Electric bill. How much do you pay? (Washington: apartments, rent)

[Big_Al]

Could you please tell me how much is your average electric bill? How much is it during the winter if you have electric air heating pump? I know we have the lowest rates in the country but real numbers would be helpful. thank you

[sarahreed87]

I would like to second this question.....


If I''m in Motown for a 1-2 bedroom apartment, or even a studio...

what might be the general range that such apartments have in cost for..

gas
electric
water
sewer
trash... anything else im missing? just curious if this even an answerable question since not all apts are created equal...

[snorpus]

This won't help much in determining what you'd pay in an apartment, but my house (2500sf) electric bill ranges from 90 to 160/month. I have electric hot water, stove, and two refrigerators. HVAC is two-stage, heat pump then oil when it's too cold for the HP (like tonight!).

[David Kennedy]

gas: cooking only $15 per month...with heating, depends on the newness of contruction, could be as low as $40/60...could be $500 or more...

electric: Most apartments are total electric with gas as an option. Average bill in the summer would be $40/50...in winter, $200. (electric baseboard heat) Allegheny Power has began monthly bill for everyone and stopped the 2-monthly pay plan.

Water/sewage...$16 + $16 for minimum...over 5,000 gallons rate is porportional.

garbage: $16

Landlords usually pick up the cost of one or more of these items..like water and garbage.

[sarahreed87]

gotcha.. thanks

[509]

Originally Posted by Big_Al

Could you please tell me how much is your average electric bill? How much is it during the winter if you have electric air heating pump? I know we have the lowest rates in the country but real numbers would be helpful. thank you

Here is a link that gives statewide electric prices throughout the nation.

Electric Power Monthly - Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State

West Virginia has the lowest state wide average rates at 6.88 cents per kilowatt hour.

The lowest electric rates in the nation are in Douglas County, Washington at 1.85 cents per kilowatt hour. I know because I miss paying those bills!!! We are currently paying close to 3.0 cents per hour just by moving across the Columbia River.

[Blaine]

Our winter bill is 350. Baseboard heat, which is not cutting it, so we supplement w/ space heaters. Last month they estimated us at 5 dollars for the whole month, (ugh...yea RIGHT) resulting in a bill this month for...
*warning, do not read if yo're ingesting food or drink, as it may result in choking or the spewing of liquid upon your computer screen*
$711...in a freezing cold house so cold you cant watch a movie in the living room without 3 blankets and 4 space heaters.
And to think we moved here to escape baltimores cost of living.....now we just have the same bills, but on 1/5 of the pay.

[klcamp2004]

are you for real?711.00 per month???

[sarahreed87]

Originally Posted by klcamp2004

are you for real?711.00 per month???

yeah with that I could pay rent in a college apartment! lol

[Blaine]

well, 2 months if you factor in the $5 bill they so graciously estimated us at the month prior....yep. 711 bucks to come up with on laughable paychecks. I work full time, my husband works the hours they give him because no one seems to give hours in the wintertime here (one week he got 8 hours. Seriously, WTH are you supposed to do with 8 hours?!?) and we have to sell my car because with the electric so high, we cant afford the payment...and thats with NO mortgage (when we moved here, we bought our house in full)-we still cant afford living here in WV. Unreal.



Oh, and to add, we're not light workers. Before moving here, my husband was the store manager for a major mechanic shop (fortune 500 company) and I was the store manager of a 2.3 million dollar per year retail location....we moved here hoping for a little less stress, having no house payment and all...and instead, combined we're still well below poverty level and cant even afford groceries with the horrid pay and crazy electric bills.
As you can imagine, we're in serious talks of relocating and just walking away from here....even with no house payment, it's just not seeming worth the battle.