--- title: Livable Now Blog | utility bill description: utility bill | --- ![](https://www.livable.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LIVABLE_Logo_HI_RES_300px_Corporate.png) SOLUTIONS [PROPERTY MANAGER DASHBOARD](https://www.livable.com/property-manager-dashboard/) [TENANT CONNECT](https://www.livable.com/tenant-connect/) [UTILITY BILLING & COST RECOVERY](https://www.livable.com/utility-billing-cost-recovery/) [LIVABLE NOW BLOG](https://blog.livable.com/) [CONTACT US](https://www.livable.com/contact-us/) SOLUTIONS [PROPERTY MANAGER DASHBOARD](https://www.livable.com/property-manager-dashboard/) [TENANT CONNECT](https://www.livable.com/tenant-connect/) [UTILITY BILLING & COST RECOVERY](https://www.livable.com/utility-billing-cost-recovery/) [LIVABLE NOW BLOG](https://blog.livable.com/) [CONTACT US](https://www.livable.com/contact-us/) MANAGER LOGIN RESIDENT LOGIN ### Posts by tags: - [2021 taxes (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/2021-taxes) - [amenities (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/amenities) - [apartment industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/apartment-industry) - [apartment industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/apartment-industry) - [clean water (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/clean-water) - [climate change (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/climate-change) - [come and save with us (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/come-and-save-with-us) - [conservation (25)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/conservation) - [construction (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/construction) - [cost recovery (11)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/cost-recovery) - [Economic Recovery (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/economic-recovery) - [economy (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/economy) - [eviction moratorium (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/eviction-moratorium) - [examples of conservation (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/examples-of-conservation) - [financial impact (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/financial-impact) - [homeowner (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/homeowner) - [House’s HEROES Act (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/houses-heroes-act) - 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[ratio utility billing (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/ratio-utility-billing) - [real estate (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/real-estate) - [Rent control (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rent-control) - [rent policies (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rent-policies) - [rental (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rental) - [rental housing industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rental-housing-industry) - [renters (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/renters) - [Republican lawmaker (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/republican-lawmaker) - [rising costs (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rising-costs) - [roofing (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/roofing) - [RUBS (25)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rubs) - [Single-family homes (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/single-family-homes) - [smart utility (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/smart-utility) - [smarter approach (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/smarter-approach) - [solar (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/solar) - [staying home (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/staying-home) - [Staying Strong and Giving Back (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/staying-strong-and-giving-back) - [tax credits (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tax-credits) - [technology (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/technology) - [tenant protections (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tenant-protections) - [tenants (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tenants) - [unionofconcernedscientists (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/unionofconcernedscientists) - [utility bill (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-bill) - [utility billing (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-billing) - [Utility savings (17)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-savings) - [we heal as one (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/we-heal-as-one) See all # Latest stories on utility-bill ## [Follow These Collection Policies to Help You Get What's Owed](https://blog.livable.com/-bill-collection-best-practices) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Feb 16, 2023, 7:25:04 AM As a Housing Provider, one of the most fundamental responsibilities you have is collecting rent, and in some cases, utility payments from your Residents. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to have Residents who fall behind on their payments for rent and utilities, leaving you to navigate the difficult and often uncomfortable process of collecting those [outstanding bills](https://www.rentecdirect.com/blog/a-landlords-guide-to-rent-collection-late-payments-and-past-rent-debt/).  We know that Housing Providers like you want positive and professional relationships with your Residents.  Unfortunately, those relationships can become strained when it comes to managing late payments. We’ve already talked about [best billing practices](https://blog.livable.com/utility-billing-best-practices), but even the best systems and efforts can’t prevent late payments sometimes. To help you maintain positive relationships with your Residents, follow these best practices when dealing with delinquent payments, whether on rent or utilities, to maximize your [cost recovery](https://blog.livable.com/5-utility-billing-mistakes-that-are-hurting-your-cost-recovery).  [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/-bill-collection-best-practices) ## [Maximize Your Multifamily Property’s NOI with Utility Billing Best Practices in 2023](https://blog.livable.com/utility-billing-best-practices) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on May 18, 2022, 8:32:08 AM Utility cost recovery is critical to maximizing a multifamily property’s NOI. Non-payments (and late payments) impact cash flow and the homeowner or property manager’s ability to properly budget.  [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/utility-billing-best-practices) ## [Save Money On Utility Bills With This Internet-enabled device](https://blog.livable.com/save-money-on-utility-bills-with-this-internet-enabled-device) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Feb 6, 2022, 9:00:00 AM ## **What is a Ratio Utility Billing System? (RUBS)** Simply put, [RUBS](https://www.livable.com/ratio-utility-billing-system/) divides utility bills among residents of a property based on predetermined criteria. A cost-effective solution for property owners to recoup expenditures while also proportionately sharing conservation responsibility with residents in a fair and acceptable manner. Beyond the financial benefits, conserving the Earth's natural resources is in our collective interest.  [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/save-money-on-utility-bills-with-this-internet-enabled-device) ## [Utility Billing: The Country’s Most and Least Expensive Cities](https://blog.livable.com/the-countrys-most-and-least-expensive-cities-for-utilities) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Sep 2, 2021, 9:00:00 AM *“At Livable, our goal has always been to help save the environment while also saving apartment owners money by making residents responsible for their utility usage. We have seen that making tenants more aware of their usage can* [*create significant savings*](https://blog.livable.com/our-favorite-apartment-industry-tech)*. But just how much those savings might be can vary greatly by location, depending on local utility rates. With that in mind, read on to find out where your city ranks in the below list of most and least expensive utility costs”*  - Daniel Sharabi - CEO   ## **Water** [Apartment List](https://www.apartmentlist.com/renter-life/average-utility-bill) showed in 2021 Honolulu in the top spot with an average of just under **$90**, with second-place Oxnard, California coming in at **$83**. The West Coast dominates the list of the most expensive average water bills in the U.S. as of 2021 - San Diego took the third-most-expensive spot with **$79**. San Jose, Sacramento, Seattle, San Francisco, Stockton and Portland all made it into the top ten as well. In the tenth position, with an average water bill of **$63** per month, Virginia Beach was the only East Coast city to break into the top ten.   The East Coast tended to be among the cheapest places for water bills, with Upstate New York leading the way. Albany had the least-expensive average water bill at just over **$20** a month, but Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo all had water bills under **$30** a month as well.   ## **Gas** Honolulu also took first for the most-expensive gas bill and was the only city in the survey to break **$90** a month for this utility. Other than that, most of the other most-expensive gas cities were in colder cities since gas bills are often an indication of high heating costs. Detroit, Buffalo, Omaha, Chicago and Boston all had average gas bills above **$80** a month.    ## **Electric** Electricity was by far the biggest single bill in all markets and the only utility that didn’t seem to follow a particular geographic pattern. Birmingham, Alabama took the top spot with an average electric bill close to **$200** a month. Augusta, Georgia and Memphis, Tennessee all had bills that came in around $180 a month, which we can assume is due in part to higher cooling costs in the south. Connecticut also had several cities in the top ten, because electrical transmission rates are higher in the Northeast, as are land costs for building power plants. Boise, Idaho had the lowest total average utility bill at **$186.**   Due in large part to its **$184** a month average electric bill, Bridgeport, Connecticut has the highest total utility cost of any city in the U.S., coming in at a whopping **$353** per month for residents there.   Whether you're on the West Coast, East Coast, and everywhere in between, it's always smart to separate rent from utilities! Don’t let high energy usage take you by surprise, Livable’s user-friendly [Property Manager Dashboard](https://www.livable.com/property-manager-dashboard/) makes it easy to see what’s happening at your building and immediately increases the value of your asset. [Book a call with a Livable team member](https://comesave.livable.com/meetings/livable/livable-discovery-call) today to start saving!    [![Come save with us!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4146755/59b2d6d1-17e3-427b-b861-0cb4c5c6a418.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4146755/59b2d6d1-17e3-427b-b861-0cb4c5c6a418)   ---   An easy and simple change you can make in your space is to switch to energy-efficient light bulbs such as LEDs that help reduce your bills. Regular incandescent bulbs use heat instead of light to release most of their energy. The modern LED style bulbs save a lot of electricity and money over time as they are energy efficient and last ten times longer compared to regular bulbs. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-countrys-most-and-least-expensive-cities-for-utilities) ## [How to Control Costs as Utility Rates Rise](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-control-costs-as-utility-rates-rise) Posted by [Content Director](https://blog.livable.com/author/content-director) on May 5, 2021, 11:59:50 AM Property owners nationwide should anticipate across-the-board utility increases in 2021, with some jurisdictions expected to see double-digit rate hikes. Yet there are proactive steps owners can take now to hedge against these additional expenses.  [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-control-costs-as-utility-rates-rise) ## [Investors Show Their Love for Multifamily Properties](https://blog.livable.com/multifamily-properties) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Feb 1, 2021, 12:27:07 PM With retail and hospitality industries in a perpetual state of uncertainty since the global pandemic started in 2020, real estate investors have been drawn to multifamily properties. There is particular excitement about properties in areas outside of major metros, like [Jacksonville](https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/commercial-real-estate-multifamily-interest-is-at-a-fever-pitch). During the pandemic, these more affordable, less dense areas have become newly popular with former urbanites looking for more space and easier access to nature. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/multifamily-properties) ## [Utility Rates are Ever-Increasing](https://blog.livable.com/utility-rate-increases-on-the-horizon-in-2021) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Jan 6, 2021, 9:00:00 AM ## **Electricity** Nationwide, property owners should expect across-the-board ongoing utility increases, with some jurisdictions expected to see double-digit rate hikes. According to a [survey from the U.S. Energy Information Administration](https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/report/electricity.php), the residential electricity price nationwide increased just under **1%** between 2020 and 2021, continuing an upward trend - rates have gone up **6%** in the last decade.   [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/utility-rate-increases-on-the-horizon-in-2021) ## [Utilities NOT Included — Now More than Ever](https://blog.livable.com/utilities-not-included-now-more-than-ever) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Sep 1, 2020, 6:36:00 PM At Livable we provide utility management and cost recovery solutions for commercial and residential properties. Although you can't regulate the rates, you can take steps to keep costs at a minimum. In the fall of 2020, over 7 million in California were filing jobless claims since businesses began closing in March, many moved in with loved ones to save money or left the state altogether. