Electric/Gas Bill too high?

Question

OK, my girlfriend is renting 1 bedroom decent size house apartment. down stairs landloard lives in the house. My GF's gas/electric bill is extremely high, she pays close $400 in winter and recently she paid $170 during summer. She is hardly in her apartment, she doesn't use the oven, no air conditioning, just a fan. In winter her place is like a freezer. I keep telling her that there is something wrong and she needs to address the issue, but she is not doing it, she is too nice. I am thinking that maybe that she is paying for landloards' gas/electric too, or the meter is wrong or something. People who own houses don't pay that much for gas/electric yet alone just living in a 1 bedroom place. what do you think?

Answer 1

Have the electric company come out and check to see if the meter is running properly. They can also see if someone has ran wiring into her apt from another apt. It sounds as if the landlord is taking advantage of your girlfriend knowing full well she won't report him or do anything about said problem.

It happened to me in fourplex, while my gas and electric were high the other 3 units were lower than usual. I called the electric and gas company to check for leaks and the meter. Guess what they found? Illegal wiring in the entire building which the landlord knew about. He got into trouble because I sued him and the other tenants(who were mad at me)had to start paying more and moved out. He lost all his tenants and put the units up for sale. Whether he disclosed the fact of the wiring issue or even sold the units I don't know. but his asking price was a million dollars so I hope any interested buyers would ask or be told.

Answer 2

A bottom floor unit will have a somewhat lower electric bill because the second floor is acting like insulation. Most electric meters can be read by a laymen, so read both meters for a week or two and see if there is a noticable difference in usage. If you think there is a problem have the power company check the meter's calibration. realtor.sailor

Answer 3

I bet you are 100% correct! The same thing happened to me when I lived above a business. We got their bill and they got ours. I suggest you call the utility company to verify the property is being metered properly. If they discover it isn't the owner will have to make the repairs and your girlfriend will have the proof to get back (from the landlord) what she has already paid to the utility.

Answer 4

Look around outside the house and see if there are two electric meters and two gas meters, and both functioning if not she is paying for is all. She should have a separate meter for her usage. If there is only one report them and get a lawyer