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Old 02-13-2011, 03:41 PM
 
65 posts, read 213,037 times
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I am on a budget and considering relocating to one of the more outlying towns in Phoenix metro area, such as Surprise or Sun City, in the western part or Gilbert, Apache Junction in the east. What is the water situation like, are there conservation measures to be observed and as a renter would I even be paying for water?
Cooling I assume would be needed for four months and would have to be electric? What would the cost of that be in a 2 bedroom duplex, one level? No more than 1000sq.ft if that. By the month. I would assume one would not need heating. I know desert gets colder at night but I don't run heat at night where I am now in a colder state.
So what would the monthly electric cost be in the months without ac? Also, is gas an option for hot water heater, cooking?
Many thanks for your help.
Adreana
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Old 02-13-2011, 04:08 PM
 
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Originally Posted by adreana View Post
Cooling I assume would be needed for four months and would have
Adreana






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Old 02-13-2011, 10:22 PM
 
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Thinking back to apt living...

AC needed May-Oct... summer electric bill of about 160-200. Winter bill of 60-70
Water bill (apts bill internally, not through a utility) 30 bucks year round
Gas - 20 bucks

Bills are much higher in a house.
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Old 02-13-2011, 10:29 PM
 
Location: Metro Phoenix, AZ USA
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You may or may not have access to natural gas. In an apt., likely not a separate water bill. No conservation measures as of now. A/C will vary a lot depending on where you set the thermostat, airtightness of doors and windows, amount of insulation, north south vs east west exposure, shading of windows, upper story or ground floor (if apt).
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Old 02-14-2011, 08:01 AM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
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My MIL lives in a town house in Sun City. It is like a row house thing, there is only a front and back. 3br, 1500 sf. She pays about 120 for utilities in summer and about 50 in winter. No gas. She does keep it warm in summer - maybe 80 or so, and cold in winter - she uses a space heater and not the heat pump most of the time. She has grass out front but the HOA takes care of all that. I don't know what her water is.

Cooling season runs from May thru September - so 5 months of pretty much continuous use with days from about April thru October where you still use light AC. The peak bills arrive in July, Aug, Sep. and Oct. After you have been here for a year, you can get a budget rate that is the same all year based on your usage history. You can save a lot of money also by selecting a time of day rate and sticking to it.
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Old 02-14-2011, 08:17 AM
 
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I had a 1500 square foot house in Phoenix on APS. Did the year round budget plan and my bills were $170 every month.
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Old 02-14-2011, 02:14 PM
 
65 posts, read 213,037 times
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Ponderosa, thanks for this excellent information. I am looking for something like what your relative has, but in a two bedroom rental twhse. on one level, preferably. I would be keeping it warmer too. I must say, I didn't think the ac would be so much. Here in Oregon we have electric central heat, and bills are tripled in winter, I run heat about 5 months. Had hoped to get away from the high utility bills. Seems like the utility bills run high in the Phnx area, compared to other places. They do here for the electric.
Adreana
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Old 02-14-2011, 02:20 PM
 
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Juram, always like to see folks happy. Possibly you like it cooler than I do. I am an older slim lady, and tend to get cold easily, so could probably get by keeping the ac on 80 or so. You might suffer at that temp, esp. men like it colder than ladies as they have alot more musculature, and muscles generate alot more heat than fat.
Adreana
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Old 02-15-2011, 02:35 PM
 
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adreana View Post
Juram, always like to see folks happy. Possibly you like it cooler than I do. I am an older slim lady, and tend to get cold easily, so could probably get by keeping the ac on 80 or so. You might suffer at that temp, esp. men like it colder than ladies as they have alot more musculature, and muscles generate alot more heat than fat.
Adreana


No offense intended but even if you set the A/C for 80, its still going to be running through May, June, July, August, September and October. Sometimes we are "lucky" and get to kick-off A/C season in mid April as well.
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Old 02-15-2011, 03:31 PM
 
Location: Metro Phoenix, AZ USA
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No offense intended but even if you set the A/C for 80, its still going to be running through May, June, July, August, September and October. Sometimes we are "lucky" and get to kick-off A/C season in mid April as well.

THROUGH October at 80? Rarely. Mid April? Not at 80, and particularly not if you have fans, etc.

The exaggerations on the heat that happen here always amuse me.
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