November 8, 2007
Heating Bill In Beijing
Another slice of life post. Here’s our heating bill for the 2007-08 season. They turn on the heat on November 15th and turn it off on March 15th. There’s no way to regulate it and you pay a flat fee (US$3.22 per square meter) based on the size of your apartment. Using the current exchange rate of around 7.45, the total comes to US$663.40 for four months of heat. How does this compare with your winter heating bill?
November 8th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
I live in a mild climate paradise - the heating unit kicks on maybe 5 times a year for an hour or two at most. The AC about the same.
Love the hand written heating bill.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
We have electric Base board heating, no gas to our house.
Electric Charges Oct 05 to Nov 06 $244.54
Equal Payment Installment $185.00
November 8th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Glenn…those numbers don’t jive. You must mean $2,244.54 as 12 times 185 is close to that.
I would estimate my gas bill (includes hot water and clothes dryer) is about $400 for that time period, Nov-Mar.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
oh, that is confusing, 05 and 06 are days not years. $244.54 is for one month, summer is lower, we pay 185 each month and they give or take at the end of the year.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
@CapGain: I forgot that you’re in the Caribbean! ;-)
@Glenn @ groucho: Where are you guys located (approximately)? Looks like $100-$200 a month, but I assume you’re not in the Third World.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
in the depths of winter our gas bill is $200+ per month, and thats just to keep the indoor temp at a still chilly 67 or so. Ning complains that it was warmer in china than seattle, inside our Chaoyang apt it was.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
roy: The Chaoyang apt would be even hotter with young N. bustling around — not to mention the flaming tempers of her parents. ;-)
November 8th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
So that is about same, BJ and US? Also the community management fee is about the same.
November 8th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
ucla: That’s what I’m trying to figure out… be nice if I could collect winter heating bills from all my dozen readers scattered around the world.
November 8th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Midwest. we have a relatively large house with two toddlers. our ideal Thermostat setting changes with my (Chinese) wife’s temperament. Last winter the average monthly gas bill (includes laundry, oven, fireplace, …) was around $500/month.
November 8th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I don’t have a heating bill….We live in the tropics in Mexico ;). Air conditioning we use sparingly, 60 USD per month in summer season (620 pesos), July-October. We live in a large condo.
November 8th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
@Born2: $500 a month, ouch.
@Zoomie: I expect everyone in the tropics will offer up his air-conditioning bill for comparison.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I’m in Vancouver BC, mild winters. Normal size house, 2 babies.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Smallish house in downtown Toronto - natural gas furnace. Heat is on Nov to March - roughly the same as Beijing. Cost is about $180 per month. But that is for a house - not an appartment and includes water heating.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Anthony: Thanks. This bill is separate from the hot water (shower, washer, dishwasher, etc.).
November 8th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
4 bedroom apartment, in an 8 apartment building, heat and hot water come from natural gas. The high of last winter was about 160 therms for $260. The low of this summer was about 20 therms for $20.
That 160 therms blows everything else out of the water though, I’d say of the 5 cold months, we average 85-95.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Dan: Thanks. What part of the world?
November 9th, 2007 at 12:48 am
My personal residence max in Feb is like $200 for gas (heat/hot water). My rental propetty is like $500 (heat/hot water) On average its about $140 for the personal in the winter and $250 for the rental.
November 9th, 2007 at 1:59 am
New England, Metro-Boston.
November 9th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Interesting comparison.
I’m in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia - total light, power & heat (all electric) for winter quarter A$900, A$350 of which is heat/hot water. House 170 sq. metres - 3 bedroom. A$10/day is pretty close.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:44 am
@Tom: Thanks for representing New Jersey.
@Geoff: US$327 in Tasmania, thanks.
November 9th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Toronto, my gas bill of last month is CAD$127.05 ….electricity is CAD$70.89 for two months. 2200 sq.ft
Today the snow flakes just start flying today, will see the amount doubled in two months.
November 9th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Yang: Thanks for checking in from Canada … US$138.85 for the monthly gas bill.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:11 am
[…] Heating Bill in Beijing Bill from Visit to Pediatrician in Beijing Cat: […]
November 26th, 2007 at 9:52 am
hi folks ;
eletric bill around 30 usd a month /
heat 0.00
central virginia usa BETWEEN -`17 C OR 0 F
AND 8 C OR 40 F SAME TIME FRAME AS BEIJING
November 26th, 2007 at 10:06 am
radar: Sounds mighty cheap; what’s the catch?