utilities prices per month in Dominica?

[dr28199]

i have seen quite a few posts regarding rent prices, but can anyone please let me (better yet all of us new students) know what you all pay for utilities each month? just a round about average for electric, phone, cable, etc would be very helpful for bugeting.

thank you, your assistance is much appreciated.

[FoxTrot]

Before I had prepaid, I paid a little under 100 US/month. Thats just running the AC when I get hot, frequently throughout the day for about 15 min and then turn it off.

[dr28199]

what exactly is prepaid? is that for all utilities, or just electric? also, how much does it cost?

thanks.

[singer]

dR28199:
Prepaid electric means you have a separate meter which you reimburse buy having additional purchases charged to your credit card. When the amount of prepaid electric on the meter is low it is your responsibility to order more prepaid electric. Try to work out your lease where any balance reaminining on the meter is given to the new tenant and reimbursed to you when you leave the island.

[dr28199]

thanks for the info. it sounds kind of like a minutes plan for a cel phone. however, with this if you pay too little you could run out? or if you pay too much, then you can also get reimbursed? please clarify, and thank you again for the information.

also, when can you set this system up?

[Neuro3]

My first bill was 60. for the month then 120.00 then 350. and the last one was 550.00 and Im sure this one will be close to $1000.00 ec

Air conditioning = Bad thing in Dominica

[DrVinsk]

Hi,

You don't actually "setup" this prepaid deal. It's a matter of whether or not the place you rent uses it. Now, the truth is..no matter what any Dominica lovin' smoke blower tells you, the electricity here is a rip-off. And there is no question that students pay more than any local. And I know you can find the occasional student who will brag and say their electric bill is only 60 or 80EC a month but there is something they are not telling you about their habits. You can survive without an AC but it does get quite uncomfortable. I do not have an AC simply for the outrageous AC bill it generated last semester. I used my AC for 5 hours the entire month...TOTAL and my bill was 450EC. You WILL NOT find any Dominican who pays anymore than 80EC/month for electricity. I managed to get a peak at the C&W office electric bill for the month.....it was 625EC!!! Now keep in mind they run 3 or 4 AC units for 8 hours a day along with the computers, lights, etc. I paid 450EC for a one bedroom apartment, I unplugged my fridge at night and shut off the breaker during school hours! Dominica will rip off students in any way they can. My best advice to you is to ask to see an electric bill before you sign a lease. They will LIE you if you don't. They have very few morals when it comes to students being treated fair.

[link626]

Hi,

My best advice to you is to ask to see an electric bill before you sign a lease. They will LIE you if you don't. They have very few morals when it comes to students being treated fair.


That is the first thing i'm gonna ask. Why pay $350 rent when your electric bill is another $300 a month........ :roll:

$1000ec per month is f***in insane. That's a month's worth of food!

[Infiri]

I am paying 500 US for my appartment
60 EC a month for phone with unlimited dialup
and electric bill runnning the AC 24/7 it was 550 to 600 EC
without running it 24/7 and only like 12am to 9-10am is was 400 EC
If you live in safe home where the AC is central air and you dont pay for it.. you will pay like 50 EC. Water, I really dont know anybody paying for water... you can run your laptop all day long, it doesnt use much electricity.

[rph2md]

that I win for the highest electric bills in dominica. i have a family here and am spoiled in that i can't sleep without and a/c. My last bill was 1,649 EC and average around 1,200 EC....it's what was said in an earlier reply...A/c will COST YOU BIG TIME!!!...oh by the way...the a/c are those wall mount jobbies....no such thing as 'central' air.

[BrotherMan]

My two roommates and myself live in a triple at Avie's Ville and pay about $100 US per person per month to cool down our 3 bedroom place. My guess is that is that the total amount of square feet is approximately 600. And the kicker is that the AC is only on for 12 hours a day. What a great place to live, eh?

[arya]

that I win for the highest electric bills in dominica. i have a family here and am spoiled in that i can't sleep without and a/c. My last bill was 1,649 EC and average around 1,200 EC....it's what was said in an earlier reply...A/c will COST YOU BIG TIME!!!...oh by the way...the a/c are those wall mount jobbies....no such thing as 'central' air.

there is central air here. the apartments above tinas have it.

[Dru]

Safehome has central air

[VanessaWI]

Safehome does have central a/c with individual thermostats in each apt.
I've been in places where I use the a/c from about 9pm till 7am and my electric bill was around 120-160ec. I've known people who have paid outragous bills and request that their meters be re-read and then their bills typically turn out a lot lower. From what i've heard, the bills are based on estimated usage, so it might be worth having the meter re-read-but I agree with you all, electricity is a rip off here.
I sue the pre-paid phone cards from cable and wireless here and pay and average of 40ec/mo for phone cards.

[petenwe]

leave AC on is more inexpensive compare to on and off all the time

[Texan2]

I pay about $100 US and I don't use my AC at all. I tend to use the metal high powered fans which are just as good I think. However, I do have a microwave, a George Foreman grill, and a 3 tier refridgerator which I suspect drives my electric to that rate. I am just saying there are many things to consider. A lot of my friends don't have the standard refridgerator that we have in the states but rather the little college dorm types. As well, microwaves and certain kitchen appliances are a luxury and not all students have them. I think it also is a factor of the type of currency/voltage that your appliances use. I have a US manufactured microwave that is 3 prong style like that of the US brands rather than the local plugs. You will soon see there are many factors to consider. As well as the type of AC unit (the typical window unit as opposed to the long rectangular shaped type that is typically situated in the corner of the top of the wall.

[Jess77]

I pay about I have a US manufactured microwave that is 3 prong style like that of the US brands rather than the local plugs. You will soon see there are many factors to consider. As well as the type of AC unit (the typical window unit as opposed to the long rectangular shaped type that is typically situated in the corner of the top of the wall.

bend one of the prong then it might work. ha, just a guess.

[Gingerbreadman]

electric will cost you out the butt.

I'll give you one little clue as to how to save money on your electric. I am the type of person who needs an ice cold room to sleep and it is really expensive so i have been studying my consumption patterns by taking meter readings (its in my apartment) at least 6 times a day as well as just before bed and when i wake up.

Yes i know, i am both board and anal.

when i ran the a/c on high it cost me about 10 e.c. a night to run it all night. I bought an oscillating fan and put it on all night one night with no air (almost killed me) but i learned it cost only 1.5 e.c. a night to run it. the next night i used the fan and then put the a/c on a setting of 2 (on a scale of 1 to 10) and i stayed pretty comfortable. my usage for the night was only 2.9 e.c.

so the moral of the story is I now stay just as comfortable at night and my a/c bill is 1/3 what it was. In u.s. dollars it is a difference in having an electric bill of @125.00$ a month as opposed to @45.00$ a month.

maybe might little experiment might help someone else save some money.

[gluconeogenesis]

Have you thought about buying some solar panels and an inverter
for power during the day? Batteries increase the cost of the system,
so you could start out with no batteries and generate power during
the day. You could start out with just enough panels to run your
refrigerator or AC.

http://www.homepower.com/files/cabinskiz.pdf

A 10,000 BTU GE window unit air conditioner consumes
Voltage 115 volts
Max Amps 11
Watts 1220