What do you pay for utilities in your house?

[disneysteve]

An example was our Gas bill averaged out at $87 a month one year and they gave the opportunity to sign up for winterguard the next year which I understand would help us budget in the winter but the monthly bill was going to be around $112.

I don't know if all companies are the same, but with PSE&G, I called and asked them to lower the budgeted amount because I thought it was too high based on our average usage. One year, we ended the billing year a couple hundred under budget and they were going to increase the amount for the next year. I just called and they lowered it to what I felt was reasonable. So if my average was $87, I would just request a monthly bill of $90 perhaps.

[khilleme]

Prices

Electric 75
Gas 150
Garbage 20
City Utilities 45

[kilapapipa]

I don't know if all companies are the same, but with PSE&G, I called and asked them to lower the budgeted amount because I thought it was too high based on our average usage. One year, we ended the billing year a couple hundred under budget and they were going to increase the amount for the next year. I just called and they lowered it to what I felt was reasonable. So if my average was $87, I would just request a monthly bill of $90 perhaps.

I would like your set up. Problem here is the winterguard amount is set by the gas company based on your usage from the year before and there is no "get even" clause at the end of the year as I think you are able to do. So, if I choose their option and the price of gas goes down or the temp goes up or I use my fireplace more, I still pay the monthly amount. I guess budget billing would be more like what you explained where you set the budget amount. Hope this makes sense.

[disneysteve]

I would like your set up. Problem here is the winterguard amount is set by the gas company based on your usage from the year before and there is no "get even" clause at the end of the year

That's lousy. I don't know why anyone would take that plan. Yes, our last month is a balance month. If you are under budget, you get a credit. If you are over budget, you pay the difference. But in the end, you only pay for your actual usage.

[bjl584]

Gas = $63
Electric = $35
Water = $4.26

all are monthly

[LuxLiving]

kilapapia - could YOU average your payments out and put it monthly into your own escrowed high yield savings account? Then when winter snow flies and your bill is high, you pull it out of your savings and pay it. Not as easy as having them budget it for you, however, it does keep them from overestimating it.

Even so, you could designate an account to be automatically filled each month for utilities and then have auto-pays on utilities come directly from it. Easy.

[mom-from-missouri]

We are a farm, and have 2 meters (one for the house, one for the barn) on everything, but here are the totals:

Electric between $140 and $300 --depends on the weather-if we have to run heat lamps and stock heaters or AC in the house

Water-between $65-$110--again depends on the weather-if we have to fill stock tanks or not.

No sewer-we have a septic tank and evap. pond

Propane--we fill as we go along-prices vary each fill.

[kilapapipa]

kilapapia - could YOU average your payments out and put it monthly into your own escrowed high yield savings account? Then when winter snow flies and your bill is high, you pull it out of your savings and pay it. Not as easy as having them budget it for you, however, it does keep them from overestimating it.

Even so, you could designate an account to be automatically filled each month for utilities and then have auto-pays on utilities come directly from it. Easy.

I could probably do that. Thanks for the suggestion.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

It's going to be 26 tomorrow, what is going on. I haven't turned the heat off yet. I leave it at 50, so it's not like the house is warm. But after last year's fiasco of pipes bursting, I can't take the same chances.

[stressedmama]

In Missoui, for a 1500 sq ft house our monthly utilities typically run...

Electric & Gas - $130
Water - $20
Sewer - $15
Trash - $16

Go to open houses and ask the listing agents what the utilities run in the properties you are considering buying. Most will get copies of bills from their sellers and be able to give you a fairly good estimate of what to expect.

[sagegirl]

Here in my area of Texas we pay:
Water $70 (includes sewer, trash, and recycling)
Electric $225 (all electric 1986 sq ft two story)
No gas/oil
We could reduce our electric if/when we upgrade to more energy efficient appliances. Solar panels are another dream for us.

[Dingobiscuit]

In Missoui, for a 1500 sq ft house our monthly utilities typically run...

Electric & Gas - $130
Water - $20
Sewer - $15
Trash - $16

Go to open houses and ask the listing agents what the utilities run in the properties you are considering buying. Most will get copies of bills from their sellers and be able to give you a fairly good estimate of what to expect.

Man, I wish my electric bill was as low as you guys. $200-450 month for 2400 sq ft.

[StealLove]

How many of you guys use an Oil heating solution. I just want to know what your cost is these days. Oil heat has gotten cheaper since back in the 80s when I was a kid. My parents are thinking of going back to it and with all the new equipment available they'll be able to save so money. So does anyone have some type of oil heat? and how much do you pay?

[stressedmama]

Man, I wish my electric bill was as low as you guys. $200-450 month for 2400 sq ft.

It helps that we have a programmable thermostat and we replaced all our windows 2 years ago. Plus during the summer we keep our house 76 - 78 degrees. I like to be warm and toasty! During Dec - Feb and July - August our electric and gas together run more like $200. However, during the spring and fall our gas/electric runs more around $80 - $100. It ave. about $130 a month (if I were to budget bill).

[tigger98]

kork13

We are located about 2 hours from PC, but we have the same parent company for electricity. We are a family of 4 adults who live in a 1500 sq ft total electric house. Our electric bill averages $140 during the winter and about $170 during the summer.