Water or Sewer Bill Question (Chicago: real estate, apartment, lawyer)

[salata87]

Just checked online my water or sewer Bill and and realized that went from $ 391 to $ 461. That $ 70 increase. Do you know why ? I heard about plan to rise cost of water, did they voted increase ? I have not metered account. Looks like plan not to rising property taxes work very well, instead the rise everything else.

[Jesse69]

I'm in Wicker Park and my last 2 months water bill was ONLY $8.05. I don't know if I'm getting a discount but my DAD worked for the Chicago Water Dept and he gets a big pension from them.

Where do you live that your Water Bill is so high?

[salata87]

Same area.

[Attrill]

Water bills don't come monthly unless you've recently gotten a meter installed. Usually you get two a year if you're unmetered and the price is based on the size of your house. Was the increase from $ 391 to $ 461 for the year? That could be typical based on the size of your house.

[salata87]

I got two flat apartment building and this increase come with my first payment (of two). Recently I instaled water meter so I won't receive this kind of bill anymore but trying to understand my bill. Increase from $ 391 to $ 461 in first installment looks pretty high.

[Jesse69]

Why is your water bill so high? What do you use water for?

I take a bath every 4 days. Then I use water for dishwashing, brushing my teeth, and laundry. Rarely drink water as I love diet soda.

I wonder what other people here are paying for their water bill! I thought water was cheap! I guess I am getting some kind of big major discount on water!

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by salata87

Recently I instaled water meter so I won't receive this kind of bill anymore but trying to understand my bill. Increase from $ 391 to $ 461 in first installment looks pretty high.

Does your bill say "Non-Metered Account" in the upper right hand corner? If so, it is your final bill closing out your un-metered account and switching you over to metered.

It may cover a longer time frame than your typical un-metered bill, I'll guess you'll find out when you get your first metered bill. Metered bills list water usage, un-metered will list an assessment in the details section. We're usually charged $150 to $175 for a 2 floor 20' wide building.

[salata87]

Originally Posted by Attrill

Does your bill say "Non-Metered Account" in the upper right hand corner? If so, it is your final bill closing out your un-metered account and switching you over to metered.

It may cover a longer time frame than your typical un-metered bill, I'll guess you'll find out when you get your first metered bill. Metered bills list water usage, un-metered will list an assessment in the details section. We're usually charged $150 to $175 for a 2 floor 20' wide building.

You might be right, don't received actual paper bill yet, just checked my balance online. $ 150-175 for 6 months ?

[salata87]

OK, I figured this thing out. My last 6 month bill was $ 391 and because from 01-01-2012 water went up 25 % uo so my bill to $ 561. In my case They still not make switch on theirs system to metered account so I received old format bill.
I find one interesting thing I'm paying for period from 11-01-2011 to 04-30-2012 and 25 % increase is from 01-01-2012 so why city charging me higher rate for November and December. Same lawyer should take closer look at this, class action suit ?

By the way city not rising lol property taxes but rising everything else.

[doublenickels]

Tried to get a meter. "Meter Save" installers came and said they couldn't find the main water (curb) cut-off valve. Haven't heard from them since that day. Meanwhile City of Chicago water rates are rising to high, they will soon equal real estate property tax bills.