Questions about heating, electricity, and water

[mimibu]

Hi,

I have a few questions about regular bills in Finland when it comes to apartments. I looked online, but I still feel confused and I like to go in knowing as much as possible.

1. how does electricity work in Finland? Is there one provider that I contact when I get an apartment? Will I be able to find an English speaker? And how much does it usually cost someone in a studio apartment, no bigger than 35m2?

2. how does heating work? do I pay a separate company? Is there only one provider. I'm from California, so I've never had to pay for heating or worry about how that works. How much does heating usually cost?

3. for water, is that usually included in the rent? I've read of some instances where it is and some where it isn't? Is there only one option to pay for water if it was not included in the rent? And is it similar to heating where I can find an English speaker to set it up? And how much would it cost.

Thank you everyone for answering these questions if you know everything. The other websites are very vague and I feel at a disadvantage not speaking the language, so all your responses are appreciated

[Rip]

1. how does electricity work in Finland? Is there one provider that I contact when I get an apartment? Will I be able to find an English speaker? And how much does it usually cost someone in a studio apartment, no bigger than 35m2?

Actually you can choose from great number of companies that sell electricity. You will also be billed for the company that owns the local lines for transfer and as the transfer and and related taxes make about half of the bill (and you have no influence for them for a given apartment), and an electricity bill for a small apartment is pretty small anyway there is not that much to be saved by comparison shopping.

The local company in Helsinki that can be used elsewhere as well and who seems to have extensive information online also in English: https://www.helen.fi/en/

Singles here can comment on costs but maybe 15-20€/month is reasonable ball park estimate (for electricity, transfer and related taxes)

2. how does heating work? do I pay a separate company? Is there only one provider. I'm from California, so I've never had to pay for heating or worry about how that works. How much does heating usually cost?

For apartments the heating is almost always included in the rent.

3. for water, is that usually included in the rent? I've read of some instances where it is and some where it isn't? Is there only one option to pay for water if it was not included in the rent? And is it similar to heating where I can find an English speaker to set it up? And how much would it cost.

You don't need to set it up. The most common options are that it is either included in the rent or there is a separate fixed water fee (vesimaksu) often 15-20€/month/person. I presume some tenants are charged based on actual consumption, but I think that is rare.

[riku2]

For the heating most flats in the city are connected to what is called district heating and hot water pipes in the street supply all the buildings. This means in each flat there is no boiler and the heating is on 24h/day. Some system in the basement will adjust the heating water temperature according to the outside temperature, so you don't have much control over the level in your flat. You can turn it down in your flat (and even turn it off) but can never have it hotter than 100% of the basement setting. I think in some blocks the adjustment is done manually, so sudden cold spells can find your flat a little cool. But if the adjustment is automatic then the temperature inside should be more stable.
Each flat is not metered for heating, there is a device in the basement which counts the heat used by the whole block but individual apartments are not metered.
The good news is that there is almost no maintenance needed by the flat owners in this system- since there is no boiler for each flat, just radiators and valves so hardly anything to go wrong there.