Landlord Can Collect $4 Meter Reading Fee

Landlord applied to the DHCR for permission to switch from master metering to submetering of electricity so that electricity would no longer be included in tenants' rents. The DRA ruled for landlord, and tenants appealed. Among other things, tenants protested the DRA's ruling that landlord could charge a $4 monthly fee for reading tenants' meters. The DHCR ruled against tenants. The Rent Stabilization Code permits electric meter conversion as landlord requested. Under the approved submetering plan, tenants buy electricity from landlord or its contractor, who in turn buys it from a utility or energy service provided at a bulk rate. The schedule of rent reductions for submetering in DHCR Operational Bulletin 2003-1 is based on the median monthly cost of electricity to tenants adjusted to reflect the bulk rate plus a maximum reasonable service fee of $4 for the cost of meter reading and billing.

1131-1133 Ogden Avenue: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. VJ610044RT (6/3/09) [3-pg. doc.]