The average monthly electric bill for residential properties in Hawaii was $203.15, the highest in the nation for 2012, according to recently released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The average residential electric bill, by contrast, in New Mexico was $74.62, the lowest in the nation. In the contiguous United States, the South Atlantic region had the highest average monthly electric bill at $122.71, while the Pacific region (California, Oregon, and Washington) had the lowest.
TRUE R FALSE? 9 out of 10 buyer will pay 2 -3% more 4 home w/energy-efficient features & permanently lower power bill pic.twitter.com/H0QB2q1u8N
— Gary Smith (@MSHomeInspector) December 18, 2013
In 2012, the state with highest average monthly consumption was Louisiana at 1,254 kilowatt hours. The state with the lowest average monthly consumption was Maine at 531 kilowatt hours. The New England region had the lowest average monthly consumption. According to the EIA, over 80% of the homes in the Northeast rely on heating oil for space heating instead of electricity.
The electric bill is a large part of the residential energy expenditures. Understanding differences in electric consumption and price by state is useful for home builders as energy efficiency is becoming a more desired feature. However, homeowners do expect a reasonable period of payback. A recent NAHB study examining home buyer preferences found that nine out of ten buyers would pay a 2 percent to 3 percent premium for a home with energy-efficient features and permanently lower utility bills. Homeowners in states with higher electrical prices are more likely to be interested in residential power production, like solar.
Source: NAHB – DEPT ENERGY
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