Legal requirements
Water meters are installed on cold and hot water supply pipes to record its consumption. To install them, you must select a device registered in the register of measuring equipment of the State Standard of the Russian Federation. Information about inclusion in this register, indicating the number, must be indicated in the device passport. The presence of a device in the register indicates its compliance with state standards and the requirements of the Law “On the Uniformity of Measurements”. The device passport must indicate a serial number that matches the number on the device itself and the initial indicator.
An attempt to install another meter, even the most accurate one, made by the world's best manufacturer, will lead to the fact that after the first check you will have to install a new device or show ingenuity and assertiveness to add this device to the register yourself. In this case, it is cheaper and easier to abandon water metering altogether and pay in full.
How to calculate the service correctly?
It is no secret that the legislation of our country is constantly changing, and therefore citizens are beginning to worry about the question of how to calculate hot water or any other utility costs.
If we talk specifically about water, then we should take into account the fact that payment consists of certain components:
- indicators of a water meter, which is located in the room and controls the flow of cold water;
- indicators of the meter, which shows the consumption of hot water in a given apartment;
- indicators of a device that calculates the cold water consumption of all tenants;
- data from the meter that monitors the consumption of the residents of the house; it is installed in the basement of the house;
- the share of a specific apartment in the total expense;
- the share that corresponds to a specific apartment in this building.
The penultimate indicator is the most incomprehensible, although in fact everything is quite accessible. It is taken into account when determining the amount of resource that was spent on everyone. It is also called “common house needs”. This, by the way, also applies to the last indicator; it is calculated when general house needs are calculated.
Calculation of hot water consumption
As for the first two indicators, they are quite understandable. They depend on the residents themselves, because a person can choose for himself whether to save the consumption of a particular resource or not. But in other cases, it all depends on how often wet cleaning is done in the entrance of the house, on the number of riser leaks, and so on.
The worst thing about this calculation system is that almost the entire part of the general household needs is fictitious. After all, in every building there are residents who incorrectly indicate their individual indicators, or, for example, one person is registered in their apartment, but five live. Then the general house needs had to be calculated based on the fact that 3 people live in apartment No. 5, and not 1. In this case, everyone else would have to pay a little less. As you can see, the question of how to calculate hot water still needs careful research.
That is why our officials are still trying to figure out how to calculate the fee for hot water and which mechanism would be the most successful.
Installation
It is better not to install the meter yourself - for this you need to have the skills of a plumber, welder, have a huge number of different tools, including, possibly, a welding machine, permission to use it. In addition, during installation you will have to turn off the water in the riser, which can only be done by utility workers. It is easier and more reliable to use the services of a professional from the utility company servicing the house. There are also a huge number of commercial firms providing such services - you have to pay for quality.
However, you will have to incur some expenses - for installation you will need:
- meters - for hot and cold water, meeting legal requirements, in good working order, with documents confirming quality and compliance;
- pipes – recently plastic and metal-plastic pipes are often used. To install meters on metal pipes, you will need a metal pipe - a piece of pipe of the required size;
- filters – it is necessary to install a coarse water filter in front of the water meter. The filter protects the device from clogging and failure;
- shut-off valves - valves should be installed in front of the device to shut off the water. Ball valves are better suited for this.
All these components must be purchased independently after consultation with a specialist. He will tell you the sizes and types of pipes and fittings, and recommend the model of the device.
After making sure that all the necessary components are available and having previously turned off the water, the technician inserts fittings into the apartment’s water supply system.
After installation, the initial readings from the device panel are recorded by a representative of the utility company in the appropriate log. They also apply number support - sealing using a sealer with numbered branded punches.
How many Gcal is needed to heat a cube of water in an indirect heating boiler?
To heat a volume of water in one cubic meter by one degree, you will need 0.001 Gcal. The calculation is simple in a cube of 100 x 100 x 100 = 1,000,000 centimeters, which means heating by one degree will require a million calories or 0.001 Gcal.
I was interested in the question of heating water in a high-rise apartment using an indirect heating boiler (from the central heating system). I plan to do the installation according to the law and have asked the heat engineers for permission. They calculated the cost of heating for me using their formula and it was very high (in my opinion). Please tell me how many Gcal is needed to heat a cube of water in an indirect heating boiler?
Payment procedure
The final calculation of the amounts that must be paid for the corresponding period is made by the Unified Information and Payment Center. This organization records the data of all meters, monitors the indicators and the correctness of their calculations by consumers.
Meter values are transmitted to the Center by the consumer in person, by mail, by telephone or via the Internet. Having received this information, the Center calculates the amount and communicates it to the consumer by sending him an invoice or other payment document. This document is the basis for making payment. Recently, electronic resources for making paperless payments using bank cards and some types of electronic money have become widespread. Terminals have also appeared that allow you to pay for utilities without having to stand in line at the bank.
Residents of a communal apartment, having received a bill, distribute the amount, who should pay and how much, among all residents, according to the rules and agreements existing in the apartment. Usually the amount is divided equally among all residents.
