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In our condo building of almost 40 units, we have had great problems with our management company's handling of the A/C bills. Many people seem to be overcharged.
Please help with these questions:
1- Is it true that individual unit meters should be read monthly by by a company rep and then set back to zero? This has not been happening here. Instead, the meters are never set back to zero, and just accumulate.
2- Is the management company required to present pictures of the meters with the financials they provide the building?
3- In your experience what might be an average condo A/C bill during the warm season for a unit of 1,400 square feet, 750 square feet, etc?
I am resident manager for a mulit unit building, I am not familair with the meters that you have described . If there are meters, setting them back to zero should not be the issue, what needs to happen if that every week someone should be taking a reading, then every 2 weeks so we can try and see the consumption of energy; then we begin to compare them and if this month is alot higher then last month then yes we have an issue at hand. Pictures speak a thousnad words, but in this case i dont see what it cant do a weekly/monthly log needs to be implemented. As far as question #3, I have and use a great a/c company I will be more then happy to provide you with the info, who will assess the situation and advise you on what you need to do.
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It is only a matter pf preference to set the meters back or not. I prefer not, simply because there is never an argument as to where the meter was last and billing is indisputable. You might want to try a third party reading company; I can provide you with some if you need.
Pictures? I have never heard of this; however, it may be part of your individual management contract. This is not typical though and may either not be received well from the management company or you will be charged extra for it.
Too many factors come into play with figuring cost; insulation, AC age and unit efficiency, desired or controlled temperature, outdoor temperature, etc... there is not real set rule of thumb.
There are also energy auditing companies (REAP Consulting, etc..) that can come in and do an audit for your building.
~AR
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