Utility Info Please--

[Cornhusker]

We are only 54 days from arrival and during this 3-week stay we are going to look at some other rental properties for our 2018 trip which hopefully will be 4-weeks as getting really close to retirement. Some properties have renter paying for utilities and it might be something we would consider but trying to figure out electric cost PKW and water if by gallon usage and same with how much to fill up big propane tank that runs stove/oven in the property. Being the banker I am I would find water meter and electric service in the house we are staying and write down the numbers when we arrive and when we depart to give us some basis for usage to help us with estimates.

Just the 2 of us and we only turn on AC when we go to bed as living up in the hills great breezes so no need for during the day, and water needs are small as beer is so much more fun to drink!

Any help is appreciated as just want to have some clue when talking with property owner/manager.

Thanks----

[connie]

The electric rate as of October 1 is $0.309 per kwh for most places (except hotels with "contract" rates with WEB, where it is a bit lower). That should be easy enough to calculate using your start and end reading on the meter. The cost of water differs according to what kind of accommodation you have. I have attached a link below for the current rate sheet. Your water meter is most likely registering cubic meters of flow. There are 264 US gallons in a cubic meter of water. The math is easy enough. I'm sorry but I can't help with propane.

Link to the current rate sheet for electricity ----- http://www.webbonaire.com/images/dow...tober-2016.pdf
Link for the current water rate ----- http://www.webbonaire.com/images/dow...t-May-2014.pdf

Connie
OceanScape, OceanEdge, OceanVista Bonaire

[Cornhusker]

thank you for the info as great to know---and yes I can not do some simple math and come up with some costs for what we use on our trip this year.

[Cornhusker]

Connie--it might be that our friends Dick & Gloria might be staying in one of your units in 2017 as we just talked with them as going to pick them up at the airport and he said they could walk as changed to your area. Again thanks for all the helpful info.

[StanZ]

The propane cost is minimal. A large bottle cost $17 and lasts us 6 months.

Electricity can range from $80 per month to $260, and once it was $400!. With my wife and I it was $80 last February,but we're not big air conditioner users. Renters average $160/ month.

Water averages about $.025/gallon. Again, for my wife and I it cost $75/month but other bills have been up to $180 in the past year with four guests. We have an outdoor gear rinse sink and that can use a lot of water if people aren't careful and just run the water continuously.

As you would expect, the costs will range with your use but I hope this will give you a ballpark idea.

Enjoy your vacation!

[StanZ]

A little more on utility costs.

During my personal research I created a spreadsheet of electric costs by watts and daily usage to show annual cost. This was to see what the ROI would be for changing to more energy efficient appliances and LED bulbs. I've included it below for any owners. If anyone wants the original spreadsheet, PM me and I'll send it to you.

For example, a 40 watt bulb being used 6 hours per day costs almost $27/year. Changing to a 9 watt LED bulb will reduce the cost to $6.07, so you would save $21 in just the first year.

Bonaire: $0.31/KWh
		Hrs/Day
Watts	1	4	6	8	12	24
1	0.11	0.45	0.67	0.90	1.35	2.70
5	0.56	2.25	3.37	4.50	6.75	13.50
6	0.67	2.70	4.05	5.40	8.10	16.20
7	0.79	3.15	4.72	6.30	9.45	18.90
8	0.90	3.60	5.40	7.20	10.80	21.60
9	1.01	4.05	6.07	8.10	12.15	24.29
10	1.12	4.50	6.75	9.00	13.50	26.99
13	1.46	5.85	8.77	11.70	17.55	35.09
15	1.69	6.75	10.12	13.50	20.25	40.49
20	2.25	9.00	13.50	18.00	26.99	53.99
30	3.37	13.50	20.25	26.99	40.49	80.98
40	4.50	18.00	26.99	35.99	53.99	107.98
60	6.75	26.99	40.49	53.99	80.98	161.97
70	7.87	31.49	47.24	62.99	94.48	188.96
75	8.44	33.74	50.61	67.49	101.23	202.46
80	9.00	35.99	53.99	71.98	107.98	215.95
90	10.12	40.49	60.74	80.98	121.47	242.95
100	11.25	44.99	67.49	89.98	134.97	269.94
200	22.50	89.98	134.97	179.96	269.94	539.88
300	33.74	134.97	202.46	269.94	404.91	809.83
400	44.99	179.96	269.94	359.92	539.88	1079.77
500	56.24	224.95	337.43	449.90	674.86	1349.71
1000	112.48	449.90	674.86	899.81	1349.71	2699.42
1200	134.97	539.88	809.83	1079.77	1619.65	3239.31
1800	202.46	809.83	1214.74	1619.65	2429.48	4858.96

[tholland]

Does anybody know if the windmills used for electric generation in recent years (wind farm?) have managed to lower the cost of electricity for consumers on Bonaire? did the wind farm make any difference? Will solar play a more important role in future, now that it has a foothold on Bonaire?

[Cornhusker]

thanks for the info and great chart on cost projections!

[Cornhusker]

Dear Stan--We are heading down to Bonaire a month next week and have lined up visits to multiple properties for our 2019 return trip and wondering what the current rates are on Bonaire for electric and water?

I am retiring this year and looking to rent a place for 3-5 month in 2019 and many of them have plans where we pay a set rental rate plus electric and water. I have seen some places that have $15 per day limit for 2-people so I need to put my banker hat on and do some computing. The only time we use AC is at night in the bedroom and many times the breeze is more than enough to keep us comfortable. I wrote down the starting numbers for water meter and electric meter last year but lost the figures, so this year I plan to measure usage each week and figure out how efficient or wasteful we are to help us plan for expenses next year. Any help will really be appreciated. Royce & Mary----

[wwguy]

As of January 1 2018 electricity rates have increased from $0.309 kWh to $0.382 kWh, a 24% increase. Rates are anticipated to increase again in April after the actual cost of producing electricity is reviewed by the Dutch government. Rising fuel costs (production) and demand for new distribution infrastructure (delivery) are increasing the actual cost of delivering electricity to customers. A new Dutch law enacted in 2016 now requires WEB to base rates on actual cost of production, which is what is driving the cost analysis and subsequent rate adjustments.

In hasn't been mentioned anywhere that I can find, but I expect this to have a trickle-down effect on water rates too, this due to the high energy costs associated with running the desalination pumps and distribution system.

News about the rate hikes can be read here on WEB's website (pun intended.) Current and past electricity and water rates can be found here on WEB's rate page.