utilities?

Hi Cashmere,

Depending on where you live, and if and when rain is plentiful, most homes are supplied with water for free, as most have cisterns that collect rainwater. The link I provided below will explain this in more detail.

As far as power, well......don't get us started on our WAPA (Electricity) bills!!!! Now THAT's a touchy subject!!! 🙂 The electricity costs are out of sight around here and seem to be getting worse all the time.

Here is a link to a page on that will give you an overview of the infrastructure here in the VI. You will find several links in the middle of the page. Also, to the left of the page you will also find several other useful links regarding the practicalities of living here. This will be a good start:

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/infrastructure/

Also if you use the search feature on this board (search for WAPA), you will also be able to find a great deal of additional information regarding what people are paying for electric, ideas on how to conserve energy, etc. etc .

Good luck and feel free to post any other questions that you have!!!!

We live on STX, have no A/C and no washer/dryer and use rainwater from our cistern. Our highest WAPA bill - $170 or so. We average $125 - $130. Hope this helps.

If you're living in a condo or apartment many have meters & you're charged anywhere from .02 to .06 a gallon or maybe more.

I pay my condo association for my electric & the last bill was .30/kwh. Air conditioning really eats up electricity. I don't have it or need it & my bill runs about $90 to $115/month including a washer/dryer but I'm single & don't use my dishwasher & don't have a separate freezer. With kids or more people living in your place it would probably run higher.

I had a three bedroom, washer and dryer, no air conditioning - current (electricity) was over $300/month. We had a big cistern and was fine for 5 people. Gas tank for our stove lasted six months (we grilled a lot and didn't cook much) it costs about $60 or $80. Anyone know? I can't remember.

Teresa

Do a search on this as well there are several threads that are detailed with monthly expenses.

does the water from the Cisterns go through any filtration?

you can add a filtration and/or U/V purification system to any cistern if you choose to do so if it doesn't have one already. Most locals don't do anything special to their cistern water. Many new arrivals do. There isn't island-wide dysentery or disease, so it doesn't seem to be all that fragile a thing.