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Apartment complex billed on industrial electricity rates? How to fix?

real estateutilitiestenant rightselectricity
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John_DIY
Joined:
14.04.2020
Posts: 2473
Topic Starter
07.01.2025 09:14
Hey everyone, I recently looked closely at my electricity bill and noticed we are somehow being charged under commercial/industrial rates instead of residential ones. My neighbors and I are paying way more than we should for basic apartment living. I contacted the property management, but they just gave me the runaround and said it's out of their hands. Has anyone dealt with this before? How do we actually go about getting the utility company to switch our complex back to domestic rates?
15 replies in this topic
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monica_p
Joined:
07.02.2020
Posts: 1545
20.01.2025 23:54
That sounds super shady. Are you sure the property manager isn't pocketing the difference somehow?
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robert_d
Joined:
13.06.2021
Posts: 2415
26.04.2025 04:47
Check your local tenant union laws immediately. They usually have resources for utility fraud or misclassification.
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Roman_88
Joined:
25.06.2024
Posts: 282
27.04.2025 10:26
In reply to a previous post
I agree with the first reply, definitely look into the management's involvement. My old landlord tried pulling something similar with water bills.
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Kras_T
Joined:
03.01.2023
Posts: 603
05.05.2025 09:04
Have you tried calling the utility company directly instead of going through management? Sometimes the power company reps are actually helpful if you explain you are residential tenants.
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Sophia_G
Joined:
19.08.2021
Posts: 1263
28.05.2025 07:30
In reply to a previous post
Listen to the person above me. Call the utility directly and ask for a meter classification review.
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KnowItAll
Joined:
18.06.2023
Posts: 2192
24.06.2025 21:11
This happened to my sister in Chicago. Turns out the builder registered the whole parcel as a commercial construction site and never updated it after completion.
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Selector
Joined:
18.08.2023
Posts: 1506
23.07.2025 20:43
How long has this been going on? You might be owed a massive refund if they've been overcharging you for years.
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demian_l
Joined:
23.01.2024
Posts: 654
23.08.2025 18:47
In reply to a previous post
Good luck getting property management to admit fault. They ghosted us until we threatened legal action.
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Iva_R
Joined:
03.02.2024
Posts: 1487
27.10.2025 15:03
Contact your state's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) or equivalent regulatory body. File a formal complaint against the power company and the apartment complex.
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Yaro_K
Joined:
11.06.2020
Posts: 2406
05.11.2025 22:50
In reply to a previous post
Yeah, the PUC route is the nuclear option, but it always gets their attention fast.
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agata_k
Joined:
25.06.2022
Posts: 2361
19.12.2025 15:59
Are you on a master meter or do you have individual meters for each unit?
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Sophia_G
Joined:
04.02.2021
Posts: 401
17.01.2026 04:42
In reply to a previous post
If it's a master meter, the landlord usually splits the commercial bill among everyone, which is a nightmare.
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Oli_S
Joined:
06.03.2025
Posts: 2428
15.02.2026 22:02
Take screenshots of your bill rates and compare them to the standard residential tier on the utility's website to have solid proof.
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GoldenHands
Joined:
14.03.2024
Posts: 978
22.03.2026 22:15
Thanks for sharing this, I just checked mine and now I'm paranoid. Going to look at my bill right now.
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Marius_C
Joined:
27.05.2021
Posts: 2225
31.03.2026 05:45
Keep us updated on what happens! Hope you guys get it resolved and get your money back.

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