Monthly electricity price per square foot
Electricity bills can vary substantially from the size of your home. It is therefore useful to look at how much each square foot costs you in electricity.
Here is the monthly electricity bill for typical US homes:
| Size of household | Average electricity monthly expense (2009 EIA data) | Per square foot |
|---|---|---|
| US average: 1971 sq ft | $112 | ¢6 |
| Fewer than 500 sq ft | $52 | above ¢10 |
| 500 – 1000 sq ft | $75 | ~ ¢10 |
| 1000 – 1500 sq ft | $100 | ~ ¢8 |
| 1500 – 2000 sq ft | $120 | ~ ¢7 |
| 2000 – 2500 sq ft | $124 | ~ ¢6 |
| 2500 – 3000 sq ft | $130 | ~ ¢5 |
| 3000 – 3500 sq ft | $135 | ~ ¢4 |
| 3500 – 4000 sq ft | $147 | ~ ¢4 |
| 4000 sq ft or more | $174 | under ¢4 |
To estimate your own expenses per square foot, take your last monthly electric bill, and divide it by the surface of your home. If you are paying more than what is shown in this graph, you should consider switching suppliers to save on your energy bill.
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The typical U.S. family spends $2,060 on average per year for home utility bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Yet what you pay depends on several factors, including the size and quality of your living space, the surrounding climate, and your usage patterns. For example, areas prone to extremes in temperature can lead to higher usage of air conditioning and heating systems. Areas, where transportation and infrastructure costs are higher, can see increases in utility prices, too.
Table of Contents
What are utilities?
Utilities fall into six categories:
If you’re moving into a new place, you can sometimes find out the average cost of utilities in that area by asking a landlord, apartment manager, or realtor.
If you’re renting, the landlord or manager may understand utility costs from other residents or may be able to connect you with someone currently living there. If you’re buying a home, a realtor should be able to provide you with copies of the current homeowner’s utility bills.
What impacts the cost of utilities?
These factors can affect the average household utility cost:
Where you live: If you’re in a temperate climate, utilities won’t cost as much because there’s less need for constant heating in winter and air conditioning in summer.
Your use of resources: Your average utility cost depends on your use of electricity and gas. If you leave the thermostat at 72 degrees in winter, you’ll pay more than you will if you set it at 68 degrees. If you lower the heat when you’re not home, you’ll also pay less.
Installing a smart thermostat in your home is one convenient way to manage your utility usage. Many of these smartphone-controlled devices let you view your weekly or monthly usage history, which gives you a clearer picture of how often your heating and cooling systems are turning on and off. This helps you see opportunities to raise or lower your thermostat at certain times of day – or turn the system off completely – to save money.
How energy efficient your home is: Insulation and windows make a big difference in the average utilities cost in a home. Energy can easily escape if there’s no insulation or properly installed windows to protect that air transfer. Old, single-pane windows can also be drafty and contribute to heat loss.
Size of your home: Heating, cooling and lighting a home that’s 2,500 square feet will cost more than a home that’s 1,400 square feet. It’s also important to consider the home’s layout. For example, spaces with open floor plans generally cost more to heat and cool than homes that are more compartmentalized with separated areas. In these homes, it’s often possible to shut vents or doors when the rooms aren’t in use and don’t require heating or cooling.
Non-energy-related utilities and their costs
Of course, there’s more to utility costs than just energy. How much are utilities in non-energy areas?
How to save money on utilities
The U.S. Department of Energy offers tips about ways to save on energy costs. Consider the following:
Appliances: About 13% of a home’s energy costs come from appliances. When buying new models, look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star appliances meet or exceed the federal minimum standards for energy efficiency. For example, a new Energy Star-labeled refrigerator uses at least 15% less energy than one without the label and 40% less than models sold in 2001. Energy Star appliances show their annual energy consumption on their packaging, which lets you compare appliance energy costs.
Windows: Leaky or old windows can account for 10%-25% of heating costs due to warm air escaping. Consider replacing windows with double-pane windows or installing storm windows in winter.
Lighting: Lighting accounts for about 12% of a home’s energy budget, so changing to energy-efficient bulbs and remembering to turn lights off when they’re not in use can save money. Switching to smart bulbs is another option that can save on energy costs. If you leave home and forget to turn lights off, simply use your smartphone to shut down the smart bulbs remotely so they don’t run for the duration of your absence.
Knowing average household utility costs can help you reduce your use of energy and save money. Of course, there are other factors that go into homeownership and maintenance. Learn about the cost of homeowner’s insurance and how you can reduce your premium with Nationwide discounts on home insurance.