyone,

Can someone tell me what I can expect to pay in the summer for my electricity bill in order to keep my A/C running in a one or two-bedroom apartment?

Thanks,

Artie

I don't know if it has started in Austin yet, but also ask the complex who supplies the electricity. If the complex has installed their own meters, then they are marking up the rates they get from the Utility Company, and can be quite a nice profit center for the complex.

They have a single meter from the Utility, and usually qualify for lower rates based on a very high number of KWh collectively used by all the units.

Again, this may not be happening here yet.

[Trainwreck20]

Actually, I think that is still prohibited in Texas, but not sure. I know they are not allowed to mark-up water.

[AustinTraveler]

Artie,

I agree with Trainwreck about contacting Austin Energy and asking about a specific unit in an apartment complex. Before we bought our house, we lived in an apartment (1,200 sf) and our electric bill was always very high, definitely higher than any bill I have received for our house (2,000 sf).

http://www.austinenergy.com/Customer%20Care/index.htm

AT

[brattpowered]

Expect to pay $70-$100 more than during winter months.

[Trainwreck20]

Part of the problem in apartments is that the tenent is responsible for the air filter (usually) and, since many tenents don't bother to replace the filters very often, the cooling fins get quite caked with dust. The efficiency drops waaaay down and the cost go waaay up, but nobody cares...the apartment gets no money from cleaning the fins and the new tenent will pay a higher bill rather than pay to clean an apartments own air conditioner unit. Since the tenent will only be there a limited time (usually), that is the cheaper way to go.

Of course, if the unit gets dirty enough, the compressor will burn out from trying (unsuccessfully) to cool the apartment.

[jwb123]

Before we bought our house, we lived in an apartment (1,200 sf) and our electric bill was always very high, definitely higher than any bill I have received for our house (2,000 sf).

This could also be because apartment quality construction is SO poor (no insulation, lower quality materials). Even compared to older homes. Single family home construction, in general, are much more efficient.

(one of the main reasons I don't get this new trend to take garden apartments and convert them to "luxury condos". They may be upgrading the inside - but the construction still is what it is)

[artichoke63]

thanks everyone for your responses. So I'm guessing electricity is around $100 a month during the 5-months of summer and I'm better off in a newer building.

Thanks,
artie