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Shared meter

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Shared meter

Postby Ofir1801 » Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:52 pm

Hi.
We leave in queens in a 2 family house. After 4 years of paying very high utility bills we decided to call con ed. To check what the couse for it. Co Ed. sent an Inspector to our house the inspector found that we paying heat for both apartments . My question is how and from who we can get reimbursed for this 4 years of paying heat for our neighbor upstairs . I also want to know in a case the landlord will be responsible for it (most likely)if because of that the landlord can not renew my rental lease or higher the rent price in order to cover his expenses and if it’s legal for him to do so
P.s
We are in a point in the process when the landlord been informed by con ed for the Sebring meter and waiting for his response
Ofir1801
 
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Re: Shared meter

Postby TenantNet » Thu Jul 19, 2018 2:04 am

You don't say, but I'm assuming your heat is electrical, not gas. I'm also assuming the LL does not live in the building.

First, get a printed copy of the inspector's determination. Get and keep as much documentation, both what you receive, what you send and complaints or violations coming from government agencies.

If there is a master meter for the building and not broken down to separate meters, then the LL is clearly at fault in our opinion, and should be liable.

The LL would have to go after the other neighbor for the cost of electricity that should have been allocated to them. But in reality, given the LL's fault, in our opinion, the LL should eat the cost, not the neighbor. They did nothing wrong.

I would take a look at this publication:
http://tenant.net/Rights/Utility/util-toc.html

particularly issues dealing with a shared meter:
http://tenant.net/Rights/Utility/utilch08.html

Also be aware this is an old document and could be out-of-date in some respects, especially phone numbers.

Also look at the Public Utility Project at http://utilityproject.org/

See the electrical FAQ at http://utilityproject.org/utilities/ele ... ities-faq/

You can also contact the NYS Public Service Commission and/or the NYS Attorney General's office.

Unfortunately, you are correct that being in a 2-family house, the LL can force you out at the end of the current lease, or within a month or two if you are a month-to-month tenant.

We have no idea what a "Sebring meter" is.
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Re: Shared meter

Postby Ofir1801 » Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:02 pm

Thank you for the prompt answer
My heat is gas there is 2 different meters but the furnace going only to my meter and yes the landlord does not live in the building
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Re: Shared meter

Postby TenantNet » Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:18 pm

Without a waiver, NYC law requires central heat serving all units.
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