Latest news with #utilitybills
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Energy, water, and waste: How much do Europeans pay for household bills?
How much do you pay for utility bills? Do you think it's more than in other European cities? According to Deutsche Bank's Mapping the World's Prices report, which covers 67 cities worldwide including 28 in Europe, basic utility costs in 2025 differ significantly across the continent. Monthly basic utilities include electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage for an 85m2 apartment. Europe clearly dominates the global list, with almost all of the top 20 most expensive cities for basic utilities located in the continent. Only two non-European cities make the top 20. So, which cities have the highest and lowest bills? How does your city compare? And what about major cities outside Europe? Germany is the most expensive country Overall, monthly basic utility costs range from €24 in Cairo to €370 in Munich. In Europe, the cheapest city is Istanbul, where utilities cost just €68. Within the EU, Helsinki is the most affordable at €115. It's not just Munich at the top. Two other German cities also rank third and fourth. This makes Germany the most expensive country for basic utilities. On average, residents pay €339 in Frankfurt and €333 in Berlin. Related Cost of living: Which are the cheapest and most expensive countries in Europe? Edinburgh ranks second in basic utility costs Edinburgh ranks second among the most expensive European cities for utility bills. Residents pay €346 on average. Other UK cities are also costly. London ranks seventh and Birmingham eleventh overall. Basic utilities in London cost €295, and €270 in Birmingham. The top 10 most expensive cities also include €327 in Warsaw, €304 in Vienna, €286 in Prague, €275 in Amsterdam, and €271 in Oslo. Tel Aviv (12th, €245) and Hong Kong (19th, €211) are the only two non-European cities in the top 20. Where are the lowest utility bills? After Istanbul (€68) and Helsinki (€115), the lowest utility costs are found in Budapest and Lisbon (both €135), followed by Barcelona (€170) and Madrid (€180). Average basic utility bills are also under €200 in Athens (€197) and Copenhagen (€182). In Italy, utility costs are right around the €200 mark: €200 in Milan and €202 in Rome. In general, utility costs tend to be higher in Northern and Western Europe, while they are lower in Central, Eastern, and parts of Southern Europe. San Francisco is the most expensive US city on the list, with utility costs at €202. In New York, the average is €181, though several other cities fall in between. In Tokyo, utility costs average €151. In Toronto, they're €107, and in Beijing, just €52. Related No holiday for 42 million EU workers: Where is holiday the most unaffordable in Europe? Can you afford to live here? Europe's cities ranked by rent-to-salary ratio How much have utility costs risen over the past five years? Over the past five years, from 2020 to 2025, monthly basic utility costs in euros have risen significantly in many European cities. Stockholm tops the list with a 176% increase, followed by another Nordic city, Oslo, at 133%. For cities where the currency is not the euro, looking at changes in national currencies may give a clearer picture, as part of the increase is due to exchange rate fluctuations. The increase also exceeds 90% in several cities: Warsaw (112%), Brussels (97%), Birmingham (96%), and Edinburgh (93%). Monthly basic utility costs have risen by around 50% in German cities, where residents already pay the highest bills in Europe. In Europe, Copenhagen (-7%) and Budapest (-6%) are the only two cities where utility costs declined during this period, in euro terms. Which cities spend the most on utilities as a share of salary? The portion of average net salaries spent on basic utilities varies widely across Europe. It ranges from just 3.2% in Geneva and 3.3% in Zurich to 18.8% in Athens, closely followed by Warsaw at 17.6%. Across all cities, Montreal (2.6%) has the lowest share of net salary spent on utilities, while Manila (25.9%) has the highest, with more than a quarter of income going to basic utilities. In Europe, this is around 9–10% in several countries. These shares are influenced not only by utility costs but also by income levels. In Europe, in 2025, Swiss cities have the highest average monthly net salaries: €7,307 in Geneva, closely followed by Zurich (€7,127). Istanbul has the lowest average salary at €855, while within the EU, Athens ranks lowest at €1,044. People in the Northern and Western European cities are well-paid. The net salaries are above €4,000 in Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Frankfurt according to the report. Euronews Business articles on electricity and gas prices across Europe comprehensively explain why energy prices differ so much. Differences in energy sources, pricing strategies, subsidies, and support measures all influence how utility prices are formed. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has also had a significant impact on energy prices across Europe.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Homeowner tips to save on utility bills as summer heats up
