Greenville Area Utility expenses (North: HOA, insurance, townhouse)

[FisherOne]

Having just completed a wonderful 6 weeks stay in Greenville with the goal of deciding that is where I would like to spend the next few years of my life, I have some questions that local residents hopefully can give me a feel for. I need to get a feel for additional costs compared to where I live now.

1. Regarding electricity, what are typical annual cost to heat and cool with electricity and/or with natural gas? If you could please provide a rough estimate with size of house and typical winter and summer thermostat settings, it would be great, and maybe age of house.

2. What are typical monthly costs for water and sewer?

3. Is is necessary to do bug extermination in summer and what is typical cost?
4. Do you use a home security system and what is the typical cost?

5. Just generally, if you moved to Greenville from a northern state, did you find living expenses less when including the things above and taxes, etc.

Thanks so much in advance for info, you can share.

[shamrocker]

1. We have an all electric house. 1600 s/f, 13 years old. Thermostat kept at 70 pretty much year-round. Our Spring and Fall bills are around $60 and our peak Summer and Winter bills around $120.

2. Our bill was recently changed from quarterly to monthly, and we are paying $25/mo.

3. We don't do any exterminating. I do keep busy with fire ant mounds and harmless spiders, though.

4. We don't use a home security system. We have a cute dog who will lick intruders to death.

5. I moved here from Illinois four years ago and I find the overall cost of living to be lower, especially gas and taxes. Insurance will be higher, unfortunately, but you can shop around for a comparable rate. Food is higher, too.

[roadpony]

1. We live in a 1,900 s.f. 2-story townhouse (neighbor on each side) with heat pump ... natural gas for heat, electric for cooling. Total annual electric/natural gas for 2010 & 2011 was $1500 ($125/mo) both years. We keep thermostat on 65-68 in winter and 72 in summer.

2. Water/sewer bill is roughly $30 +/- per month. Two adults in household, but hubby likes to wash our cars a lot.

3. Our HOA has an exterminator contract.

4. We don't have an alarm system.

5. We moved from North Carolina but I guess that doesn't count as a northern state.

[FisherOne]

Great responses - thanks!