Standard Utility Allowances (SUA) Charts

Fiscal Year 2008

The Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) listed below are optional at household request, unless they are shown as mandatory. SUAs are standardized utility figures States offer to households. They are used in place of actual utility costs to calculate a household's total shelter costs. (High shelter costs can result in a deduction from a household's net income for excess shelter costs. That can mean a higher food stamp allotment.) States calculate SUAs based on average utility costs in the State, or in local areas of the State. It is generally in a household's interest to use the SUA, unless its utility costs are high. In States with optional SUAs, a household can elect to claim actual utility costs, but must verify all the costs that it claims. (Where the notation "N/A" is used, it means the State agency has not established a standard, and uses actual utility costs.) The data presented here are based on an FNS survey of the States, and are updated as State agencies revise their SUAs and give us new figures, normally once a year. Note that HCSUA and non-heating & cooling LUA (Limited Utility Allowance) figures include the telephone standard, unless otherwise noted.

In a recent innovation, some States are using a single-utility allowance (S-US) for households with only a single utility cost separate from rent. The S-US is derived from the average of single utility costs paid by households with only one utility cost. Use of an S-US is noted by an asterisk on the LUA figure, and an explanation in the notes.

* Explanation of Notes

• Alaska’s HCSUA is determined by utility regions. The HCSUAs are: $294 in Central; $377 in Southeast; $375 in Southcentral; $499 in Northern; $722 in Southwest; and $733 in Northwest. Alaska has individual allowances for four utilities, which it uses for households without heating and cooling expenses separate from rent. Electricity is $69 in Central; $83 in Southeast; $115 in Northern; $80 in Southcentral; $153 in Southwest; and $146 in Northwest. The telephone allowance is $31 in Central; $28 in Southeast; $30 in Northern; $27 in Northwest; $29 in Southcentral; and $31 in Southwest. The sewer allowance is $28 in Southwest; $30 in Central; $40 in Southcentral; $43 in Southeast; $38 in Northern; and $45 in Northwest. The water allowance is $23 in Southeast; $31 in Southcentral; $30 in Central; $50 in Northwest; $54 in Northern; and $31 in Southwest. The refuse allowance is $23 in Central; $18 in Northern; $21 in Northwest; $27 in Southcentral; $27 in Southeast; $13 in Southwest.
   

• Arizona uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $41 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• California’s LUA of $79 will be in effect October 1, 2007.
   

• Delaware uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $71 for any household with only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• District of Columbia uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $48 for any household with only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• Guam’s SUA consists of six sub-elements (for electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash, and telephone). Electricity varies by household size: $81 for one person; $96 for two or three; $119 for four; $139 for five; $162 for six; $187 for seven; $196 for eight; $212 for nine or ten, and $218 for 11 or more. Gas also varies by household size: $21 for one, two or three; $42 for four, five or six; and $63 for seven or more. Water also varies by household size: $22 for one; $27 for two or three; $34 for four; $39 for five; $49 for six; $58 for seven; $63 for eight; $71 for nine or ten; and $73 for 11 or more. Sewer is a flat $22 per household. Trash is a flat $10.00 per household. And telephone is a flat $24 per household.
   

• Hawaii’s SUA consists of four sub-elements and is based on household size. Electricity/gas is $117 for one person; $127 for two; $145 for three; $179 for four or five; $210 for six; and $237 for seven through ten. Water is $28 for one person; $31 for two; $34 for three; $40 for four or five; $46 for six; and $55 for seven through ten. Sewage/trash is a flat $52. Telephone is a flat $26.
   

• Idaho uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $61 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent. Idaho terms its S-US a Minimum Utility Allowance (MUA).
   

• Illinois uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $38 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• Iowa's non-heating and cooling LUA does not include the telephone standard.
   

• Louisiana has Mandatory Simplified SUA. This means no pro-ration of the SUA between households sharing living quarters, and allows an SUA to households in public housing with central meters who are billed only for excess usage of a utility.
   

• Michigan has individual utility standards in lieu of an LUA. The standards are: Non-heat electric - $92; Cooking fuel - $52; Water/sewer - $51; Garbage/trash - $14.
   

• Minnesota has a $75 non-heating utility standard for electricity.
   

• Missouri uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $55 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• Montana uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $79 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• Nebraska uses a One Utility Allowance (OUA) of $28 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• Nevada uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $48 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent. Nevada terms its S-US an Individual Utility Allowance (IUA).
   

• New Hampshire has a $128 individual electricity standard for households with only electricity costs separate from rent.
   

• New Mexico uses a simplified SUA. This means no pro-ration of the SUA between households sharing living quarters, and allows an SUA to households in public housing with central meters who are billed only for excess usage of a utility.
   

• North Carolina's HCSUA is based on household size: $229 for one, $252 for two, $290 for
  three or four, and $324 for and five or more persons. NC’s LUA is based on household size: $132 for one, $146 for two, $167 for three or four, and $191 for five or more persons.
   

• North Dakota uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $105 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent. 
   

• Oklahoma uses a simplified SUA. This means no pro-ration of the SUA between households sharing living quarters, and allows an SUA to households in public housing with central meters who are billed only for excess usage of a utility.
   

• Oregon uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $38 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• Pennsylvania uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $49 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent.
   

• South Dakota uses a Single-Utility Standard (S-US) of $70 for any household that has only a single utility cost, apart from its rent. 
   

• Tennessee's HCSUA is based on household size: $293 for one, $304 for two, $315 for three, $326 for four, $336 for five, $347 for six, $358 for seven, $369 for eight, $380 for nine, and $391 for ten or more persons.
   

• Virginia’s HCSUA is based on household size: $252 for one-three persons and $317 for four or more persons.
   

• Washington’s HCSUA is based on household size: $328 for one, $338 for two, $348 for three, $358 for four, $368 for five and $378 for six or more persons.
   

• Wisconsin has adopted the following single utility standards for households with only a single utility cost: Non-heat electric - $75; Cooking fuel - $26; Water/sewer - $59; Garbage/trash - $15. Last Updated: 11/02/2007