How to Estimate the Utility Cost for a New House
When you are considering a new house for purchase there is a lot of information that you should obtain. One such piece of information is an estimate of what you will pay in utility costs once you own the house. This can include the cost of gas, water and electricity. There are some relatively easy ways to find information that will give you a reasonable idea of what you will pay.
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Instructions
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Obtain a cost list. Ask your Realtor to contact the seller's Realtor and have them prepare a list of the utility costs of the home for the past 12 months. If the home is for sale by owner, ask the seller for a 12-month list of utility costs.
Ask for a 12-moth list of utility costs as a condition of closing if one has not been provided by then. -
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Go to the Online Usage Calculator provide by Consumers Power Inc.
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Select the appropriate quantity for each electrical item that is listed from the drop down next to each item. The quantity is the number of items that you may have or plan to use in the home.
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Click the "Calculate" button to see an estimate of the monthly electrical costs for the home.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact the power company and ask them for the average cost per year for the property.
The utility costs for a home can vary from year to year depending on factors such as usage and the type of weather in a particular season.
Some homes may receive gas from one company and the water and electricity from another.
A usage calculator will only provide a rough estimate for the average power usage and costs per year.
