University of Hawaii
Guide to Living Off Campus
Updated July 2005
Utilities
UTILITIES
These figures for 2005 are as follows (these rates and figures are subject to change without notice to the Off-Campus Housing Referral Program).
Electricity - The average monthly bill for a residence for 2 persons is $57 - $96 and an account establishment of $50 and up is also required. The deposit is held for 12 months, then returned to you, or credited to your account, if all the bills were paid on time. A $15 non-refundable service fee is collected to connect the line. Payment is due 15 days after the bill is mailed out, and for late payments there is an additional 1% late payment charge that is added to the following month's bill. For more information call the Hawaiian Electric Co. at (808) 548-7311 and their website can be found at http://www.heco.com.
Gas - A deposit of $75-$100 may be waived depending on your personal credit history. The deposit is returned or credited to your account in one year if all the bills were paid on time. Average monthly bill for a unit of 2 persons with a gas range and water heater is $35-$40. There is also an additional 1% charge for late payments. These figures are according to the Gas Co. Their phone number is (808) 535-5933, and their website can be found at http://www.hawaiigas.com.
Telephone - Installation costs are a minimum of $45.50. Basic telephone service (connection and dial tone) ranges from $9.95 per month up to $49.95 per month, depending on what additional features you require for your phone service. The Standard Local package costs around $44.95 + tax and includes the basic service, home voice-mail, features such as Caller-ID and unlimited 411 Directory Service. There is an additional charge for all late payments. Long distance services are an additional cost. To find out what types of additional features your area offers and to hook-up phone service, call Hawaiian Telcom at (808) 643-3456 or visit any Hawaiian Telcom Store location throughout the island. Their website can be found at http://hawaiiantel.com.
Water and Sewer - These are almost always paid for by the owner/landlord. There are no installation or deposit cost, and no service charge for turning the water line on or off. There is an additional $10 service charge for reopening the lines after the lines were shut off due to delinquent payments. There is no late payment charge and the water bill is sent every two months. The basic monthly sewer charges included in every bill are $24.85 (single family/duplex residence) or $17.40 (multiple unit residence). The average bill for a unit of 2 persons is $70-$90, including the sewer charges, every two months. Any questions regarding water, call (808) 748-5030. For sewer questions call (808) 523-4408. The website for the Board of Water Supply can be found at http://www.hbws.org/cssweb.
Trash Collection - This service may be performed by a private disposal company or by the City & County of Honolulu. Check with the owner/manager for the pick-up days to verify who does the trash collection. Some communities have separate recycling arrangements.
[Top]
TOC
<< Assessing Your Needs and Budgeting
Planning and Organizing Your Search >>