national multiple family submetering and allocation billing program ...

28% of those from RUBS properties. About a third (36%) of those who lived in
utility-submetered units said the billing method influenced their household’s water consumption.
Experience with Water Billing
Many respondents to the resident survey were confused or mistaken about how they paid
for water. Residents were asked to identify the method by which they were billed for water.
Table 4.16 displays the responses of the residents, organized by the category of water billing
method as identified by the owners or managers of the properties. Overall, 14% admitted they
didn’t know how they were billed. Among those whose water is included the rent or resident
dues, 85% correctly identified their water billing method. Only 57% of residents in submetered
properties did so, 44% of those in RUBS properties, and 25% of those in hot water hybrid
properties.
Table 4.16 Reported water billing method, resident survey respondents
Hot
water
hybrid
Utilitysubmetered*
How are you billed for water
usage at this property?
In-rent
or HOA Submetered RUBS
Total
included in rent or in HOA dues 85.2% 11.3% 25.1% 8.7% 0.0% 39.9%
based amount of hot water used .4% 4.4% 3.3% 25.0% 0.0% 3.3%
individual water meters; charged
1.0% 55.6% 7.8% 29.3% 0.0% 14.2%
for individual water usage
calculated on square footage 0.1% 1.3% 8.0% 2.2% 0.0% 3.8%
calculated on number of rooms 0.0% 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.4%
calculated on number of bedrooms 0.1% 0.0% 2.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.9%
calculated on number of occupants 0.0% 0.5% 10.8% 0.0% 0.0% 4.8%
calculated on number of fixtures 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
other calculation 0.6% 2.1% 14.6% 5.4% 0.0% 7.1%
other 2.1% 3.1% 4.9% 0.0% 0.0% 3.3%
don't know 7.9% 17.9% 18.1% 23.9% 0.0% 14.3%
multiple methods 2.6% 3.8% 4.2% 5.4% 0.0% 3.5%
utility submetered 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 4.5%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Total
N=725 N=390 N=999 N=92 N=103 N=2309
*Note: These residents were not asked how they were billed for water usage.
Residents responding to the survey were asked whether they were assessed a service
charge on their water bill. Forty-four percent of residents from submetered properties said their
bill included a service charge, while 22% of those from RUBS properties and 33% of those from
hot water hybrid properties reported their water bill included a service charge. A large
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