Typical electric bill for Single family homes in Edison NJ (Highland Park: new home, buying)

[GoodWillCome]

Hi Everyone,

I am considering a property(single family home) for buying in Edison NJ.

I want to know what a typical electri city bill( consider heating/cooling/dishwashing/fridge/washer /dryer to run on regular basis for a family of 4)

Home specs are

Forced air system
4 bedroom
living room ,family room
Kitchen, 2 bathrooms

Please let me know what major things contribute to increased bills in single family homes( like old windows etc)

Thanks
Suchitra

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by GoodWillCome

Hi Everyone,

I am considering a property(single family home) for buying in Edison NJ.

I want to know what a typical electri city bill( consider heating/cooling/dishwashing/fridge/washer /dryer to run on regular basis for a family of 4)

Home specs are

Forced air system
4 bedroom
living room ,family room
Kitchen, 2 bathrooms

Please let me know what major things contribute to increased bills in single family homes( like old windows etc)

Thanks
Suchitra

not edison, but same specs otherwise and our bills are around $100 cooler months - $175/$200 summer months - average over past 12 months was ~ $120/mo

ETA: our heat and cooking are gas (not electric), so YMMV

[ehs]

It's about like that, but for hotter months when you turn on a/c, electricity usage could be more...

Winter is the time when PSE&G bill is high. If you use gas heat, the fan still needed to be on to blow, so electicity will go high as well. In the case, many new home buyers trying to save gas heat and use electric heat for rooms at nights, then the electric bill will go very high.

In general, pseg bill would be around $300 because if you cook a lot during winter time, your gas heat may end up use less. In summer time, you may want to eat out more since then the more you cook, the more heat generated, and the more electricity you will pay for a/c to cool house down ...

So, my brother-in-law almost never cook during summer months. They often eat out; they almost visit all restaurants in Greater Edison area. But, they also never turn on a/c. When they got home at night, it is already 50 to 60's and they just open the windows to let free cool air in. (not doing every day, just some very hot days)

In the morning the first thing is to close all the windows. and shade to keep the cool air. He said human body is comfortable to 84 degrees, but his room temperature seldom go exceed that, mostly, 70's.

He used to live at attic room at Highland Park, and he never came home till 11pm (spent lots of time at Rutgers library), and once he came home, the first thing to do is use the box fan to blow out the hot air, and as he said, just 5 to 10 min later, the room is very cool.

So, I guess, you may want to install a Box fan ($9 at Walmart?) at your attic, and turn on to blow out the hot air at hot days. He said, he would close all the windows but the windows where there are family activities. So that box fan pull in lots of cool air immediately.

The most magic thing is that he did not turn on heat in the winter either. However, they don't eat out often, especially at cold days. He said, after cooking dinner, temperature will go up 6 degree, breakfast 3 degrees, and take a hot shower, will go up 3 degrees per person...

And, sunny days, he will open all the shades, and will go up 10 to 12 degrees with green house effect. In most times, his house will have 60 degrees, and cold days will go down to 50's. A few single digit morning went down to 43 degress and will move up to over 50's when everyone took a hot showers and wife cooking breakfast ... Doing so, according to my brother-in-law, none of their family members ever catch cold in winter since the temperature difference in and out is only about 30 degrees ...