The heating meter is a special device that allows you to record the actual consumption of thermal energy. Theoretically, such a device will reduce the amount of utility bills. Let's try to find out how this is true.
In our country, the problem of rising payments for utilities appeared relatively recently. Even 30 years ago, there were ridiculously low amounts in receipts for water, heat and electricity, and it never occurred to anyone to deal with accurate accounting. Everyone was satisfied with the uniform tariff rate, which depended on the footage of the living space and the number of residents. At present, when energy is becoming more expensive every year, utility bills have become a significant part of the family budget. Therefore, heating meters seem to be a very reasonable way to save. It should be noted that such devices have long been used in Europe, where initially there was no cheap oil or gas, therefore, special attention was paid to the problem of accurately accounting for heat consumption.
Heating meter: issue price
How much does it cost to install such a device? There is no definite answer, since the total amount consists of several components. Firstly, the heating meter itself costs about 10-15 thousand rubles. Agree, this is quite a lot. Secondly, one meter may not be enough - one device is installed only in apartments with horizontal wiring. If the house has vertical risers, then the device will have to be installed on each, and the price will rise to heaven. However, these are not the only costs: you will have to pay about 200-250 rubles for the installation permit, then order the project, which will cost another 3 thousand rubles, pay for the installation (500-1000 rubles) and, finally, check the meter for heating . The latter service is by no means free, and will have to be carried out every four years. After all these stages have been successfully overcome, you must sign an agreement that you will pay for heat on the meter.
Result
The main question remains: what will be the economic effect? Theoretically, the heating meter allows you to reduce utility bills by about half, and therefore, despite the high price of the device itself and the additional costs, it pays for itself in about a year. But this is in theory. Sometimes payers find themselves in an ambiguous situation: having installed a counter, they cannot conclude an agreement, when for completely objective, and when and for far-fetched reasons. And then you have to either put up and pay as before, or go to court.
But here is the interesting thing. Some homeowners associations install a house-wide meter for heating and are calculated with GorEnergo solely on the basis of the instrument. But tenants are provided with completely different amounts calculated at the rate. So it’s obvious that counters allow saving, but in order for the money saved to remain in your family budget rather than settle on the side, you will have to do a lot of work: review your contract with the HOA, organize a general meeting of tenants and get a review of the amount of utility bills.