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/utilities-not-included-now-more-than-ever) [All posts](https://blog.livable.com/all) [Next](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-bill/page/2) #### Subscribe to join our monthly newsletter Stay updated on real estate news, laws,  and monthly saving tips and tricks! ![Monthly-tip](https://blog.livable.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2020_assets/illustrations/Monthly-tip.png?width=180&height=165&name=Monthly-tip.png "Monthly-tip") #### Smart saver tip of the month Insulating water pipes is a quick and inexpensive way to lower water-heating costs. The easy upgrade reduces heat loss and allows you to lower your buildings’ water temperature setting by two to four degrees. Plus, since water doesn’t take as long to heat up, less of this precious resource is wasted waiting for faucets and showers to get to the appropriate temperature. On smaller buildings, this is a definite DIY job that should take less than a day to complete. Check out the [U.S. Department of Energy’s website](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/services/do-it-yourself-energy-savings-projects/savings-project-insulate-hot-water-pipes?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yh5oCnhWhoNYxyWitSNwCQZKjwDza8YZ-_XqR_0bGeAJoJKUSlyuOiGT5Nuvpv6Yhcarj) for a comprehensive shopping list and step-by-step instructions. ### More Lively Livable ### Posts by Tag - [RUBS (25)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rubs) - [conservation (25)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/conservation) - [how to save money on utilities (19)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/how-to-save-money-on-utilities) - [Utility savings (17)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-savings) - [cost recovery (11)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/cost-recovery) - [property owners (11)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/property-owners) - [ratio utility billing (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/ratio-utility-billing) - [utility bill (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-bill) - [utility billing (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-billing) - [housing (8)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/housing) - [economy (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/economy) - [livable (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/livable) - [rental (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rental) - [Housing developers (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/housing-developers) - [come and save with us (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/come-and-save-with-us) - [multifamily properties (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/multifamily-properties) - [renters (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/renters) - [Rent control (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rent-control) - [climate change (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/climate-change) - [increase NOI (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/increase-noi) - [investment (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/investment) - [smart utility (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/smart-utility) - [legislation (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/legislation) - [natural resources (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/natural-resources) - [new state laws (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/new-state-laws) - [rising costs (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rising-costs) - [solar (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/solar) - [tenant protections (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tenant-protections) - [Millennials (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/millennials) - [Property managers (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/property-managers) - [amenities (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/amenities) - [clean water (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/clean-water) - [examples of conservation (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/examples-of-conservation) - [financial impact (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/financial-impact) - [homeowner (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/homeowner) - [real estate (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/real-estate) - [rent policies (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rent-policies) - [staying home (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/staying-home) - [tax credits (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tax-credits) - [technology (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/technology) - [tenants (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tenants) - [unionofconcernedscientists (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/unionofconcernedscientists) - [2021 taxes (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/2021-taxes) - [Economic Recovery (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/economic-recovery) - [House’s HEROES Act (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/houses-heroes-act) - [Livable staff (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/livable-staff) - [Republican lawmaker (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/republican-lawmaker) - [Single-family homes (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/single-family-homes) - [Staying Strong and Giving Back (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/staying-strong-and-giving-back) - [apartment industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/apartment-industry) - [apartment industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/apartment-industry) - [construction (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/construction) - [eviction moratorium (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/eviction-moratorium) - [post-pandemic adjustments (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/post-pandemic-adjustments) - [rental housing industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rental-housing-industry) - [roofing (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/roofing) - [smarter approach (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/smarter-approach) - [we heal as one (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/we-heal-as-one) See all [Home](https://www.livable.com/) | [Solutions](https://www.livable.com/#)| [Property Manager Dashboard](https://www.livable.com/property-manager-dashboard/) [Utility Billing and Cost Recovery](https://www.livable.com/utility-billing-cost-recovery/) | [Contact Us](https://www.livable.com/contact-us/) [Privacy Policy](https://www.livable.com/privacy/) / [Terms and Conditions](https://www.livable.com/privacy-policy/)  [Manager Login](https://pm.livable.com/) [Resident Login](https://resident.livable.com/) Copyright © [Livable](https://www.livable.com/), Inc. 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