Utilities

gemgem76 · Mar 6th, 2009, 05:30

This may be a novice question, and there may be answers in other threads that I haven't come across yet.

When trying to compare apples to apples, one of our budget concerns is utilities.

Utilities, as we are accustomed to them here, mean that we pay:

Gas
Electric
Trash
Cable
Land line telephone

What can we expect (loosely, of course) for these utility payments, living in Gurgaon, for a family of five in an apartment?

capt_mahajan · Mar 6th, 2009, 08:59

All figs rupees, monthly

disclaimer: I may be a little out on the electricity costs, since don't have first hand knowledge of Gurgaon- which, I believe has issues with uninterrupted supply of power. Some places have a 100 percent backup, which means your utility bill may go down, but your maintenance/rent charges are higher, given that a generator has to be run.

Gas: Domestic, around 300 (rough) per cylinder, should last about 40/55 days depending on usage

Electricity without airconditioning, around 1000 for 3 bdrooms. With airconditioning, can be 4/5000 or more (if 24 hrs)

Trash: negligible, will be part of apartment maintenance.

Cable tv: few hundred rupees, depending on subscription- say 400. If you go DTH, you may have some installation costs, around 2500 ruppes

Landline telephone: 1000 a month or less, unless real heavy usage.

Aishah · Mar 6th, 2009, 09:19

Some small differences out our way:

Gas: 350 rupees if you have a 'book'. If gas is not available as per your booking and you run out, then you pay around 500 rupees on the black market.

Electricity: much the same as what Captain has mentioned. If you are using only one a/c, it is around 1500 rupees per month.

Cable TV: 100 rupees per TV per month. If your cable providor has a good range then that is fine. Ours is appalling - I'm seriously considering converting to SkyTV, for the movie channels in English plus BBC News. They tell me here it is around 3,500 rupees for the set-up, and the annual fee is about 1500 rupees. You can only have it for one TV for that amount.

Landline telephone: We have a BSNL scheme which provides one landline phone free plus a no. of calls per month free, and my broadband line. It is 6,000 rupees per year, working out at 500 rupees per month. Last year, we paid nothing extra. We have mobiles as well, and tend to use those more than the landline. I also don't download music, movies etc. on my computer.

Nick-H · Mar 6th, 2009, 14:54

The gas prices mentioned are for a government-subsidised supply. I understand that, in this state (TN) it is no longer possible for a foreigner to get such a subsidised "connection".

It is perfectly possible to get non-subsidised, but I think the price is about 30% higher.

gemgem76 · Mar 6th, 2009, 18:26

Ah, you guys are amazing!!

I forgot to ask about internet costs?

Thanks a million.

capt_mahajan · Mar 6th, 2009, 19:03

Broadband... or so called, unlimited, around a 1000 a month

solo_trekker · Mar 6th, 2009, 20:51

Mind you...
What goes as Broadband here isn't really very broad in the broader sense of the term compared to what you might be broadly used to...!
Cheers...!

gemgem76 · Mar 6th, 2009, 21:39

got it. So, Solo Trekker, what you're saying is that in the broad sense of the term, broadly assuming that we will always have access to internet is a broad abuse of the term?

I may have to start working on my 8th grader NOW to prep him for limited internet access

solo_trekker · Mar 6th, 2009, 21:46

Broadly speakin'... Yes...!

But don't you go broadcastin' this now...!
Or the State Phone company will start sufferin' huge losses and you and I will be responsible for it goin' bankrupt...!

I bet your Eighth grader isn't going to be extremely thrilled about the Net speeds...!
But thatz good for you, I suppose...!

Cheers...!

Nick-H · Mar 7th, 2009, 01:46

You can get speed, but you have to pay. You can get plans up to 8Mb/sec, but there will be a cap on the amount of traffic included.

My plan (Airtel) is 2Mb/sec and including 15Gb for 1199 + tax a month. I just moved from BSNL 256K Unlimited at 750 a month.

The service is reasonable, with occasional days downtime. BSNL always seemed to fail on a Friday, and nobody would do anything about it until the following monday

!

By the way, the "unlimited" plans are sprouting "fair usage" small print --- but I understand that is happening elsewhere too.

