Both power and water are expensive here. My town has one of the highest water rates in the state of Oregon. After doing a few conversions and calculations, our rate for water usage is $1.30AU per 1000 liters. Our water units are in cubit feet and one unit is 100 cubic feet (2833 liters). Then they add an additional flat rate that must be paid even if no water is used. Same with sewer rates, usage plus flat rate. When all is said and done and I use just one unit in a month, my bill is about $50AU per month.
Electricity is expensive too. Summer bills are around $75 or a bit more, with winter heating it can be close to $200/month if it gets very cold. Knowing the power usage (from the labeling) of the T8s, I can calculate the cost and that comes to $8.15 AU per month for that table of lily seedlings. Right now, $AU and $US are almost equal; $1.00AU = $1.02US.
I'll add that part of the charges on the electric and water bills goes to help low income people pay their bills.
