Average Electricity bill in San Jose for a 1 bedroom? (San Francisco: apartment, appliances)

[KJsgfan]

I am moving in to a 1 bedroom apartment in the next month and was wondering what to expect for an electricity bill?

The unit is about 670 SQ FT, all electric and I typically don't use air conditioning but will probably use the heater in the winter. I will be living there alone. The complex pays all the water, sewer, garbage and gas bills (gas is for the water heater only) and tenant pays electric only.

I budgeted about $75 a month just to be safe but the complex told me that's way high and probably closer to $35-$40 a month. PG&E said the average in the area is $55 in the summer due to air conditioning and $35 in the winter.

If I'm not using the air conditioner (I'm actually going to unplug it from the wall) is $35 to $45 about right as they say? Seems low to me.

Any input would be appreciated.

[thecooler]

Originally Posted by KJsgfan

I am moving in to a 1 bedroom apartment in the next month and was wondering what to expect for an electricity bill?

The unit is about 670 SQ FT, all electric and I typically don't use air conditioning but will probably use the heater in the winter. I will be living there alone. The complex pays all the water, sewer, garbage and gas bills (gas is for the water heater only) and tenant pays electric only.

I budgeted about $75 a month just to be safe but the complex told me that's way high and probably closer to $35-$40 a month. PG&E said the average in the area is $55 in the summer due to air conditioning and $35 in the winter.

If I'm not using the air conditioner (I'm actually going to unplug it from the wall) is $35 to $45 about right as they say? Seems low to me.

Any input would be appreciated.

That sounds about right. I've lived in many 1 bedroom apts in the bay area and my average bill is probably $30/mo. most of the year, maybe $50 during a cold month in winter, where I've lived I don't need/use AC.

[sonarrat]

When I lived in an all-electric apartment in South San Francisco, I kept my windows open year-round in spite of the plane noise and never even had to turn on my heater. My bill was typically $20 there. Any usage of the heat or AC will increase that; I've paid as much as $150 if it was hot and we had to run AC a lot in our apartment in San Jose. It has much higher ceilings and more floor space than typical though.

[MediocreButArrogant]

The numbers being tossed around sound correct. However, keep in mind that PG&E rates are tiered and when you hit 130% of your baseline usage, you're paying around $0.30/kWh. So if you have a high powered gaming computer that draws 300 watts while idling, and left it on 24/7, that could be as much as $60/month. If you keep an eye on things and try to keep your parasitic loads low, you'll be fine.

My house in Santa Clara has been mostly empty this last year as I've been living in (and remodeling) my vacation house, and leaving my media server on 24/7 basically doubled my electricity bill in the empty house. The increase from running the Folding @Home client on my PS3 (back when I was doing that) was very clear too. I loved my cheap Silicon Valley Power electricity bills and am not looking forward to becoming a PG&E customer again when I move to San Jose.

[KJsgfan]

Cool. I don't use air conditioning and I plan to unplug the unit from the wall all together so it can't draw anything at all.

I also whent and bought those Monster Green Power surge protectors for both TV's and the Computer. They are supposed to shut each individual outlet down completely when the item thats plugged in is turned off so they don't draw or waste any power when items are off or in standby mode. And I plan to use only the most efficient light bulbs I can find.

In the winter, I guess I can get in the habit of throwing on a sweater rather than always turning on the heat.

If I can get the monthly bill to $40 that would be perfect (or lower is even better but I won't hold my breath on that one lol).

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

PG&E rates are tiered and when you hit 130% of your baseline usage, you're paying around $0.30/kWh.

A detail that surprises many when they get the bill. Ours hovers between $300-400, but that's due to electric appliances, hot tub, fishtank, and many computers and TVs. Somebody with a little heater bumped it up to $700 a few months, so beware those inefficient little things (besides being a dangerous fire hazard).

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by KJsgfan

I am moving in to a 1 bedroom apartment in the next month and was wondering what to expect for an electricity bill?

The unit is about 670 SQ FT, all electric and I typically don't use air conditioning but will probably use the heater in the winter. I will be living there alone. The complex pays all the water, sewer, garbage and gas bills (gas is for the water heater only) and tenant pays electric only.

I budgeted about $75 a month just to be safe but the complex told me that's way high and probably closer to $35-$40 a month. PG&E said the average in the area is $55 in the summer due to air conditioning and $35 in the winter.

If I'm not using the air conditioner (I'm actually going to unplug it from the wall) is $35 to $45 about right as they say? Seems low to me.

Any input would be appreciated.

My electric and gas combined usually run me about $20 per month, but I live in a studio without air conditioning. I usually don't miss the air conditioning. It depends on where you live. If you live in downtown SJ or areas north, it's a few degrees cooler in Summer than areas further south.

My bill would be lower if it weren't for my 41 inch plasma TV. The TV alone costs me about $7 per month. I should have gone with the LED instead!

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by KJsgfan

In the winter, I guess I can get in the habit of throwing on a sweater rather than always turning on the heat.

If you live on a 2nd floor apartment as I do, you may not really need to use your heat that much in winter. I get cold easily, but I don't need to turn my heat on until mid November. But I don't need it every day. Even when I do turn it on it isn't on all day every day. Normally, I turn it on when I get home from work for about an hour and I might turn it on in the morning when I get up, but this is only on colder than average Winter days.

[80skeys]

We have a small two bedroom. IN the summer we pay about $35/month. in the winter about $65.

[Nativa]

We live in a 1BR that is a bit larger than the one in the OP. Our bill was around $25 for the past 3 months; we don't use AC.