Given the typically hot heat of Florida, knowing what to expect when you receive your first monthly electricity bill is critical. The good news is that renter utility bills in several Florida metro areas are far cheaper than the national average.
The average monthly utility cost in the United States for essential utilities such as electricity, water, and gas is $170.87. The average cost of basic utilities in Orlando, Tampa, and Miami is broken down below.
Keep in mind that these prices are based on the national average for basic utilities. For garbage collection, the final public utility, you’ll need to consult your local municipality’s regulations and prices.
Many families have begun to include in the cost of cell phone service, cable (or streaming services), and internet subscription as part of their monthly expenses. Most individuals would consider these to be necessities.
These prices differ significantly from one service to the next. They’re also reliant on your unique circumstances, making a precise estimate tough to come by.
Before making your move and choosing a plan, make sure to investigate the top providers in your area so you can have an exact line item in your updated budget.
What are the average utility costs in Florida?
Florida residents pay $459.40 per month on average for utilities such as power, water, cable television, internet, trash/recycling, and natural gas.
Hawaii is the state with the most expensive utilities. The average Hawaiian utility bill is $587.79 per month.
According to the survey, one of the reasons Floridians pay so much is that their air conditioners are on for the majority of the year to combat the heat and humidity.
Setting your thermostat to 78 degrees before leaving the house, according to Florida Power and Light, is a fantastic method to save money on your electric bill.
When you leave the room, remember to switch off the ceiling fan. Before each load, clean the lint filter in your dryer.
FPL claims that its bills will be lower in 2020 as a result of investments in solar and modern plants. The average monthly bill for a residential client will drop by $4.
Is it cheaper to use gas or electricity in Florida?
Even for residents, summers in Florida may be brutal. A seasoned Floridian is rarely seen without a water bottle in hand and the air conditioning on full blast. If you assume summer is a financial drain for locals because of the widespread usage of air conditioning, you’d be surprised to learn that’s not the case. According to a new analysis by WalletHub, Florida has some of the lowest energy costs in the country.
Electric bills, natural gas, car fuel, and monthly home heating oil expenditures were all examined by WalletHub. Every state was given an average in each category, which added up to a total anticipated monthly cost that decided where a state would rank, with the most expensive states at the top.
With an average monthly energy expenditure of $252, Florida was placed 43rd out of 51 states. Connecticut took the top rank for the most costly energy bills, with an average of $372 per month.
Electric bills made for the majority of Florida’s average monthly energy costs, at $158, with petrol for automobiles accounting for around $90.
With July proving to be a scorcher in the Sunshine State, it’s no surprise that residents are turning up the air conditioning and devoting the majority of their expenses on energy.
In Florida, what is the typical monthly energy bill?
The cost of energy in Florida is quite expensive. According to the US Energy Information Administration, residents pay an average monthly electricity price of $126.44. (EIA). The national average is $111.67, thus this is a 13 percent increase.
According to EIA data, Florida people utilize the sixth most kWh per month in the country, at 1,089. This is most likely owing to the hot, humid climate, which forces many households to use air conditioning for the majority of the year.
Are water costs in Florida expensive?
With a few exceptions, the water part of a utility bill is often smaller than power, gas, cable, and internet. In 2019, an average U.S. family of four paid $72.93 a month for water, based on 100 gallons per person per day. The least costly cost of water in any state, according to RENTCaf data, is in Florida, where the average cost of a water bill is $6. Wisconsin and Vermont come in second and third, respectively, with average water costs of $18.
At $95 a month, Alaska has the most costly water expenditures of any state, followed by West Virginia at $72. Florida ($6), Wisconsin ($18), Vermont ($18), Maine ($19), North Carolina ($20), Arkansas ($22), District of Columbia ($22), Mississippi ($23), Nebraska ($23), and South Dakota ($24) are the 10 states with the lowest water prices.
How much does a Florida water bill cost?
Utilities, Inc. of Florida recently raised its rates, and the next part contains comparison data.
The charge structure for Lee County Utilities is rather straightforward. Single-family dwellings pay the most expensive costs, with a monthly base payment of $9.15 for water and $17.50 for sewer. Each has a tiny $3.44 or $3.43 admin fee (the reason for the 1c discrepancy is unknown).
Residential single-family user costs range from $3.27 per 1,000 gallons (1,000-6,000 gallons) to $6.54 for 18,001 gallons and higher. All residential customers pay the same sewage rate ($5.85 per 1,000 gallons).
Cape Coral’s fee structure is likewise rather straightforward. There are two types of rates: commercial rates and rates for single-family homes, duplexes, and multi-family homes.
The size of the meter determines the water rate, which ranges from $17.32 per month for a 5/8″ meter to $1,992.58 for a 10″ meter. Water has a per-1,000-gallon commodity tax that ranges from $3.90 for 0-5,000 gallons to $12.44 for 30,000+ gallons.
