Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Electricity and water, paying the whole bill

[fergyb2 (fergyb2]

      We have only one community bill for gas and water and Internet access.  
Part of our HOA dues are based on the square footage of the individual units 
and this provides a rough approximation of usage with smaller units paying less 
and larger units paying more.  We are individually metered for electricity and 
the Common House electricity is covered by a solar panel system on our roof.  
One potential issue is that the garage is part of the Common House system and 
if more people get electric cars and recharge them in the garage our system 
will not be adequate to cover the increased usage.  I would advise considering 
electric car use issues in your planning as these are likely to be a growing 
trend.  
       Our wifi is provided by multiple strategically placed routers but we are 
an urban dense all units attached construction.  I'm not sure how it would work 
with more widely spaced buildings.
             Bonnie
           Swans Market Cohousing
           Oakland, CA




Sent from my iPad

On Jul 1, 2015, at 2:29 PM, Susan Adams <sadams430 [at] gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> I believe, that some communities have found that there is a reduction in
> cost if the electric company only has to read one meter, and send one bill.
> 
> On Wed, Jul 1, 2015 at 5:27 PM, Elizabeth Magill <pastorlizm [at] gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Our water is one whole bill, and we don't figure individual household
>> usage.
>> 
>> I'm confused as to why you would WANT one single bill if you are going to
>> charge based on usage.
>> 
>> We have a challenge right now that electric to the carports is not
>> individually metered. WHen that was for lights the amount was
>> insignificant, but now that we have electric cars we wish it was metered.
>> 
>> -Liz
>> (The Rev.) Elizabeth M. Magill
>> www.worcesterfellowship.org
>> www.mosaic-commons.org
>> 508-450-0431
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Jul 1, 2015, at 5:14 PM, Susan Adams <sadams430 [at] gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> Hello all,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> We are close to being ready to build Jubilee Coho.  We will be doing
>>> EVERYTHING at once, site development, common house and all homes.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> It is our understanding that some coho communities have found a way to
>> use
>>> only one meter for electricity and one for water, rather than having a
>>> meter for every home.  (Or in other words, to pay only one bill for
>> each.)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> If this is your M.O., how do you measure the usage by each household?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Is there a way to provide wifi for the entire site?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Thanks for helping us out once again!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Susan
>>> 
>>> --
>>> *www.jubileecoho.com <http://www.jubileecoho.com>*
>>> A great place to grow a family!
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>>> 
>> 
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> 
> -- 
> *www.jubileecoho.com <http://www.jubileecoho.com>*
> A great place to grow a family!
> _________________________________________________________________
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> http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
> 
>