A/C Question (Phoenix: apartments, leasing agent, condo)

[rogetsthesaurus]

Currently live in southern Indiana...gets in upper 90s with high humidity...I keep my 1 BR apartment at 70 degrees all day/night and pay about $130 a month in the summer for electricity...

I know it will be impossible to keep a 1 BR apartment at 70 degrees in Phoenix during the summer...what will I be able to run it at? Do people run AC in the morning or just evenings? what's the average electricity cost per month for a 1 BR in the summer? What temperature should I set my apt at here in Indiana during the summer to get (slightly) used to the heat in Phoenix? Or is it even comparable?

[abmiku]

I had a 2 bedroom condo and kept it at 68 degrees during the summer my highest bill was $145. Some of the apartments have utilities included, so you may want to look for one of those.

[rogetsthesaurus]

I heard from a leasing agent that if it says "utilities included" don't go for it because your cooling will be at the discretion of the property manager and the AC may or may not work...true?

[abmiku]

I had a studio apartment when i first moved to phoenix with it's own ac and utilities were included, so I guess it depends on the place.

[blueeyz911]

It partly depends on how well the apartment is insulated (i.e., windows, doors in tight, etc.). Then if you have APS (Arizona Public Service) they have ridiculously high rates. You may see a little lower bills with SRP (Salt River Project).

From my experience, even in the more expensive apartments (shoddy construction out here), my AC bills have been high especially if you are on the 2nd floor since hot air rises. I paid around $180-190 a month running the AC at 75 degrees in a one bedroom 850 sq foot apt on the second floor I was in last year. Most people seem to run their AC around 78-80 some people even higher. I like my place on the cool side so I tend to keep it between 75 and 77. So naturally I am not being that conservative so my bills will be higher than average.

[MaxPower123]

Originally Posted by rogetsthesaurus

I heard from a leasing agent that if it says "utilities included" don't go for it because your cooling will be at the discretion of the property manager and the AC may or may not work...true?

Not always true. In some apartments that include all utilities you pay for electricity that you plug in (TV, computer, lamps, etc.). The only apartment community that includes all utilities but controls your cooling/heating that I know of is Forest Park Apartments in Phoenix, they also have a cap/limit on how much electricity you can use depending on the model and number of bedrooms that you lease. Same company owns Fountains in the Green so that community might do the same thing as well.

[sablebaby]

Most likely you will let the AC run ALL day and night (when you are home basically). I keep it at about 76-77 during the summer and it's quite comfortable (more on the cool side than warm). I used to have it at 75 in one house and would sit shivering, then I realized that it shouldn't be so cold and started making it not so cold. 70 in my home would be WAY TOO COLD.

[blueeyz911]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Most likely you will let the AC run ALL day and night (when you are home basically). I keep it at about 76-77 during the summer and it's quite comfortable (more on the cool side than warm). I used to have it at 75 in one house and would sit shivering, then I realized that it shouldn't be so cold and started making it not so cold. 70 in my home would be WAY TOO COLD.

I know.... 70 would be freezing. I wear a sweatshirt with it at 75.