According to the meter charges indicated above, sewer prices range from $21.07 to $2,423.02. For metered water consumption, there is a $9.04 per 1,000 gallon sewer commodities tax.
The FGUA tariffs differ depending on where you live. For example, in North Fort Myers, the fees are lower than in neighbouring Lehigh Acres. Consider the following scenario:
- The North Fort Myers rates (as of October 2020) for base facility water services range from $13.09 for a 5/8 x 3/4 meter to $649.15 for a 6 meter. Residential water consumption fees are $7.71 per 1,000 gallons metered.
- Rates for base water services in the Lehigh Acres System range from $15.50 for a 5/8″ x 3/4″ meter to $1,781.16 for a 10″ meter (as of October 2020). Residential consumption fees start at $5.68 per 1,000 gallons for the first 6,999 gallons and rise to $8.50 for the next 18,000 gallons.
In Florida, how much does a light bill cost?
In 2021, Florida Power & Light’s average monthly electricity bill for residential customers was 101.7 dollars for 1,000 kilowatt hours of usage. In comparison to the previous year, this was a rise of nearly 8%.
Is natural gas in Florida expensive?
Basic information. The current Florida Natural Gas Residential Price is 21.38, down from 21.66 a year ago. This is a -1.29 percent decrease from a year earlier.
Is it true that gas costs more than electricity?
On the surface, the cost of gas vs. electric heating appears to be significantly lower. A single kilowatt-hour (kWh) of gas costs roughly 4.65p, whereas a kWh of electricity costs more than 20p on average. However, this does not imply that electric heating costs four times as much as gas!
So, is electric or gas heat cheaper?
Using off-peak electricity, traditional electric heating can be twice as expensive as gas heating.
Electric heaters are about 100 percent efficient, which is why they are so popular. In other words, they convert all of the electricity they utilize into heat. A gas or oil-fired central heating system is not the same. Even a boiler with an A rating wastes roughly 10% of the energy in its fuel. It’s possible that some heat is lost through the piping. The boiler and its pumps require only a tiny amount of electricity to operate.
How can you make your electric heating system more cost-effective?
Electric heating systems that are low-cost can typically be timed to take advantage of off-peak tariffs as well. When the average cost of 1kWh of power is less than 10p, it is considered off-peak. You can also get smart controllers for your home’s heating that you can operate from your phone. You don’t even have to be home to turn it on or off, or to set a timer for it to heat your home when you return.
Is it more cost-effective to heat with gas or electricity?
Is it possible that your ancient furnace is nearing the end of its useful life? You may have a choice between gas and electric heat if it’s time to upgrade your heating system. Before making a final decision, property owners should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both heating options.
- Natural gas is much less expensive to run than electricity almost everywhere in the country. A gas furnace can save you money in the long term if you live in a cold region and use your heater frequently during the winter.
- Faster heating: Because the gas furnace produces maximum heat as soon as the burners start running, it heats up the home faster than electric heat.
- Gas furnaces are more expensive to buy upfront than electric furnaces, and installation is more difficult due to venting restrictions. As a result, a gas furnace costs more up front than an electric furnace.
- Gas furnaces have a shorter life expectancy than electric furnaces, lasting 10 to 20 years on average.
- More maintenance requirements: Because gas furnaces use combustible fuel, they must be serviced once a year to ensure safe and effective performance. Avoiding routine maintenance could put your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Lower initial investment: For some homeowners, the ability to install a furnace for less money makes electric heat enticing. However, the initial savings are only worthwhile if you live in a warm region and don’t use your furnace frequently.
- Electric furnaces don’t need to vent to the outside, so they may be installed just about anyplace. The installation is quick and painless, creating minimal inconvenience to your home or everyday routine.
- While it’s still vital to get an electric furnace examined once a year, there’s less of a chance that a malfunction could endanger your family’s health.
- Greater lifetime cost: While some electric furnaces advertise near-100 percent efficiency, electric heat is more expensive than gas heat due to the higher cost of energy. Even when considering the longer lifespan of an electric furnace, the lifetime cost of an electric furnace is more than a gas furnace running under the same conditions.
- Slower heating: Before an electric furnace can begin to warm your home, it must first power up the heating element. This means that the consequences of raising the thermostat will take longer to manifest.
If you live in a colder climate and rely on your furnace for indoor comfort for several months of the year, gas heat is the way to go. Maintenance maintains the safety of your family and extends the life of your heater.
If you reside in a hotter environment or in a region where gas heat isn’t available, electric heat is the best option. You won’t have to think about your heater much because it requires little maintenance and has a long lifespan. When electricity is your only choice, consider an electric heat pump, which can also serve as an air conditioner in the summer.