A rational budget

For most Russians, utility services are one of the most significant items of expenditure in the family budget. Growth rates increase steadily ahead of wages, and this burden with every year it becomes more tangible. "Exorbitant utility bills the size of our country turned into one of the most pressing social problems. On average, every Russian family spends to pay for housing and communal services 22% of total income, - says Alexander undergrowth, the head of the Advisory Board under the Chairman of the Federation Council on Innovation, modernization and energy efficiency. - In Moscow, the figures more modest - no more than 10%, but we have many areas where the cost of utility bills up to 25% of the family budget! ". As sociological surveys show that our fellow citizens are very few people know about the legal ways to reduce utility bills and often solve the problem in the simplest way - are underpaid for utility bills or refuse to pay at all. As the Minister of Regional Development of Russia Viktor Basargin, at the end of last year, the population of the municipal utilities owed 64.9 billion rubles. But this illegal path is fraught with many problems. Since June 2011 the Russian government approved new rules for public services to tenants of apartment buildings. They spelled out measures to influence the debtors and debtors - they will turn off the water and other resources. For example, a family of three can delay payment of a month, and after a warning light and debtors disconnect block the valve. So it is worth a closer study of all legal opportunities to reduce utility bills. Savings "drop by drop" Among the most obvious ways to save on utility charges - installation of water meters. Since Soviet times, we pay for the normative consumption of hot and cold water, which is much more than they really need the average person. "Now the citizens seriously overpaid because of uncontrolled over-regulations. On the water, for example, the excess is 2.5-3 times ", - says Galina Khovanskaya, State Duma deputy. Counters can only pay for actual water consumed, and the result has actually pay two to three times less. Discussions on the feasibility of installing water meters do not subside for several years. Often you can hear the opinion that after the transition to metering water consumption instead of saving the apartment dwellers are beginning to pay more! In practice, this can happen if the apartment there are more people than prescribed, because consumption norms are calculated by the number of officially living in the housing. The entire economy comes to naught if the water is consumed in the home is not rational - for example, leaking taps and cistern. That is, water meters - also a good opportunity to change their habits and do not waste water in vain. Either way, the government is pushing us to the installation of meters. Those who before January 1, 2012 will not install gas and water meters will have to pay 20% more of the approved tariff, and in 2013 - a 40% increase. So, willy-nilly to join this good of civilization have anyone who cares about the family budget. Kilowatt penny saves Studies show that the average Russian family at least a quarter of electricity spent on lighting. To reduce electricity bills, Alexei Kokorin, a representative of the Russian branch of WWF (World Wildlife Fund), recommends replacing incandescent bulbs with modern energy-efficient. This lamp is spending five times less energy at the same brightness. In this energy-efficient products operate 10-15 times longer. So, despite the high prices they pay for themselves quickly. Savings of 25-30% per year and is a simple solution saves up to several thousand. Also, instead of circuit breakers is recommended to install dimmers, allowing smooth adjustment of light intensity. The struggle for the reduction of payments is logical to continue the installation dvuhtarifnogo meter. The fact that the night tariff (from 23 pm to 7 am) on Electricity can be 2-3 times less than the daytime. In the average house consumes nearly a quarter of electricity a refrigerator that works around the clock. And if you put dvuhtarifny counter, the fridge at night will "eat" less money than usual. Statistics show that the savings on electricity costs by dvuhtarifnomu counter can reach 30-40%. Also worth gradually get rid of the "greedy" old appliances and contemporary models to choose from class A. Energy It is estimated that energy savings when using class A refrigerator is about 200 kWh / year. And how much can be saved, given that currently available energy-efficient washing machines, dishwashers, air conditioners! In addition to saving electricity, washing machines and dishwashers through the use of intelligent control can reduce water consumption. Thus, current models of washing machines LG spend from 45 to 56 liters of water per wash cycle, compared with a standard flow rate of 110-130 liters. This will especially appreciate the Russians, who are already paying for water on water meter readings. Working together to Save on rent can not only alone, but all the apartment building. We are talking about installing the heat meter obschedomovogo and pay only actual building of the resulting heat. Money