Loading…
Estimate utility costs from usage and rates for electricity, gas, water — see monthly and yearly totals.
Estimate utility costs from usage and rates for electricity, gas, water — see monthly and yearly totals.
Enter values above and click Calculate — results will appear here with the formula explained.
Utility totals stack three independent meters: electricity (kWh × rate, typically $0.10–0.30/kWh by state), gas (therms × $1–2), and water/sewer/trash (usually flat $50–120). A 900 kWh + 30 therm + $80 water household runs $135 + $36 + $80 = $251 monthly, $3,012 yearly — with electricity dominating two-thirds of the bill.
Seasonality swings each line opposite directions: winter gas peaks (heating), summer electric peaks (cooling), shoulder months dip 30–40% below extremes. Budget on 12-month averages from actual bills, not any single month — and level-billing plans smooth cash flow without changing totals.
Rate structures punish the uninformed: tiered rates (baseline cheap, excess 2×), time-of-use plans (peak 4–9pm costs 2–3× off-peak), demand charges (commercial), and delivery-vs-supply splits (Northeast bills show both). Pull the per-kWh and per-therm all-in rates from a real bill, not the advertised generation rate — delivery often doubles it.
Highest-ROI cuts ranked: LED swap ($50–100/year for $30 of bulbs), smart thermostat with setbacks ($100–180/year), water heater 120°F + insulation blanket, air-sealing and attic insulation (10–20% heating/cooling), heat-pump water heater at replacement time, and low-flow fixtures cutting hot-water energy. Behavior (thermostat discipline, cold laundry) is free and worth 5–10% alone.
Solar and electrification math: rooftop solar at $2.50–3.50/watt pays back in 6–10 years where rates exceed $0.20/kWh, faster with net metering; heat pumps beat gas furnaces on operating cost where electricity is cheap and winters mild. Model 25-year totals, not payback alone — panels degrade ~0.5%/year while utility rates rise 2–4%.
Renters aren't powerless: portable LED, smart plugs killing vampire loads (5–10% of residential use), window film, thermostat negotiation with landlords for smart upgrades, and choosing TOU plans where offered. Document baseline usage before and after each change — measured savings beat assumed ones.
Estimate utility costs from usage and rates for electricity, gas, water — see monthly and yearly totals. Formula: Electric = kWh*rate. Example: With 900 kWh at $0.15 ($135), 30 therms at $1.20 ($36), $80 water: total $251/month, $3,012/year.
Utility totals stack three independent meters: electricity (kWh × rate, typically $0.10–0.30/kWh by state), gas (therms × $1–2), and water/sewer/trash (usually flat $50–120). A 900 kWh + 30 therm + $80 water household runs $135 + $36 + $80 = $251 monthly, $3,012 yearly — with electricity dominating two-thirds of the bill.
Seasonality swings each line opposite directions: winter gas peaks (heating), summer electric peaks (cooling), shoulder months dip 30–40% below extremes. Budget on 12-month averages from actual bills, not any single month — and level-billing plans smooth cash flow without changing totals.
Rate structures punish the uninformed: tiered rates (baseline cheap, excess 2×), time-of-use plans (peak 4–9pm costs 2–3× off-peak), demand charges (commercial), and delivery-vs-supply splits (Northeast bills show both). Pull the per-kWh and per-therm all-in rates from a real bill, not the advertised generation rate — delivery often doubles it.
Highest-ROI cuts ranked: LED swap ($50–100/year for $30 of bulbs), smart thermostat with setbacks ($100–180/year), water heater 120°F + insulation blanket, air-sealing and attic insulation (10–20% heating/cooling), heat-pump water heater at replacement time, and low-flow fixtures cutting hot-water energy. Behavior (thermostat discipline, cold laundry) is free and worth 5–10% alone.
Solar and electrification math: rooftop solar at $2.50–3.50/watt pays back in 6–10 years where rates exceed $0.20/kWh, faster with net metering; heat pumps beat gas furnaces on operating cost where electricity is cheap and winters mild. Model 25-year totals, not payback alone — panels degrade ~0.5%/year while utility rates rise 2–4%.
Renters aren't powerless: portable LED, smart plugs killing vampire loads (5–10% of residential use), window film, thermostat negotiation with landlords for smart upgrades, and choosing TOU plans where offered. Document baseline usage before and after each change — measured savings beat assumed ones.
With 900 kWh at $0.15 ($135), 30 therms at $1.20 ($36), $80 water: total $251/month, $3,012/year. Switching to time-of-use and shifting laundry/dishwasher off-peak can shave 10–15% ($300–450/year) with zero lifestyle change.
Formulas are standard public references (see our methodology). External standards are cited in the text where they apply.
Last reviewed: September 2026 · Report an error