What can I do about past estimated bills incurred due 2 the landlord keeping the basment locked where meters r

Question

The basement where the meters r located is always locked and the previous landlord would never come to the premises to allow the utility companies access to the basement to read the meters...The new landlord that purchased the building installed automatic read meters and as a result of this I was charged the proper charges incurred for all the back estimated bills and now my bill is more than I can handle. I set up a payment agreement with the utility company but fell in default due to a lose of income....Is there anything that I can do in regards to this situation b4 my utilities are shut off....I'm in New York City

Answer 1

Check with the city's Energy Office (might have a different name but every city has a similar agency). They can offer short-term assitance to folks who can't pay their energy bills. That will at least keep the lights on.

As far as the previous landlord, there is not much you can do. His defense will be that you could have simply overpaid your monthly electric bill to avoid getting caught short; in fact, the electric company where I live actually recommends doing that, if you get to your third month with an estimated reading. Since he's not the landlord any more, you can't really go back in time and force him to let the utility companies have access to the meters. And technically it's not his fault for your getting behind in the bills because your bill states if it is an estimated or actual reading; it's common knowledge that estimated readings are always too low and months of them could take a bite out of your pocket; and you were always welcome to overpay the bills.

Answer 2

Depends on your lease. Does your lease say you are to pay the utilities? If it does not, you may have signed an addendum. If an addendum is on file, your new landlord can charge you for the current and the arrears. I work in the business and I know how the utility companies work and let me tell you, even if they did not have access to read those meters, you would still get a bill. How many people share a meter? Are they individual? If shared, you may have recourse-they have to use a formula or "prove" you owe the amount they are asking for. Since the utilities are not in yuor name, the utility company cannot cut you off. Sounds like a Utility Billing Group is who is handling this. Not the actual Utility Company. They can push you, but why would the new landlord want to loose tenants over a bill he never paid anyway? Talk to the landlord.