Rules for setting water tariffs with and without meters
The population of those regions that are not listed can find out tariffs on the official websites of local water utilities or on the portal of the local government .
The provided calculations are subject to careful verification by authorized specialists, any discrepancies are recorded in the protocol, and then approved by the relevant Order for each company with mandatory consideration of fixed marginal cost increase indices for the period from July 1 of the next calendar year to June 30 of the plan year.
Verification of meters
Like any measuring device, a water meter may develop measurement errors over time. Leaving this unattended, the consumer runs the risk of having to pay an increasing amount every month. There are cases where errors occur in a smaller direction. To avoid such deviations, it is necessary to regularly check the measuring device.
According to the law, verification should be carried out no more than once a year. It is carried out by specialized metrological laboratories. Verification can also be initiated by utility employees if there is reasonable suspicion that the meter is not operating properly. To carry out verification, the meter is dismantled and sent to the laboratory. Based on the expert opinion, a decision is made on the possibility of further use of the device or on its replacement. After the examination, the meter readings are recorded by the utility service.
It’s very easy to pay for your own water using the meter. But there are certain individuals who periodically come up with the idea that they don’t have to pay for water at all. Lately, people have not stood on ceremony with malicious defaulters - non-payment entails a lawsuit, the decision of which, in the vast majority of cases, turns out not to be in favor of the defendant.
Failure to pay for a long time will result in large fines and may even lead to confiscation of the apartment. There are also folk craftsmen who are trying to reduce the indicators using folk technical means, including damaging the seals and the device itself. Responsibility for such acts is provided for by the Code of Administrative Violations and even the Criminal Code. In addition to fines, you will have to buy a new device.
Once you install a meter, you don’t have to cheat to pay less; you just need to use water sparingly.
On our website you can get advice from a professional lawyer completely free of charge!
How much does a cubic meter of hot water cost?
In the same case, if there is no meter in the apartment, payment is made based on the established standard for water consumption and the number of residents registered in the apartment. The standard depends on the region and the documents adopted in this regard. So, for example, in Moscow, as of 2015–2016, the following standards were in force for one person:
- in Moscow - 151.36 rubles. (for comparison: the cost of 1 cubic meter of cold water is only 30.87 rubles); at the same time, the cost also depends on the supplier (water from MOEK OJSC costs almost a third more than from Mosenergo OJSC);
- in St. Petersburg you had to pay 92.51 rubles;
- in Krasnoyarsk - 74.27 rubles;
- in Ufa - 150.22 rubles;
Housing and communal services tariffs for the population of Belarus for 2020
10.2. used for the needs of heating and hot water supply with the connected (total) power of electric heating equipment more than 5 kW, with the exception of that specified in subclause 10.3 of this clause: differentiated tariff by time periods: minimum load (from 23.00 to 6.00 hours) "0.1019 (was - 0.1003); the rest of the day » 0.1892 (was 0.1863);
10.4. with the exception of what is specified in subclauses 10.1–10.3 of this clause: single-rate tariff "0.1746 (previously - 0.1433); differentiated tariff by time periods: minimum load (from 22.00 to 17.00 hours) » 0.1222 (was 0.1003); maximum loads (from 17.00 to 22.00 hours) » 0.3492 (was 0.2866).
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What happens if you don't pay for water?
Payment for water supply services must be made by the tenth day of the next month. If payments are not made within three months, you will receive a first warning from the utility company. If you do not pay for six months, then the utility companies have every right to go to court in order to collect the debt from you.
In general, the Housing Code of the Russian Federation treats defaulters very harshly. The sanctions provided for them begin with fines and end with eviction from the apartment with confiscation of valuables. So be careful.
Remote payment for services
It is also worth keeping in mind that modern technologies allow you to pay for utilities remotely or on a special schedule. This will be especially convenient if you leave your region of residence for some time or are very busy. To make payments according to the schedule, you will need to write a statement about this at the local branch of your bank or configure your personal account on your bank’s website accordingly.
In any case, try to pay the cost of hot water in full and on time
Next, the required payment amounts will be withdrawn from your account at the right time, which will allow you to avoid becoming a debtor on utility bills. In any case, try to pay the cost of hot water in full and on time.
How to transmit water meter readings
Possible methods of transmitting readings are specified by the operating organization. Users are asked to choose one of the following methods:
- reporting meter readings to the duty officer or dispatcher by telephone;
- sending readings through your personal account on the management company’s website;
- visiting the office of the management company and recording testimony in a special journal.
Where do the numbers come from if there is a counter with a pulse output?
Meters with a pulse output differ from conventional ones in that, in addition to roller digit indicators, they are equipped with a mechanism for creating short-term electrical impulses. On the front panel of such meters, water consumption is displayed in the usual form.
Each pulse records the volume of water passing through the meter and is sent to an external storage device, where the flow rate is automatically calculated.
If the management company has equipped the house with a dispatch system for automatic accounting of water control and accounting (ASKUV), then all data on water consumption is collected in the dispatch room.
There is no need to take and transmit readings from pulse water meters to the management company. Water consumption is calculated automatically; residents only have to check the information in the receipt.
