Detroit Business Daily

How much should I expect to pay for gas and electric in Detroit?

I'm moving into a three bedroom, two story house in Detroit with two other girls. Water is included but gas and electric are not. How much can we expect to add to our rent every month? We are all students and work so we won't be there during most of the day. I know it depends on a lot, but a rough estimate would be appreciated! Thanks!

Public Comments

1. i know the gas is way over 3.50 so be careful. its going to get higher. you need to nothave heat on unless you all are home that is way i would work it i would think for month it would be over 500 or more.
2. 165 a month
3. I live just outside of Detroit, but use Detroit utilities. It's just me and my husband, who travels a lot. My house, at 1800 sq. ft., may be a bit smaller than yours and is only 10 years old with good insulation. So, you're right, "it depends on a lot". But to give you an idea... Your electric is charged per KWH (kilowatt hour). Right now, in the "D" it's about 11 cents per kilowatt hour. I used 413 KWHs in March and my electric bill was $46.00. Of course, once I start to use my air conditioner, that will go way up. Last Summer my electric bills ran from $60-$80 (I keep it set real high when I'm at work). So the faster that dial on the meter spins, the more you pay. My gas bills were around $1.10 per CCF. In March my gas bill was $120.00. Many of my friends' bills were over $300.00 - houses not as well insulated. (we had this same discussion at work). Though you won't be using the furnace in the Summer, the 3 of you will be using hot water (usually heated with gas). Last Summer my gas bills were only around $30.00 a month. So "dial down" and conserve the best you can and limit your runs to Starbucks *!* Be safe in Detroit!
4. Dunno your square footage, but when I lived in an apartment, mine was 650. The electricity was $40 monthly, and the heat/gas were about $80. They stayed the same throughout the year because the air conditioner took the place of the heat. It mostly depends on the size of your house, but you shouldn't be paying more than I did singularly.
5. It really matters on size and insulation of your home. I've heard of some outrageous gas costs, especially with 2 story homes. You should be able to check with DTE when you sign up to see what the prior bills have been. In the future, you may want to ask about that prior to signing a lease because if it is a substantial amount, it may have been a factor in your decision to live there...