Do You Have To Pay Light Bill In Apartment? The Complete Rundown

Moving into your first apartment can be an exciting yet daunting experience. As a new renter, you likely have many questions swirling around – like what expenses are included in your monthly rent vs. what bills you’ll need to pay separately. One area that often causes confusion is utilities, especially electricity and lighting. So do renters need to pay for their own electric and light bills or are they bundled into the rent?

The straightforward answer is – it depends on your specific rental agreement. Some landlords roll utilities like power into the monthly rate, while others split it out as a separate tenant responsibility. Below we’ll break down the most common scenarios for who foots the bill for electricity in apartments, typical costs, and tips for saving on your lighting expenses.

Three Main Ways Electricity Bills Are Handled in Rentals

When you sign a lease, here are the main options for who ends up paying for the electric:

• Option 1 Electricity included in rent – Some apartments bundle the cost of power into the monthly rental amount. This means you don’t have to think about a separate electric bill – lighting HVAC, appliances are covered. This is more common in subsidized housing.

• Option 2: Separate electricity billing – In most standard apartments, the utility company bills you directly each month for electricity based on metered usage, just like homeowners. The landlord isn’t involved.

• Option 3 Rent + electricity fee – In some cases electricity is separate but the landlord marks up the cost and charges an “electricity fee” along with rent. For example $1000 rent + $150 electricity fee.

Average Electric Bill in an Apartment

If you need to budget for electricity separately, an important question is – how much should you expect to pay? Costs can vary significantly based on location, unit size, your usage and other factors. But in general:

• Studio apartment – $30 to $70 per month
• 1 bedroom apartment – $50 to $100 per month
• 2 bedroom apartment – $75 to $150 per month
• 3 bedroom apartment – $100 to $200 per month

Of course, your actual costs depend on things like:

• Local utility rates
• Square footage of apartment
• Energy efficiency of appliances/fixtures
• Number of occupants
• Your usage habits – A/C, lights, electronics, etc.

On the low end, a single tenant in a small, efficient unit may only spend $30-50. But a larger family keeping the A/C blasting could hit $200+.

The most accurate way to estimate bills is to ask the landlord for the previous tenant’s average monthly costs. This will give you an idea of real electricity expenses in that exact unit. You can also use sites like electricitylocal.com to calculate estimated costs based on projected usage.

Who Provides Light Bulbs in Rental Units?

Light bulb responsibilities are another area of confusion in rentals The typical policy is

• Tenants provide: Basic bulbs for fixtures inside the unit – overhead lights, lamps, vanity lights, etc. These are considered basic supplies you should own.

• Landlords provide: Permanent fixture bulbs that only they can change – fluorescent tubes, high ceilings, common area bulbs.

Of course, check your specific lease, as some landlords provide all bulbs. But in general, expect to purchase replacement bulbs other than hard-to-reach permanent fixtures.

Tips to Reduce Electricity and Lighting Costs

If you want to minimize energy bills, here are some handy tips:

• Use LED bulbs – They consume far less power than incandescents.

• Open blinds during the day – Rely on natural light instead of artificial lighting.

• Enable smart power strips – These eliminate standby power draw of electronics.

• Unplug chargers when not in use – They still consume energy even when idle.

• Use fans to supplement AC – Run ceiling fans on high before lowering the thermostat.

• Change AC filters monthly – Dirty filters make the system work harder.

• Set thermostat higher – Try keeping it around 78°F when home to reduce runtime.

• Close windows and doors – Avoid cooled air escaping outside.

Following some of these tips can save renters $10-$25 per month on electric bills, which adds up to over $100 per year!

Setting Up Electric Service in Your Name

If your rental requires separate electric billing, you’ll need to establish service under your name with the utility provider. Here are the basic steps:

• Pick a service start date shortly before your move-in when you want power active.

• Contact the electric company covering your area to open a new account.

• Provide them with your personal details like name, contact info, SSN for credit check.

• Give them the exact address of the rental unit.

• Submit any required deposit, especially if you have no existing credit history.

• Schedule any required technical installation or meter activation.

• Provide landlord contact details for tenancy verification.

Once set up, the electricity should stay in your name throughout your lease term. Just remember to cancel service when you move out to avoid liability for future tenant’s usage.

The Bottom Line

To recap, the large majority of apartments require you to pay electricity bills separately, including powering lights. But always verify with each landlord, as utilities can be included in some situations. Follow the tips above to control energy costs. With the right preparation, you can ensure utility bills don’t negatively impact your monthly budget as a new renter.