2025 is on track to be the hottest year yet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Angi co-founder Angie Hicks joins Mind Your Money with Allie Canal to share tips and tricks to save on your utility bill. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Mind Your Money here. Well, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, last month was the third warmest June on record. And that trend is expected to continue. NOAA says there's less than a 1% chance that 2025 will not end up as the warmest year on record. And with the high heat comes high utility prices, as Americans pump up that air conditioning. So, what changes can you make in your home to help lower the bill? Joining me now is Angie Hicks, the co-founder of Angie. So, let's start simple here, Angie. What are some quick, affordable upgrades homeowners can make today that could immediately lower their utility bills? One of the easiest things they can do is to make sure that they're keeping curtains or shutters, blinds, window coverings closed in the heat of the day, especially where the sun's shining in, because we've all walked in that room where it's super hot because you've got that afternoon sun coming in. Keep that sun out. It's going to keep the room cooler. And then also ceiling fans. You might already have some in your house. Make sure they're running counterclockwise. And if you're considering adding them, that could be a nice addition, maybe in a bedroom where you want it to be a little cooler, for example. And Angie, I hate to say it, but this one hits close to home. Most people don't think twice about their HVAC filters. How often should we actually be replacing them, and how big of a difference can that make? It does. What it's going to do is just replacing that filter is going to make the air conditioner just run much more efficiently. So, anywhere from monthly to once a quarter. You should look and see what your, your, uh, your system recommends. And then just put it on the calendar so you remember to do it. Super easy, you know. I, I do mine myself. Everybody, I think you can probably do it yourself, and it's not an expensive item to pick up at the hardware store. And when it comes to overall appliances, when does it make sense to upgrade, and how could switching to maybe Energy Star rated models actually save over time? That's right. So, yeah, so if you're going in the market to be replacing an appliance, be sure you're looking for that Energy Star rating, because that will help. You're going to get a newer model. It's going to be more efficient, and it's going to save you a little bit each month. Uh, you know, keep in mind, your heating and cooling is your largest user of electricity in your house. Uh, you know, so being, being very careful and paying attention to those is really important. That question about when to repair, when to replace, common question. So here's a good rule of thumb. If your appliance is halfway through its useful life, so most of them last, let's say 15 years, so if you're eight years or more, and it's going to cost half as much to repair it as it will to replace, you're better off going ahead and replacing. Okay, and I want to stick on that topic, because what should homeowners know before deciding to maybe replace their windows or upgrade insulation? And are there rebates or maybe tax incentives that consumers should be aware of so that they can take advantage of that? Yeah, those are common things that you can get rebates for. So you do want to be checking, uh, either federal rebates, if your state offers them, be checking on that. Windows, insulation are very common items. And then also, another thing to consider doing is a lot of times we think about weather stripping in the winter. We're like, hey, I don't want my house to be drafty. Same problem in the summer. If it's 95 and humid, and you've got airflowing through around your windows and doors, let's seal those up. And that's something that can be relatively inexpensive. I mean, again, if you're a good DIYer, it's something that you can do yourself, uh, or you can hire a handyman that can come in and help you. Uh, but that is something that will help keep those drafts away and help you, you know, you're not wasting that nice cool air you're paying for. And what about some good hygiene tips? Are there any overlooked habits or home maintenance routines that can make a big seasonal difference without costing a dime? Yeah. One of the things that I would suggest, and it's often overlooked, is the fact that a lot of us like to disguise our air conditioning unit outside. I mean, I know they're not the prettiest thing, but that actually is harmful to the air conditioner. You want good airflow around your air conditioner. So, trim back landscaping. Make sure it's free and clear around that because it's going to pay off in the long run. And then also think about, if you don't have a programmable thermostat, it might be something you want to consider, especially if you like to adjust your thermostat to, you know, go warmer when you're not going to be home, and then go lower when you're going to be there. Uh, it helps you remember because sometimes we forget those things. Uh, so that's another item you could add to the list. Related Videos July Fed meeting and interest rates: What it means for your money Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Biggest US Power Sale to Offer Glimpse of AI's Cost to Consumers
