How expensive is electricity and heating oil in Alaska?

Question

Hello, I might be moving to Alaska and just would like to know if anyone can tell me if the electricity and heating oil is expensive or about average when compared to the other states in the U.S. ?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Gasoline and heating oil "on the road system" (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai) is about the same as on the USA west coast. Natural gas and electricity is a bit less.

Off the road system (Barrow, Kotzebue, Nome, etc), everything is much, much more expensive. Electricity is generated locally and in some places, fuel is flown in. Figure about twice national prices.

Also consider that you use MORE fuel in a cold climate. How a house or apartment is constructed is critical because an old building can use 10 times the energy of a new, tight house. Ask the current owner or landlord to see last year's utility bills. Factor that into your choice of accomodations.

Answer 2

Well here is a rundown for winter in and around anchorage. I filled up my oil tank with 500 gallons of heating oil, I paid 3 dollars per gallon, so 1500, that lasts about 2.5-3 months. Electricty isnt too expensive I have a 4 bedroom home with two kids and I pay 135 dollars per month, and sometimes 165 in the winter when we run space heaters.

California it was cheaper, you didnt nead heat, so only electricty which was 60 dollars per month. So its a little more here, it gets colder.

Answer 3

I have lived in Alaska all my life. It isn't cheap, we don't get the deals you would expect. In fact it is expensive just like the rest of the country. In Anchorage it is not too bad, but in smaller communities it almost always costs more since it is hard to transport fuel there. Our costs of living, like buying groceries is higher, but our wages are higher too. Minimum wage is $7.15, but most people make more than that. In Anchorage we don't have sales taxes though either.

Answer 4

it should be cheap because that is where the main pipline is.