Electric Bill (Portland, Medford: rent, houses, crawl space)

[Minervah]

Many apartments such as the one in which I live were built at a time when electricity was pretty cheap. The winter weather on the whole is pretty mild (not counting this one which has been unusually cold and long). Apartment buildings were put together pretty cheaply with little thought for insulation as you find in areas with colder winters.

Now of course electricity costs have skyrocketed so it costs more to heat an apartment. Also most are enterly electric as opposed to any other type heating so it all adds up. The electric bill for my tiny apartment actually went over $100 this winter and I try to be as conservative as I can be. But that includes water, frig, stove, heating etc. It's crappy electric baseboard heating which is typical but not very effecient.

I also use partial sustainable enegry from wind so that also increases my electric bill a bit. Yours doesn't seem unusual to me. But cheer up, the weather is getting warmer and you just may be able to turn that heat off soon.

[ChadPettingill]

Mine is about $80 - $95 in the winter but about $35 - $50 in the summer months for our 1000 sq. ft. apartment. We have our own washer/dryer but all the lights in our house are fluorescents. Prices have gone up that's for sure.

[kevinsmama]

i just got mine and it is 119
I have a baby so im super worried about him being cold.
maybe my apartment is not as well insulated as i thought

[Katyblue]

Is baseboard heating not efficient? I've never lived in a place with baseboard heaters. What do most apartments have in Portland? Is there a particular type of heating that is more efficient than baseboard?

[Ryant]

When I was in Chicago or Minnesota it was gas. All my apartments out here have been baseboard. I think gas is more cost efficient(but not needed as much out here)..

[Bluesmama]

$98 for one month does not sound high at all to me. Of course, much depends on one's comfort level. I know a lot of people who choose to keep their heat down to 65 and less, but that would shatter me. (On the other hand, I'm always the last one to flip on air-conditioning in the hottest of summer.)

I haven't lived in apartments for a long time but they were all baseboard-type then. Perhaps that has changed, I don't know.

[Ryant]

I think even if you have gas it would come to about the same with electricity and gas combined

[Nell Plotts]

Baseboard heaters are cheap, that is why you find them in area apartments.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Baseboard heaters are cheap, that is why you find them in area apartments.

Yes and according to my landlord they also are the least efficient. I signed up for the budget plan with PGE and pay the same all year around. $78.00 a month for about 700 square feet. I used to pay around $35 in the summer and $150 in the winter.

The reason I most run my heat is to dry out the typically-badly-insulated apartment.The dampness really seeps in and makes it feel colder than it is.

I am thinking of investing in a dehumidifier to help that problem.

[Katyblue]

Originally Posted by Minervah

The reason I most run my heat is to dry out the typically-badly-insulated apartment.The dampness really seeps in and makes it feel colder than it is.

If I'm looking for an apartment in the summer, what sort of things should I look for to assess the building's level of insulation?