Source brief
How utility estimates should be framed for renters
RentSift shows historical state electricity and gas prices, not a combined household utility budget. The electricity scenario states its assumed usage. Gas stays price context, while local Census payment shares and possible providers are labeled separately. Here is what those sources can and cannot tell you about an apartment.
What EIA and Census return
The EIA electricity API returns monthly residential average retail prices by state. RentSift labels the observation month and shows an illustrative electricity amount at a stated kWh assumption. The usage is not a measured apartment or state average, and the price is not your provider's current tariff.
The EIA natural-gas price is residential revenue divided by volume. It includes fixed charges and varies seasonally. Multiplying it by a fixed year-round usage assumption is not a reliable apartment bill forecast, so we show the price without a monthly gas estimate or a combined electric-plus-gas budget.
Census ACS utility tables add separately dated local payment context. Their no-charge-or-not-used category can include a fuel not used, no charge, or payment elsewhere; it does not prove utilities are bundled into rent. The report identifies the ACS multi-year vintage and the ZCTA or tract used.
Why state rates are not a guessed building tariff
A latitude and longitude alone cannot establish a building's current provider, tariff, meter arrangement, or eligibility for a particular rate schedule.
Location-based tariff searches can surface older or inapplicable plans. A broad numeric range does not fix a mismatched tariff or unknown household usage; those gaps must remain explicit.
The report keeps historical EIA state prices separate from Census payment context. Provider options come from official service-area sources where available, and renters must verify service for the exact address. An unknown provider stays unknown.
What the estimate does not cover
Actual utility bills depend on building age, insulation quality, HVAC type, window efficiency, and appliance load. Rate data captures none of that. Two apartments in the same ZIP code can have very different monthly bills.
Virginia addresses may map to a different provider and rate structure than DC or Maryland addresses, but actual usage still varies by building and household.
Water, sewer, trash, internet and property billing fees are not estimated. The report's electricity scenario is not a total utility budget, and gas may not apply to an all-electric apartment.
Some buildings fold utilities into rent. We cannot detect that from rate data alone.
Why show it anyway
Historical prices help renters understand the scale and units of electricity and gas charges. To compare actual offers, request the last 12 months of unit usage, the current provider plan and all property billing fees.
The source month matters: the latest available monthly observation can lag today's date. A fresh report run does not turn that historical observation into today's tariff.
The report calls this electricity and gas context, names each observation period, and states the electricity usage assumption. It does not score homes from that assumption. Compare uses state electricity price context, not a promised household bill.
Enter an address in our DMV coverage area to see source-labeled crime, complaints, utilities, schools, permits, and nearby context.