(Bloomberg) -- The biggest and most closely watched US power auction is set to offer an early glimpse of what the AI boom will cost consumers. Most Read from Bloomberg PJM Interconnection LLC, which operates the largest US grid and is home to the biggest concentration of data centers in the world, is scheduled to release the results of its annual power sale Tuesday. The auction, which determines how much generators will get paid for generating capacity at new and existing power plants, is also an indicator of how high consumer utility bills will be. Last year PJM procured supplies for a record $14.7 billion, and this year similar costs per megawatt could result in total payouts of $13 billion to $16 billion. The soaring price tag is due to booming demand from data centers, according to recent analysis from the grid operator's independent market monitor. That's raising concerns that consumers — not technology companies — would bear the brunt. READ: AI Needs So Much Energy It's Distorting US Power for Millions The explosive energy consumption of AI data centers is 'leading to massive transfer of wealth from essentially existing customers and residential customers,'said Maryland People's Counsel David Lapp, the state advocate for residential utility consumers. Americans across the country are already grappling with climbing utility bills as aging infrastructure and more extreme weather raise operational costs and energy demand — and PJM is becoming a test case for AI's voracious energy needs. At the same time, the Trump Administration's recent rollback of renewable tax incentives means much of the massive queue of power projects waiting to get built will get a lot more expensive, compounding the hit to consumers. Last year's auction, which saw costs rise about 600%, created a political firestorm that ultimately led PJM and the governor of Pennsylvania to agree to set both a price floor and cap for the first time in the auction. This year's results could similarly 'put policy makers' feet to the fire,' said Barclays Plc analyst Nicholas Campanella. PJM declined to comment. The cost of supply last year rose to about $270 per megawatt a day while Baltimore cleared more than 70% higher and Virginia, home to the biggest concentration of data centers in the world, was close behind. Maryland saw the highest capacity costs in the last auction, with Exelon Corp.'s Baltimore Gas & Electric utility tacking on $16-$20 to consumers' monthly bills. However, the utility reached an agreement with regulators to pass through those costs in the spring and fall months to avoid adding to to already high summer bills. Both Maryland and Virginia should see capacity costs decrease under the cap.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvanian gets $12K utility bill after months of silence — and thousands more in the state face problems
Posiey Brown of Norristown, Pennsylvania, was floored when she opened her PECO energy bill in April — totaling $11,723.93 in charges. 'There's no way,' she recalled thinking to CBS News Philadelphia in a story published May 30. It was the first utility bill she had seen in months and much higher than anticipated. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Brown says she called PECO after not receiving a statement in August and was told the company had trouble accessing her bill. She continued to seek answers and tried to make partial payments in the meantime, but felt her concerns weren't being taken seriously. As it turns out, Brown wasn't the only PECO customer to experience billing problems. Ann Palladino of Whitemarsh Township also reached out to CBS News Philadelphia about her PECO billing problems, and says she'd gone nearly a year without receiving a bill. 'My daughter told me to contact you because she was tired of me complaining about it,' Palladino told the local broadcaster. 'For people who are used to having their bills fully paid and on time, it's disconcerting' PECO confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia that up to 8,000 customers have been impacted by billing glitches since last year after the utility company transitioned to a new billing system. PECO admitted it has not been able to explain why certain accounts were affected, but says it has taken steps to fix the problem, including hiring more staff and setting up an email address dedicated to billing complaints. 'Many of these issues have been resolved, and we continue working daily to address remaining concerns,' a company spokesperson told the broadcaster. Even so, frustration is mounting. The Southeast Delegation of Pennsylvania House Democrats sent an open letter to PECO accusing the utility of not acting quickly enough to solve these problems. