Average Monthly Electric/Gas Bill in Italy

This being Italy, there is always the potential for a surprise 200 euro utility bill. Happens all the time. 20-25 euro a month seems a bit low, I'd budget for at least double that.

Of course it'll depend on how much you run AC/Heat. Sept can still be hot. I think we ran AC up until beginning of Oct. or so and really didn't start running heat until the end of the month. My last elec. bill was for 350 Euro and that was for 2 months. Gas,which includes water and trash, was 125.00. Also for two months. I guess it can vary depending on which region you'll be in but would say 25 Euro a month for everything wouldn't be too bad.
Now I may just be lucky but haven't had any surprise utility bills but I also have service in my name. The owner may be the most honest of people but I would want to see the bill before I paid.

I actually pay more here than I did when I was living in Heidelberg James. Last month I got hit with a $500 gas bill. Electric bills run between 125 - 250 euros a month, more in the summer if I run the AC regularly.

Living in Rome in two separate apartments, we did not have AC in either. We did have multiple computers always running! Our electric bill ran about €45 -€55 per month in a 2-BDR apartment. We faced "adjustments" every six months that ran about €150. We also paid an "average usage rate" on our water. The water meter was under the sink in our last apartment and did not get read for over two years! Our "adjustment;" .... less than €100. We were holding our breath in that one! As mentioned, utilities are usually paid in 2-month billings. We often do not see our bill until 1-2 months AFTER the service period... so you probably will not see a bill that relates to you. Each time we moved, we ALWAYS worried about the first bill in a new place (because it was someone else's usage) and the bi-annual "adjustments" - again, especially the first adjustment!

Thanks all. So if I understand correctly, I really can't be sure what the bill will look like :-) Also, since I am coming in September, the bill I will actually be paying is the one for August, which will have been rented by others and who knows what A/C habits they have in the heat of the summer.
I really like the apartment, but this is the only issue that has me concerned.

I think you have gotten some good advice, but I too am leary of the owners assessment of the cost. the 0.3 Euro/KWH works out to about 0.40 USD; here is the States you are probably paying 0.05 to 0.10 per KWH, considerably less. Think of your bill at home quadrupled. As a result of the cost, many in Italy are very careful about use, so while they see a low bill...your use may be greater out of habit. I have been in several Italian homes where they leave lights and other electrical items off pretty religiously, almost to the point of being a little uncomfortable for me. The possibility of having to pay a previous tenants bill, then "passing" yours on to another tenant raises a flag for me.

25 euro sounds crazy low. I am always surprised by the cost of energy here - it is the most expensive in the E.U. if I recall correctly. I paid .50 euro for a kwh of electricity in a rental once. Not sure what the current actual rate is.

It's true you may pay more for utilities simply because your habits are built on American utility rates. When we visit my wife's relatives, my wife and kids don't "get" the difference in cost for utilities and will act like they do at home, long showers, lights and electrics left on when not in use, small laundry loads and using the dryer (when hang drying would work fine). I'm always worried about how much we're increasing their utility bill. If your bill reflects previous tenants' usage, you may do a great job of conserving but still pay a lot.

Monique,
If your rental works like every other one I have heard of you will not get a bill for utilities, the owner will. The owner (preferably with you watching) will write down the meter readings when you arrive and when you check out then calculate your payment. A 200 euro bill for three months would not surprise me even if no air conditioning or heat was used. Hot water, lights, and stove will suck a lot of energy.

Yep, this is the main reason that it's so rare to find a clothes dryer in a home. Good for you for thinking ahead.

Hi, the .3 Euro per KWH sounds about right, as we checked it when we were there last fall. Electricity is sold by the Kilo Watt Hour, or that is a thousand watts for one hour usage. Another way is to think of it is 10 - 100 watt light bulbs, so in Italy that would cost about .3 Euros so.
Where we live, the Electricity rate is about 10C per KWH, probably similar across North America. I have no idea about gas tho!

I don't mind paying the electric and gas bills in addition to the rental, it's just hard in knowing what to budget for. Plus, I would spend the entire trip on eggshells, afraid to get that extra gelato or take that spur of the moment trip to Florence out of fear that I might need that money to pay the bill at the end. Decisions decisions decisions...

I would certainly budget a significant amount for utilities. How frugal are you normally? Are you someone who turns on the a/c or heat at the first sign of discomfort? Or someone who can "sweat it out?" I'm not sure where in Italy you will be staying, but here in Naples, early Sept. was still quite warm... and Nov. was the beginning of the cool, rainy season. Coming from PA, you probably are accustomed to both extremes, so it probably won't phase you, if you are a frugal person and do your research before you go. Remember the typical Italian is extremely frugal, does not run their a/c or heat, hangs their clothes out to dry, etc. The typical American will rack up a utility bill well over a thousand dollars a month in a small to medium sized house, and I have seen one acquaintance who spent nearly double that. I have a medium sized house, concrete/tile, with a fireplace, and am extremely, extremely frugal. During that timeframe, my utility bills averaged 200 month for house gas and about 250 a month for electricity; that was with no a/c or heat, just quick showers, cooking, turning everything off when you leave the room, fluorescent bulbs, etc. An apartment would be less, but it really depends on your lifestyle. I cannot believe there is any realism to the landlord's estimate though; even an Italian would surely spend more than that on lighting, showers, and their stove!
In any case, I would advise to hit the markets for seasonal clothing, buy your gelato to cool off, or espresso to warm up, and enjoy yourself! Staying an extended time is the only way to really experience this wonderful land!

For me I would rather have peace of mind and get a place that has utilities included in the price and not have that hanging in the back of my mind. You may really like the place you're looking at but I suspect you plan on doing alot of sightseeing/travelling while in Italy so how much time will you really spend there? Maybe you could even dicker with the owner and get a flat rate. Tell him your concerns and that you're thinking about getting something else and see what his reaction is.