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I just signed a lease for an apartment unit in a house. Basically each unit has a PGE meter but there's a rule saying:
"Tenant shall pay all utilities except water, sewer, and garbage. Tenant shall have the PGE meter for their unit changed into their name upon move-in. PGE utility invoice for the heating/air conditioning and common area shall be billed to each tenant on a pro-rota basis based on the square footage of their unit. Billing will be sent monthly and due upon receipt."
If I have a PGE meter why am I paying on a pro-rota basis? Also does the utility bill for PGE separate AC-heater cost from normal electric usage?
Yes, it's not uncommon.
The pro-rata billing is coming from the landlord to you for the 'common' areas, the lobby and other such spots in the bldg.
You would receive a bill which comes directly to you from the utility company for your own apartment.
So you would get two bills each for a different space, one from the utility and another from the landlord.
If your heat is electric it would be included in the electric rate, if gas or some other energy source it would show separately.
I just signed a lease for an apartment unit in a house. Basically each unit has a PGE meter but there's a rule saying:
"Tenant shall pay all utilities except water, sewer, and garbage. Tenant shall have the PGE meter for their unit changed into their name upon move-in. PGE utility invoice for the heating/air conditioning and common area shall be billed to each tenant on a pro-rota basis based on the square footage of their unit. Billing will be sent monthly and due upon receipt."
If I have a PGE meter why am I paying on a pro-rota basis? Also does the utility bill for PGE separate AC-heater cost from normal electric usage?
Probably not legal. In most states you need to be licensed as a utility to resell electricity. You can call the electric company to find out. They might know. You are paying the common area bill on a pro rata basis.
Probably not legal. In most states you need to be licensed as a utility to resell electricity. You can call the electric company to find out. They might know. You are paying the common area bill on a pro rata basis.
What part is "reselling"? As far as I understood, it's the way the bill is split. But still don't get how on earth electric floor register vent could be differentiated from normal usage of electricity... Am I missing something here?
What part is "reselling"? As far as I understood, it's the way the bill is split. But still don't get how on earth electric floor register vent could be differentiated from normal usage of electricity... Am I missing something here?
Actually I was wrong(I saw from your post history you are from CA, you will have to check the specific location for conformation). By reselling electricity I mean that since the electric company is not billing you for electric, but the landlord and then the landlord billing you, he is reselling the electric to you(he is buying the electricity from the power company and then selling it to you).
The way I read your lease is that there is a laundry room(for example) with a seperate meter and he is going to bill you separately for that(divided by the number of apts).
SHARED UTILITY METERS
Some buildings have a single gas or electric meter that serves more than one rental unit. In other buildings, a tenant's gas or electric meter may also measure gas or electricity used in a common area, such as the laundry room or the lobby. In situations like these, the landlord must disclose to you that utility meters are shared before you sign the rental agreement or lease.61 If you become a tenant, the landlord must reach an agreement with you about who will pay for the shared utilities.
Rental units in older buildings may not have separate water meters or submeters. California law does not specifically regulate how landlords bill tenants for water and sewer utilities. Ask the landlord if the rental unit that you plan to rent has its own water meter or submeter. If it does not, and if the landlord will bill you for water or sewer utilities, be sure that you understand how the landlord will calculate the amount that you will be billed.62
Actually I was wrong(I saw from your post history you are from CA, you will have to check the specific location for conformation). By reselling electricity I mean that since the electric company is not billing you for electric, but the landlord and then the landlord billing you, he is reselling the electric to you(he is buying the electricity from the power company and then selling it to you).
The way I read your lease is that there is a laundry room(for example) with a seperate meter and he is going to bill you separately for that(divided by the number of apts).
SHARED UTILITY METERS
Some buildings have a single gas or electric meter that serves more than one rental unit. In other buildings, a tenant's gas or electric meter may also measure gas or electricity used in a common area, such as the laundry room or the lobby. In situations like these, the landlord must disclose to you that utility meters are shared before you sign the rental agreement or lease.61 If you become a tenant, the landlord must reach an agreement with you about who will pay for the shared utilities.
Rental units in older buildings may not have separate water meters or submeters. California law does not specifically regulate how landlords bill tenants for water and sewer utilities. Ask the landlord if the rental unit that you plan to rent has its own water meter or submeter. If it does not, and if the landlord will bill you for water or sewer utilities, be sure that you understand how the landlord will calculate the amount that you will be billed.62
So I believe my situation applies to the second one meters measuring the common areas (don't know if this refers to ac and heater usage in common areas since this is a house). So I'll not be paying someone else's heater/ac?
What the heck is this supposed to mean? Why does everything have to be so complicated and stressful for tenants!!!
"PGE utility invoice for the heating/air conditioning and common area shall be billed to each tenant on a pro-rota basis based on the square footage of their unit."
So I believe my situation applies to the second one meters measuring the common areas (don't know if this refers to ac and heater usage in common areas since this is a house). So I'll not be paying someone else's heater/ac?
That's how I read it. However this situation in my opinion is still problematic. You really do not have control over the power usage in the common areas.
That's how I read it. However this situation in my opinion is still problematic. You really do not have control over the power usage in the common areas.
A mountain out of a molehill. This is common practice all over! There is nothing illegal or problematic about it whatsoever.
shadowyman, it's not complicated, it's perfectly normal and no, you are not paying for someone else's usage. If in doubt, ask your landlord.
A mountain out of a molehill. This is common practice all over! There is nothing illegal or problematic about it whatsoever.
shadowyman, it's not complicated, it's perfectly normal and no, you are not paying for someone else's usage. If in doubt, ask your landlord.
Of course it's problematic. You don't know if somebody will leave the heat at 90 degrees in the common area, or if its a laundry room and someone decides that they can use it as a laundromat for all their friends. And of course these things happen all the time because you can read about them on this very board.
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