Utility bills in Houston highest in the nation, survey shows

Houston Business Journal - by Ford Gunter Reporter

Houston had the highest home utility bills in the nation last month, according to a survey released this week by the WhiteFence Index.

Houston's average monthly utility bill was $332.69 for the month of April. By comparison, average bills in Los Angeles were $206.44, putting it atop the "most affordable" list.

The national average for April dropped $33 from March, to $263.07.

"Houston is the most expensive because people there have bigger houses and tend to run their air conditioners just about every day, all day long," said Jeff Wagoner, chief operations officer of Houston-based WhiteFence.com, a Web-based comparison shopping forum.

The WhiteFence Index compiles average monthly home utility bills for phone, Internet, television, electricity and natural gas in 21 major U.S. cities.

Dallas, the only other Texas city listed, was the second-most expensive city, with an average utility bill of $330.89.