Utility Question

[Chicago526]

Water Bill $22 a month, slightly higher in the summer when we water the lawn.

Electricity $50 to $75, except when we run the a/c, then higher. I don't have a summer number for you, we moved in Aug of '05 and we never ran it.

Gas...we've gotten two winter bills since we moved in, $275 and $200. Non-winter my guess is about $20 to $40 a month.

Garbage...city picks it up, we don't pay.

This is for a 1600 sqft two story house. Little to no insulation (built in '47, plaster walls). We're in Elgin, IL.

 

[dizagain]

Grayslake, Illinois here...2300 sq ft home

Gas...$280 in December, about $40 in summer
Electricity...$60, haven't lived here in summer yet so don't know how much ac we'll use
Water/garbage...$50-$70 depending on sprinkler use

In the Dallas, TX area...1800 sq ft home

Gas...$20-40 year-round
Electricity...$275 in summer...$60 in winter
Water/garbage...$60-80 depending on sprinkler use

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Breavrd County, Florida - 1800 square foot home.

Electricity: Winter/$65 per month. Summer/$120 per month. However Florida Power and Light just upped their charges so add about another $20 to those amounts.

Water: $43 a month

Gas: $0. No gas

Garbage pick-up/Recycling: I don't know off hand because it is billed with our yearly property taxes.

 

[icebrat001]

I know you have posted you are moving to Tampa. If you live within the city limits of Tampa, your garbage and water is billed together. We have three people in our family, our water/garbage bill averages $45/month. Other Tampa prices:

Electricity for 1045 sq ft home - average $120/month
Gas - $0 - heat and air is usually electric in Florida

Thanks

 

[Amlee]

about 600 to 700 sq ft. Alabama


Power, Water, Sewer, Garbage runs between 90 to 120 a month.

Gas runs about 100 a month.

 

[CheshireVal]

We have a 1200 sq. foot apartment.

Water-- $40 month
Gas (water, heat) -- $35 month (summer), $60 month (winter)
Electricity -- $120 month (summer) $40 month (winter)
Garbage -- we're not charged for that!

 

[Brianne]

Tampa (Riverview area)--approx 2200 sq ft

Electric--averages $175/mo (some utilities can put you on an averaging plan after the first year, which I do recommend, btw!)
Gas--$60/mo (we're one of the few areas out here with gas service)
Water--$60/mo (we don't water our lawn--Bahia goes dormant, but comes back with summer rains)

No trash bill--that one really confused me when we moved here. I'm guessing it's covered by taxes because it's not listed on the water/sewer bill.

If you are considering a move to the Tampa area, there's a couple other bills you might want to budget in: lawn care & pest control. If you buy a house with a yard, keep in mind you'll be mowing weekly during the summer months, in the humidity & bugs. Grass grows like you wouldn't believe out here. DH lasted a couple weeks before breaking down & agreeing to getting a service---and every week this past summer, he was thanking me for insisting on it.

So, to break down those numbers:

Lawn service--$75/mo (we went with the company that a lot of our neighbors use, and ended up with a discount because of it)
Pest Control--$190/quarter (we have pest control tubes built into the house, which many newer homes seem to have out here & it has worked!)

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Mississippi here...3500 square feet.

Garbage pickup: $10.40
Electricity/Gas: $350-$400/month (I averaged these because our gas bill is higher in the winter...electric is higher in the summer)
Water: $35-$40
Cable/Internet: $98 for basic cable and high-speed internet
Telephone: $70/month

The utilities don't necessarily kill us--it's the mortgage payment!

 

[thinkerbell]

SC--1330sq. ft. townhome (middle)

Water Bill? ~$90 quarter
Electricity? avg. about $75/ month
Gas? $0
Garbage? included in regime fee

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I'm curious as to what everyone pays for their utilities, an average or range is fine if you don't want to disclose it. Just trying to get a figure. Please give the size of your house, average usage amounts and what state and city you are from.

My house is a four bedroom, 2300 square foot, all brick home. I'm in a suburb of Houston, Texas and I work from home. Not sure of the exact usage amounts, but I can say that I like it kept very comfortable in the house.

Water Bill?

Around $80 in the summer and $30 in the cooler seasons

Electricity?

Get ready for this one... around $500 in the summer and around $200 in the cooler seasons. It's been outrageous this year!

Gas?

Another one that has me ticked... it used to be about $100 in the winter and $25 in the summer, but I just paid a $150 natural gas bill and we've had an extremely mild winter!

Garbage?

My garbage is included in my water bill. Some people have it included in your HOA fees. Check with your realtor. Maybe you'll luck out and not have that bill at all.

 

[inaminute]

Connecticut, 2500 sq. ft, 4 BR, 2.5 Bath

Water Bill? Between $20-$25/month

Electricity? Just went up to about $150 in the winter; We're expecting to pay around $250-$300 in the summer

Garbage? Included in our ridiculously high taxes. Twice a week pick up. To have bulky items removed is $25.00 per visit.