How do utilities cost

The Number of Roommates: This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you have multiple roommates, that means you're using more lights and appliances, and more phones are being charged. Prepare for your electricity bill to be significantly higher if you live with roommates. The best way to save money on your electricity bill is to target habits and appliances that drive costs up. Here are some of the biggest electricity drainers and how to reduce their use.

The gas bill can be a bit tricky. Hot water, heating, and your stove could all impact your gas bill. Natural gas appliances tend to be cheaper than their electric counterparts, something to consider while apartment hunting. Your gas bill and electric bill will typically be lumped together. When it comes to gas use, heating and cooling are going to be the primary culprits of a high gas bill. Water use and cost is measured per 1, gallons.

Additionally, the average American is estimated to use 82 gallons of water a day at home. Water is a precious resource that most tend to take for granted due to its convenience. Careless water usage can not only affect your water bill, but it can have detrimental effects on the environment, causing groundwater tables to drop and decreasing water accessibility to wildlife.

To take a stand for the environment and your wallet! Here's how you can reduce your water usage. Another apartment essential that people may overlook is the internet bill.

However, before choosing your internet service plan, think about your usage. If you just casually browse the web or social media, you can make do with a cheaper plan. Speeds of about Mbps should be adequate for your usage. If your internet connection is spotty, look into Wi-Fi extenders. These can provide you with a more steady connection without you having to upgrade your plan.

Saving money on your internet bill is difficult, but possible. You will have to put in a little work, though. Here are a few obscure ways to save big on your internet bill! Electricity, gas, water, and internet cover the main essential utilities. However, there are a few other bills you'll want to consider. Cable is not as necessary as it once was as there are more streaming alternatives available than ever before.

This is a completely optional expense. Many people can get by without paying for cable. The number of cord-cutters those who cancel their cable services, due to less expensive Internet-based options in the US is expected to grow to Most people opt for more premium packages. Let's face it. You've probably ditched cable TV for a variety of services years ago. These services offer a ton of variety and often have full seasons of shows that you may watch on cable.

Here's a look at some popular streaming service options:. Also, look into bundle packages. Many landlords build the cost of the water and sewage bill into the monthly rent, rather than charging the tenants monthly for this utility. Most tenants set up their electricity with the local electric company and pay their electric bills.

Your electricity bill can vary according to many factors—most importantly, your usage of appliances, lightbulbs, electric heating and cooling systems, and electronics.

If you have a window or portable air conditioning unit or a space heater, your electric bill is likely to be higher during the months that see extreme weather. But it can also be affected by inefficient insulation and appliances, so make sure you consult your property owner if you suspect this is the case in your unit. While all homes have electricity, not all have gas.

Gas might be used to run your water heater or heat your home as well as power a gas stovetop. Like electricity, gas is provided by your local natural gas service and often billed directly to the tenant as usage can vary widely based on household habits, climate, and appliance efficiency. Tenants are usually responsible for paying for at least some utilities, but there are several different possible arrangements for utility costs, including:. Utilities are included in your rent. The landlord pays for some utilities, like water and trash, and you pay for others, like electricity and gas.

Internet, cable, and phone service are also considered utilities, but these are always your responsibility. The exception to this rule of thumb is subletting —in this case, the master lease holder may already have internet and cable in place, and invoice the subletter monthly to cover the bill.

The following factors can affect your utilities cost:. Apartment size —how many square feet are you powering, heating, and cooling? Appliances —dishwashers and in-unit laundry are luxurious, but they will also increase your utility cost. Most municipal water departments will provide this information to you. Your water bill is a combination of fixed fees, or facility and sewer charges, variable charges and the water volume. States with the least expensive water prices are Florida, Wisconsin, Vermont and Maine.

Those with the most expensive costs include West Virginia, Connecticut and California. According to the Energy Information Administration , the average cost of electricity in the United States is Just like water costs, electricity costs vary from state to state.

Generally, you are paying to build, finance, maintain and operate the plant where you purchase your electricity from. If you pay attention, the cost of fuel in your area will correlate with the cost of your electric bill.

In states where fuel prices are high — such as Hawaii and New York — your electric bill will be much higher than in places where fuel prices are lower, like Idaho and North Dakota. Other factors that can determine your electric bill cost include the time of the year, market changes and disruptions in how much fuel is on hand. A smart thermostat can learn your household patterns and adjust temperatures based on when your home is active or unoccupied. This will help you save on your heating and cooling bills.

Keeping your household appliances in top condition is also an important factor in controlling utility costs. With a recycling service, you normally have one paper bin and one metal and plastic bin. If you have more recycling than this every week, you can ask for additional bins, which will raise your monthly fee.

Some trash services charge by the month, while others charge quarterly. Some may even expect you to pay for the service in advance. Factors that can affect your trash and recycling costs include where you live, the size of your container, local taxes and dumping charges.

Your bill includes delivery costs and an interim rate adjustment.