Thank you in advance for reading. I rented a studio apartment as a work space and about 3 mos into the lease suddenly my electricity bill spiked. I have a 2 bd apartment as well that's about 3x the size so I could compare the kw/h usage between the two and the studio was using an INSANE amount of electricity (see below), especially considering I'm only there 5-10 hours a week. I figured out the only appliance that runs all the time was the fridge, so I unplugged it and the usage returned to normal.
I've done some looking around online and all I can find are opinions about who should pay it, not who's legally responsible. In the lease, the tenant pays electricity but the owner provides/owns/repairs the appliances. I had decided to drop the issue of the fridge at the time because I didn't care enough I suppose, but since I'm giving up the apartment soon I want to make sure I am not leaving any money I am entitled to on the table.
I wrote the owner this email 28 May 2017:
The refrigerator in [address] has yet to be replaced, leaving my only option to leave it unplugged since we spoke last at the end of March (I have communicated with the on-site manager letting him know he is free to enter my apartment and replace it at any time, with minimal notice) No other change has occurred related to my use of the space or electricity, and at your and the DWP's recommendation I have confirmed the meter readings are correct.
As a result of my unplugging the refrigerator, the kwh usage in my unit has decreased from 1566 (12/07/2016 - 01/25/2017) and 2785 (01/25/2017 - 03/24/2017) to 440 (03/24/2017 - 05/23/2017), a percent change of about -85%. I've attached the utility documents here for your review.
As we discussed in late March, my DWP bill was $284.05 for the period ending 01/25/2017 and $528.85 for the time period ending 03/24/2017. The bill for the most recent period, ending 05/23/2017 is $76.15, a difference of $452.70 bill over bill.
This note is to request reimbursement of $578 for the excessive charges caused by the faulty appliance and the disruption of not having a working refrigerator in the unit for 2 months. This amount accounts for, and does not include, the initial set-up fee charged by DWP for new service and the difference in # of days in the first billing cycle and the most recent.
Is there anything else I can do? The manager did not respond to this email and claimed to be in the hospital when I sent it.
Submitted January 15, 2018 at 01:38AM by labastingg http://ift.tt/2DyLngE legaladvice
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