California Public Agency — Housing Authority of the County of Merced

Utility Allowances

Housing Choice Voucher Program Utility Allowance Schedules

Utility Allowance is provided to a tenant if the cost of required utilities (phone services not included) and some appliances for an assisted unit is not included in the tenant rent but is the responsibility of the family.

Effective October 1, 2025

Single-Family (Detached House)

Utility / Service Standard Fuel Type 0BR 1BR 2BR 3BR 4BR 5BR
HeatingNatural Gas (Includes Climate Credit)$34.00$42.00$48.00$54.00$60.00$64.00
HeatingBottle Gas$65.00$77.00$86.00$97.00$106.00$112.00
HeatingElectric (avg)$38.00$45.00$52.00$58.00$65.00$72.00
HeatingElectric Heat Pump (avg)$22.00$27.00$32.00$35.00$39.00$43.00
CookingNatural Gas$6.00$6.00$10.00$12.00$16.00$18.00
CookingBottle Gas$9.00$9.00$15.00$21.00$27.00$30.00
CookingElectric (avg)$8.00$9.00$14.00$18.00$22.00$26.00
Other Electric(Includes PG&E Climate Credit) (avg)$41.00$49.00$69.00$92.00$115.00$144.00
Air Conditioning$8.00$10.00$22.00$35.00$47.00$59.00
Water HeatingNatural Gas$16.00$18.00$26.00$34.00$42.00$49.00
Water HeatingBottle Gas$27.00$30.00$41.00$56.00$68.00$80.00
Water HeatingElectric (avg)$23.00$27.00$35.00$42.00$50.00$57.00
Water(avg)$36.00$36.00$38.00$39.00$41.00$44.00
Sewer(avg)$48.00$48.00$48.00$48.00$48.00$48.00
Trash Collection(avg)$37.00$37.00$37.00$37.00$37.00$37.00
Other: Electric Charge $30.00 (Merced Irrigation District)$30.00$30.00$30.00$30.00$30.00$30.00
Range/Microwave$11.00$11.00$11.00$11.00$11.00$11.00
Refrigerator$12.00$12.00$12.00$12.00$12.00$12.00

Multi-Family (Apartment/Semi-Detached/Duplex)

Utility / Service Standard Fuel Type 0BR 1BR 2BR 3BR 4BR 5BR
HeatingNatural Gas (Includes Climate Credit)$22.00$28.00$32.00$36.00$40.00$44.00
HeatingBottle Gas$44.00$56.00$62.00$68.00$74.00$80.00
HeatingElectric (avg)$18.00$22.00$27.00$33.00$39.00$45.00
HeatingElectric Heat Pump (avg)$16.00$19.00$22.00$25.00$28.00$30.00
CookingNatural Gas$6.00$6.00$10.00$12.00$16.00$18.00
CookingBottle Gas$9.00$9.00$15.00$21.00$27.00$30.00
CookingElectric (avg)$8.00$9.00$14.00$18.00$22.00$26.00
Other Electric(Includes PG&E Climate Credit) (avg)$27.00$32.00$46.00$60.00$74.00$90.00
Air Conditioning$11.00$13.00$18.00$23.00$28.00$33.00
Water HeatingNatural Gas$12.00$14.00$20.00$28.00$34.00$40.00
Water HeatingBottle Gas$21.00$24.00$32.00$44.00$56.00$65.00
Water HeatingElectric (avg)$18.00$22.00$28.00$34.00$40.00$46.00
Water HeatingFuel Oil$5.00$6.00$8.00$12.00$14.00$17.00
Water(avg)$36.00$36.00$38.00$39.00$41.00$44.00
Sewer(avg)$48.00$48.00$48.00$48.00$48.00$48.00
Trash Collection(avg)$37.00$37.00$37.00$37.00$37.00$37.00
Other: Electric Charge $30.00 (Merced Irrigation District)$30.00$30.00$30.00$30.00$30.00$30.00
Range/Microwave$11.00$11.00$11.00$11.00$11.00$11.00
Refrigerator$12.00$12.00$12.00$12.00$12.00$12.00