Mar 6th, 2009, 05:30	#1
gemgem76 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 5	Utilities This may be a novice question, and there may be answers in other threads that I haven't come across yet. When trying to compare apples to apples, one of our budget concerns is utilities. Utilities, as we are accustomed to them here, mean that we pay: Gas Electric Trash Cable Land line telephone What can we expect (loosely, of course) for these utility payments, living in Gurgaon, for a family of five in an apartment?

Mar 6th, 2009, 08:59	#2
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,605	All figs rupees, monthly disclaimer: I may be a little out on the electricity costs, since don't have first hand knowledge of Gurgaon- which, I believe has issues with uninterrupted supply of power. Some places have a 100 percent backup, which means your utility bill may go down, but your maintenance/rent charges are higher, given that a generator has to be run. Gas: Domestic, around 300 (rough) per cylinder, should last about 40/55 days depending on usage Electricity without airconditioning, around 1000 for 3 bdrooms. With airconditioning, can be 4/5000 or more (if 24 hrs) Trash: negligible, will be part of apartment maintenance. Cable tv: few hundred rupees, depending on subscription- say 400. If you go DTH, you may have some installation costs, around 2500 ruppes Landline telephone: 1000 a month or less, unless real heavy usage. __________________ . Outside the machine

Mar 6th, 2009, 09:19	#3
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,618	Some small differences out our way: Gas: 350 rupees if you have a 'book'. If gas is not available as per your booking and you run out, then you pay around 500 rupees on the black market. Electricity: much the same as what Captain has mentioned. If you are using only one a/c, it is around 1500 rupees per month. Cable TV: 100 rupees per TV per month. If your cable providor has a good range then that is fine. Ours is appalling - I'm seriously considering converting to SkyTV, for the movie channels in English plus BBC News. They tell me here it is around 3,500 rupees for the set-up, and the annual fee is about 1500 rupees. You can only have it for one TV for that amount. Landline telephone: We have a BSNL scheme which provides one landline phone free plus a no. of calls per month free, and my broadband line. It is 6,000 rupees per year, working out at 500 rupees per month. Last year, we paid nothing extra. We have mobiles as well, and tend to use those more than the landline. I also don't download music, movies etc. on my computer. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Mar 6th, 2009, 20:51	#7
solo_trekker Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: around delhi Posts: 880	Mind you... What goes as Broadband here isn't really very broad in the broader sense of the term compared to what you might be broadly used to...! Cheers...! __________________ http://www.indiamike.com/india-artic...eodganj-india/

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Mar 6th, 2009, 14:54	#4
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	The gas prices mentioned are for a government-subsidised supply. I understand that, in this state (TN) it is no longer possible for a foreigner to get such a subsidised "connection". It is perfectly possible to get non-subsidised, but I think the price is about 30% higher.

Mar 6th, 2009, 18:26	#5
gemgem76 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 5	Ah, you guys are amazing!! I forgot to ask about internet costs? Thanks a million.

Mar 6th, 2009, 19:03	#6
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,605	Broadband... or so called, unlimited, around a 1000 a month

Mar 6th, 2009, 21:39	#8
gemgem76 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 5	got it. So, Solo Trekker, what you're saying is that in the broad sense of the term, broadly assuming that we will always have access to internet is a broad abuse of the term? I may have to start working on my 8th grader NOW to prep him for limited internet access

Mar 6th, 2009, 21:46	#9
solo_trekker Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: around delhi Posts: 880	Broadly speakin'... Yes...! But don't you go broadcastin' this now...! Or the State Phone company will start sufferin' huge losses and you and I will be responsible for it goin' bankrupt...! I bet your Eighth grader isn't going to be extremely thrilled about the Net speeds...! But thatz good for you, I suppose...! Cheers...!

Mar 7th, 2009, 01:46	#10
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	You can get speed, but you have to pay. You can get plans up to 8Mb/sec, but there will be a cap on the amount of traffic included. My plan (Airtel) is 2Mb/sec and including 15Gb for 1199 + tax a month. I just moved from BSNL 256K Unlimited at 750 a month. The service is reasonable, with occasional days downtime. BSNL always seemed to fail on a Friday, and nobody would do anything about it until the following monday ! By the way, the "unlimited" plans are sprouting "fair usage" small print --- but I understand that is happening elsewhere too.