Average utility cost for 1 BR apartments? (Sac-NorCA) (Sacramento, Santa Barbara: affordable apartments, credit)

[redhummingbird]

Once I decide on where to live I won't post so many questions but I'm having to make a decision in the next couple weeks (between Solvang, CA and here in Sacramento).

I live in a house share right now so I have no idea what utilities cost here with the hot summers, and cold winters. I spent most of my life in the bay area.

Because the apartments in Solvang cost about $100 more per month I wanted to find out of the cost of utilities here would offset that.

I'm a disabled senior on a fixed income.

Thanks so much!

[NineOneSix]

Just a guess but I'd say like $40 SMUD and $10 for PGE.

[redhummingbird]

Originally Posted by NineOneSix

Just a guess but I'd say like $40 SMUD and $10 for PGE.

Great--thank you. So maybe it's not way more expensive due to hot summers and some pretty cold nights during the winter.

[caligirlz]

It's really going to depend on the temps you need to be comfortable, and the vintage of the apartment complex. I haven't been to Solvang for a long time, but I believe it gets hotter here in the summer.

Good news, Sac county uses SMUD which costs a lot less than PG&E.

[nightlysparrow]

Cannot imagine why you are considering Solvang if you need medical care. There is only the little 20-bed hospital there (Santa Inez Valley Cottage Hospital). Anything else is 35 miles away (Santa Barbara or Santa Maria).

[redhummingbird]

Originally Posted by caligirlz

It's really going to depend on the temps you need to be comfortable, and the vintage of the apartment complex. I haven't been to Solvang for a long time, but I believe it gets hotter here in the summer.

Good news, Sac county uses SMUD which costs a lot less than PG&E.

I compared temps between Sacramento and Solvang. It does get hotter here during the summer. I'm not liking the long grey winters here but this area has a lot more to offer in terms of services. It's seems to be impossible to find an apartment in my price range that doesn't have roach, crime, and noise issues. I'm on a waitlist at Foothill Farms but that's a bad area.

[redhummingbird]

Originally Posted by nightlysparrow

Cannot imagine why you are considering Solvang if you need medical care. There is only the little 20-bed hospital there (Santa Inez Valley Cottage Hospital). Anything else is 35 miles away (Santa Barbara or Santa Maria).

All the towns with 'affordable' senior housing are in small towns with not great medical care so I'm trying to figure out which needed thing I have to sacrifice.

But that is concerning that medical care is 35 miles away and something to consider. It's tough finding a place that has what I need on the budget I can afford. Totally discouraging.

[caligirlz]

Thre's another lady who posts here, NoMoreSnowforMe, who was in a similar situation. Perhaps she will respond, or maybe you can contact her directly. She lives up north near the Oregon border now.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Twice a year in CA now, you get a credit on your electric bill for around $140. Plus, you'd qualify for HEAP, which will give you another $300 or $400 credit toward your electric bill per year. For me, here on the north coast, that means free electricity year round for me, because my electric bill is only around $35. I don't have a/c and rarely use my heat.

When I lived in Redding where it's ungodly hot, I had HEAP, but would run out of money after about 9 months. Even still, your electric bill probably won't be an issue. It won't get as hot or cold in Sacto as it does in Redding.

What type of medical care do you need that a small local clinic and hospital can't provide?

I think a lot of times people assume a small clinic and hospital won't give good care. That's not been my experience.

There are plenty of affordable places to live in CA. You simply have to be willing to move there.

[redhummingbird]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Twice a year in CA now, you get a credit on your electric bill for around $140. Plus, you'd qualify for HEAP, which will give you another $300 or $400 credit toward your electric bill per year. For me, here on the north coast, that means free electricity year round for me, because my electric bill is only around $35. I don't have a/c and rarely use my heat.

When I lived in Redding where it's ungodly hot, I had HEAP, but would run out of money after about 9 months. Even still, your electric bill probably won't be an issue. It won't get as hot or cold in Sacto as it does in Redding.

What type of medical care do you need that a small local clinic and hospital can't provide?

I think a lot of times people assume a small clinic and hospital won't give good care. That's not been my experience.

There are plenty of affordable places to live in CA. You simply have to be willing to move there.

Thank you NoMoreSnowForMe. You are a wealth of information! I had looked into Redding because they had more affordable apartments but your comments about the heat and it not cooling down at night struck a chord. I can' handle hot weather but not that hot and not when it doesn't cool down at night.

As far as medical care, I have a chronic illness that is not very common. It has been difficult to find doctor's who are familiar with it. Great point that small clinics and hospitals can provide good care. If I moved to Solvang I would have to get Medi-Cal so I could afford the apartment. I've been trying to avoid Medi-Cal because the service providers around here don't have a good reputation.

That's great to know about getting a credit on my electric bill and about HEAP. What a relief.