$100 for heat and electricity??? (apartment, rentals, utilities)

[MathTeacher]

i am relocating from CA to RI this summer and saw an apartment add stating "only $100 for heat and electricity per month"

is this really a reasonable amount for a 1 bed apartment?

i currently pay about $30 for both heat and electricity...

if so, i am definitely going to find an apt with utilities included!

[GermanSpy]

That certainly depends on what kind of heating system is in that apartment. It's certainly not outrageous or anything though. 25 dollars for electricity alone seems about the norm and with heating the sky's the limit.

[ProvGuy]

I have a small 2-bed and I pay about $20/month for electricity, and at most $40/month in the summer with the A/C on. I don't have a dryer though so if the place has one take that into account. My gas is about $140/month during the coldest months of the winter, then about $25/month the rest of the year, and I have a poorly insulated place. When you average it over the whole year, $100/month really isn't too far off. Oil heat is much more expensive right now keep in mind.

[ocngypz]

My electric bill runs about $20 without using the a/c in the bedroom. $55 with the a/c. My bathroom runs cold in the winter and I use a ceramic heater... so electric goes to about $24/25. I have a washer and electric dryer. The apartment (really the second floor of a two story house) is about 800 sq ft.

I have natural gas for heat, hot water and cooking. Low bills in summer about $40. Highest bill for winter was $140. I'm on the second floor, have good storm windows.... so-so insulation..... good southern exposure which helps keep the place tolerably warm during the day without cranking up the heat.

Electric rates are scheduled to increase 20 or so percent. Goodness only knows what will happen this winter with the price of natural gas.

Before I moved here I had a larger apartment... 1100 sq ft.... crap windows... and lots of them.....no insulation.. I kept the thermostat at 62 during the winter.. my gas bills were over $300 a month in the winter despite being chilly.

Very few rentals now offer any utilities included. Those that do, tack on additional monies due if you go over your electric average (summer for a/c) or heating in winter.

[MathTeacher]

our first winter might be expensive...

thank you for the info.
i will definitely check out the window and gas situation before signing a lease.

[GermanSpy]

Check the windows, check the doors. Ask if the place is insulated. Look at the baseboards and see if you can feel a draft. Try to look at the place on a windy day, as silly as that sounds, especially if it's an older place. Bring a lighter or candle.

Good luck.