This is one of the reasons our living expenses (rent, wsg, electric) equals 60% of our income (inexcusable!).
Here is the rundown of the bill:
Bill Date: 6/12/2012
Due Date: 7/1/2012
Service From: 3/1/2012
Service Thru: 4/1/2012 (yes, you read right - billing is TWO months behind)
W/S ADMIN FEE ............ 2.30
TRASH ADMIN FEE ........ 0.25
HOT WATER ENERGY ... 29.77
TRASH SERVICE ............. 6.86
COLD WATER SERVICE .. 10.33 .. 2130 prev. read, 4470 cur. read, 2340 used
HOT WATER SERVICE ..... 6.91 ... 1580 prev. read, 3590 cur. read, 2010 used
COLD SEWER SERVICE ... 24.94 .. 2130 prev. read, 4470 cur. read, 2340 used
HOT SEWER SERVICE ..... 20.54 .. 1580 prev. read, 2340 cur. read, 2010 used
Amount Due: $101.90
There are quite a few red flags here, to me.
1. Hot Water Energy? I am told that this is the rental fee for the boilers that every tenant shares. The boilers are on the roof. No in-unit water heaters.
2. Why are Cold Water and Cold Sewer the same?
3. Why are Hot Water and Hot Sewer the same?
4. What the hell is "Hot Sewer"?
Needless to say, we are not pleased in the least bit with these living facilities. And I work here... We would love to move out, but we have absolutely no wiggle room (I have to work overtime just to pay the bills), the wife has been looking for kid-friendly work for months, and - because we have no wiggle room - we do not have deposits to move out.
Ugh. Endless circle of fail.
Our WSG bill is highway robbery!
June 24th, 2012 at 07:50 pm
June 24th, 2012 at 09:37 pm 1340573847
Hot Water Energy for most people would be gas/electric service to heat the water. Reasonable charge, not sure about price.
Your trash service is about $7 of that.
Your water is about $62. I would look at ways you use water and look to conserve. Shorter showers or install a low flow shower head. Don't leave water running when you do dishes, or brush your teeth. Fewer loads of laundry. Check for leaks with faucet and toilets. Less water in bath tub for baby.
June 24th, 2012 at 09:48 pm 1340574520
The costs are being charged to the leasing company, then the leasing company divides the cost by how many units there are.
I was hoping someone would notice the fishiness, but I figured I would explain now to avoid any confusion.
Anyways... Sharing costs... Wow.
June 24th, 2012 at 11:04 pm 1340579074
Three 40 gallon showers or tub baths on each of thirty days would be 3600 gallons used, or 1200 gallons per person. But I bet your building has low flow showers, so I wonder where so much water is going.
Then there is water for hand washing, toothbrushing, cooking washing dishes, laundry(?), toilet flushing, etc.
If your family is using less than the average person in your apartment building, then you could be seen as subsidizing the others.
June 24th, 2012 at 11:17 pm 1340579826
June 24th, 2012 at 11:57 pm 1340582270
June 25th, 2012 at 12:30 am 1340584247
No, I have not addressed it with the leasing company, as they are also my employer. While I seriously doubt any harm will come from my expressions, it is still quite a grey area for me. And, really, what are they going to do? Change their entire way of operating? No.
June 25th, 2012 at 01:02 am 1340586177
June 25th, 2012 at 03:22 am 1340594543
What is HOT SEWER? I cannot imagine any need to HEAT sewer water... And the boiler rental thing is bull crap. And notice both COLDs and HOTs are the same usage amount. This means they are charging TWICE for the same thing, by a different name.
June 25th, 2012 at 05:03 am 1340600599
June 25th, 2012 at 02:19 pm 1340633997