To check, you can use the readings on the meter dial and manually calculate the flow rate as for regular accounting.
Pay for water online
Management companies organize a system of personal user accounts on their websites for convenience and clarity of the account status of their subscribers.
Owners can open their personal account using their personal account number, submit readings and pay for water consumption almost instantly.
It is enough to enter current data from your water meters and receive the calculated payment amount.
If the amount matches, you can proceed to payment by filling out the payment details of a bank card or any of the electronic wallets offered to choose from (WebMoney, Yandex Money, Qiwi, etc.).
The algorithm for paying for water through a mobile application is similar.
When paying through your personal account or mobile application, payment documents are generated automatically. If necessary, you can download them or forward them to your email address.
You can also make payments for housing and communal services through the State Services portal https://www.gosuslugi.ru/. To do this, portal users need to select their service provider from the proposed list.
Cash payment
To pay in cash, the resident must visit the EIRC branch, bringing with him a receipt for payment. The EIRTs operator accepts the receipt and the required amount, punches the cash register receipt and records the fact of payment on the spine of the receipt with the “paid” stamp.
The check and the issued counterfoil are documents confirming the fact of payment. Make it a habit to save your pay stubs for 2-3 years.
Explanations on the procedure for calculating rent
Now the size of this share is set by the regions independently. The size of the subsidy is determined by a formula that includes such indicators as the size of the regional standard for the cost of housing and communal services, the number of family members of the applicant, the total family income and the size of the regional standard for the maximum allowable share of utility costs. If the demand for payment of the debt remains ignored by the debtors, then the management company is forced to go to court.
In this case, the defaulter will be responsible for his actions before the court.
After accepting and considering the claim, a writ of execution is issued and sent to the bailiffs.
The order of work of bailiffs after a court decision includes the transfer of all powers to them to collect the debt. Bailiffs have the right to write off the debt from the debtor’s card, limit his travel abroad, deprive him of ownership of movable and immovable property, and withhold the amount of the debt from wages.
LGEK explains the procedure for calculating payment for hot water
At a recent meeting of the Coordination Council of the Lipetsk City Energy Company, representatives of the public recommended that energy specialists give explanations to the media about the procedure for calculating the cost of 1 cubic meter. meters of hot water in houses where communal meters are installed. Anna Polyanskaya, Sales Director of LGEK OJSC, spoke about this.
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— Cost of 1 cubic. meter of hot water is determined as follows. The amount of heating is divided by the volume of water, it turns out how much heating occurs per cubic meter of water. Then we multiply this value by the cost of a gigacalorie and add the cost of a cubic meter of water.
conclusions
Water tariffs with and without a meter are no different: a cubic meter costs the same everywhere. However, in these cases, a different algorithm for calculating payment for consumed liquid applies. Sometimes installing metering devices is more profitable from an economic point of view for premises owners. In addition, the Government of the Russian Federation issued Decree No. 354, according to which all owners were required to install water meters. Paying for water consumption using meters is quite simple: every citizen can use the method most convenient for them. Online payments remain one of the modern, fast and convenient options.
Transmission of meter readings
As you already understood, the easiest way to calculate hot water consumption is to take readings from a meter installed in a residential area. This procedure must be carried out once a month. To do this, you will need to write off the first 5 digits of the readings from the meter.
Calculation of hot water consumption
Based on them, you can independently calculate your hot water consumption. To do this, subtract the new readings from last month’s readings. The difference you receive will be your monthly expense.
If you are wondering how to calculate hot water from a receipt, then you can do this by multiplying the readings obtained using a meter by the tariff in force in your region. This calculation may be useful to you when you have questions about the numbers indicated on the payment receipt. With complaints about this, you often contact the resource supply company, where you are required to recalculate the hot water you consumed.
Unscheduled water meter check
After you take the hot water meter readings, they will need to be transferred to the water supply organization. This can be done in several ways, for example:
- using the website of such an organization or management company;
- using special forms;
- at the office of the organization that supplies you with burning water.
After transmitting the readings from your individual hot water meter, you will only have to wait for a receipt for payment to arrive. If you have figured out how to calculate hot water before this time, you can double-check the amount billed to you to avoid mistakes. At the same time, if several water meters are installed in your apartment, you will have to transmit readings from all of them.
By the way, you will need not only knowledge of how to calculate hot water, but also how to check the accuracy of the meter reading. To do this, record the readings of the three red numbers on its scale, after which approximately 30 liters of water are drained from the tap using a ten-liter bucket. If the meter shows a higher or lower number, this may be a sign that the water meter requires an unscheduled check.
Internet banking for paying for hot water
After an invoice is issued to you based on the testimony you provided, you can pay it in several ways, for example, at Russian Post, through Internet banking, and also using an ATM. If you delay payment for more than 3 months, you may be charged a penalty and your hot water may be turned off. After six months, utility companies will be able to go to court to evict you from the premises you occupy.
After six months, utility companies will be able to go to court to evict you from the premises you occupy.