will be divided proportionately between the owners of residential floor space and can get 40-50% less than the payment under the old system, based on settlement regulations. Typically, the heat meter is installed to address the HOA or management company. And though it costs quite expensive (up to 200-300 thousand rubles.), But due to savings payback very quickly, sometimes only for 2-3 winter months. The economic effect of the new principle of paying people begin to feel the heat almost immediately. "Two years ago, experts of the company" Askania "We have established a counter - tells Dudetskaya Love, chairman of the" HOA 8 "in Novorossiysk. - He has paid for itself in just one year. We pay only for actual production of heat and not by the standards. For example, payment for the heating-room apartment with total area of ​​30.7 sq. km. m was 3066 rubles. and according to the standards would be 5691 rubles. Thus, the savings amounted to 2625 rubles.. " With the transition to metering heat from tenants there are good reasons to save heat. If the building is managed by homeowners associations, then the saved money by using energy meter is often carried out a comprehensive home insulation, basements and porches, upgrading heating systems and many other useful transformations. In turn, these activities can further reduce the heat consumption of the building. "The most effective measure for reducing energy consumption at home is to update windows. After going through it at least 30% of the total heat energy received by the house, - the Rafik Alekperov, chief technology officer PROPLEKS TD (the sole supplier of heat saving PVC window profile, produced in Russia in the Austrian technologies). - Replacing old windows with new energy-efficient design of PVC can reduce heating costs by 20-30%. " Even in homes where, for whatever reasons, there is still no heat meter (and there are many more in almost all Russian regions), it still makes sense in the heat-events - such as replacing windows, insulation of facades, porches and roofs. In poorly insulated house heating system often fails to maintain a comfortable temperature. Our fellow citizens are used to compensate for the lack of heat using various electric heaters, each of which is "hungry" other home appliances combined. So even the installation of modern windows to protect from drafts and cold, reduce electricity bills. Demand recalculation For those long trips or sometimes in the summer months leaving the cottage, there is a great opportunity to reduce utility bills. In accordance with Government Resolution of 23.05.2006 № 307 "On the procedure for providing public utilities to citizens", the residents are absent for more than five days may require a recalculation of payments for certain types of utilities. "Many people mistakenly believe that the transfer is subject to all kinds of municipal services, - says Alexey Minervin, CEO of the Resurrection of" Criminal DomServis. " - In fact, some of which are calculated according to the standards for a person, and others - according to the standards of a square meter of space. For example, at a time when owners are absent, heating the apartment is the same as usual. Therefore, for the service of space heating citizens must pay for even during his absence. This also applies to payments for maintenance and repairs of the common property of apartment buildings, debris removal and use of the elevator. But the fee for services such as hot and cold water supply and sanitation (sewage), as well as gas and electricity (if you did not install individual meters) shall be recalculated in the temporary absence of the citizens. " During the summer months, many retirees who spend in the country, the gain can reach several thousand, which is comparable to the average Russian pensions and salaries. Employees HCS, or the Uniform Information and Clearing Center shall make a recalculation of rent within five days after submission of documents. But that's just the collection of documents from the owners are the problem - due to ignorance of the rules. "Often documents that represent tenants to recalculate, designed properly, - says Igor Shirokov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of" Prominvest. " - If the owners live in the summer of gardening, they should submit only two documents, copies of the documents and extract from Gardening "magazine of stay of persons in the villa area." Documents need not be notarized, print enough gardening. You must also write an application for recalculation. It is important to provide data on a temporary absence not later than 30 days after his return from gardening. " Also the basis for allocation can be: a statement of assignment or a copy of travel documents, certified by a notary, a certificate of medical treatment in a hospital or sanatorium, travel, airline tickets or copies of them, as well as copies of invoices for a hotel or other place of temporary residence. Alas, our fellow citizens in the fullest sense of the word pay their honestly earned money for passivity and ignorance of their rights and opportunities. But, as we have seen, there are many legitimate ways to cut utilities, save on the waste of the family budget and make their lives better.