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it CBS News Philadelphia reports, after it got involved, that PECO determined Brown's shocking balance was caused by a meter programming error that calculated her usage incorrectly. The company corrected her bill and waived late fees, reducing the total balance to around $900. Brown is now on a payment plan. Palladino told the broadcaster she started receiving statements for previous months, but her bills were not yet current. Brown says PECO should have been more proactive and forthcoming about its billing problems. 'They should've notified the customers they were having a billing issue,' she said. If you're a PECO customer — or dealing with a billing error from any utility — here are steps to protect yourself: Document everything: Save your bills, note when they stop arriving or if you feel there's a major error, and keep a log of your payment history and any communication with the utility company. Write down the time and what you discussed in phone calls, and try to reach out by email so there's a paper trail. Contact the utility right away: For PECO customers, use the dedicated email (PECObilling@ and ask for a written explanation. Make sure to document any attempts at communication, whether you reach someone or not. File a complaint: If you're not getting a resolution, file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or your state's equivalent. Contact your local representative: Sometimes outside pressure makes a difference. Your county commissioner, mayor or other lawmakers may be able to help. Local media might also be interested in telling your story. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvanian gets $12K utility bill after months of silence — and thousands more in the state face problems
Posiey Brown of Norristown, Pennsylvania, was floored when she opened her PECO energy bill in April — totaling $11,723.93 in charges. 'There's no way,' she recalled thinking to CBS News Philadelphia in a story published May 30. It was the first utility bill she had seen in months and much higher than anticipated. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Brown says she called PECO after not receiving a statement in August and was told the company had trouble accessing her bill. She continued to seek answers and tried to make partial payments in the meantime, but felt her concerns weren't being taken seriously. As it turns out, Brown wasn't the only PECO customer to experience billing problems. Ann Palladino of Whitemarsh Township also reached out to CBS News Philadelphia about her PECO billing problems, and says she'd gone nearly a year without receiving a bill. 'My daughter told me to contact you because she was tired of me complaining about it,' Palladino told the local broadcaster. 'For people who are used to having their bills fully paid and on time, it's disconcerting' PECO confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia that up to 8,000 customers have been impacted by billing glitches since last year after the utility company transitioned to a new billing system. PECO admitted it has not been able to explain why certain accounts were affected, but says it has taken steps to fix the problem, including hiring more staff and setting up an email address dedicated to billing complaints. 'Many of these issues have been resolved, and we continue working daily to address remaining concerns,' a company spokesperson told the broadcaster. Even so, frustration is mounting. The Southeast Delegation of Pennsylvania House Democrats sent an open letter to PECO accusing the utility of not acting quickly enough to solve these problems. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it CBS News Philadelphia reports, after it got involved, that PECO determined Brown's shocking balance was caused by a meter programming error that calculated her usage incorrectly. The company corrected her bill and waived late fees, reducing the total balance to around $900. Brown is now on a payment plan. Palladino told the broadcaster she started receiving statements for previous months, but her bills were not yet current. Brown says PECO should have been more proactive and forthcoming about its billing problems. 'They should've notified the customers they were having a billing issue,' she said. If you're a PECO customer — or dealing with a billing error from any utility — here are steps to protect yourself: Document everything: Save your bills, note when they stop arriving or if you feel there's a major error, and keep a log of your payment history and any communication with the utility company. Write down the time and what you discussed in phone calls, and try to reach out by email so there's a paper trail. Contact the utility right away: For PECO customers, use the dedicated email (PECObilling@ and ask for a written explanation. Make sure to document any attempts at communication, whether you reach someone or not. File a complaint: If you're not getting a resolution, file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or your state's equivalent. Contact your local representative: Sometimes outside pressure makes a difference. Your county commissioner, mayor or other lawmakers may be able to help. Local media might also be interested in telling your story. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
