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Home > Our WSG bill is highway robbery!

Our WSG bill is highway robbery!

June 24th, 2012 at 08:50 pm

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.

10 Responses to “Our WSG bill is highway robbery!”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1340573847

    The company is charging you for water going into your home and then sewer service for water going out of your home. In the area I live in, one can get a meter for water you put on your lawn since it shouldn't be ending up in the sewer system.

    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.

  2. Frügal Says:
    1340574520

    We live in an apartment with a total of 440 units. No lawn. Also, look at the usage. That is in gallons. Can you imagine a family of three using that much?!

    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. Smile
    Anyways... Sharing costs... Wow.

  3. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1340579074

    4350 gallons total would be 1450 gallons per person.

    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.

  4. Frügal Says:
    1340579826

    Some research into ista, the metering company and owner of the boilers, has confirmed that a lot of people have filed complaints about the way they bill.

  5. Analise Says:
    1340582270

    Apartment complexes often incorporate water, sewer, and garbage into the rent so it is not an extra bill. The problem lies with your leasing company, and the way they bill by pro-rating by # of units rather than by # of occupants. Have you shared your concerns with the leasing company?

  6. Frügal Says:
    1340584247

    I agree, Analise. I have never had to pay for w/s/g before.

    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.

  7. patientsaver Says:
    1340586177

    For what it's worth, i'm a single person and very frugal with water usage yet i still end up using around 2,000 gallons of water every 3 months. i couldnt believe it but i checked the meter one day after being away from home to check for leaks and there werent any. Daily showers and baths really add up. I don't shower daily anymore.

  8. Frügal Says:
    1340594543

    Okay, mind not the usage amounts.

    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.

  9. ceejay74 Says:
    1340600599

    Well, I don't know anything about that because I've never handled my own utilities (went from parents to dorm to rental apartments to condo association). But I did a quick Google search and it sounds like sewer rates are typically based on water usage. So that's why the numbers are identical to your water usage number -- that's how they calculate what to bill you.

  10. Xtreme Thunder Says:
    1340633997

    Most likely several residence share a cold water line, but each unit possibly has their own hot water line. Therefore, you are charged separately for hot and cold water as it appears on your bill. Being it is split like that, you now have a hot water and cold water sewer usage fee. Notice the sewer usages are based 100% of both your hot water and cold water usages.

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