How to recalculate water bills in 2021, using meters (if readings were not provided) or without them

In what cases is it possible?

You can submit an application if the tenant has one of the following situations:

1. 
   The meter readings do not match the numbers on the payment forms. Such deviations can be both larger and smaller, which is revealed during inspection by water utility employees.

2. A report was drawn up recording violations in the operation of the meter. For example, if errors were made during equipment installation, the readings will be inaccurate. Here a fine is issued and a form is issued for the payment of unaccounted cubes.
3. It was discovered that the meter was deliberately distorted in order to reduce the monthly payment amount. In this case, a fine is issued.
4. The device readings indicate an increase in cubes, despite the lack of hot water. For example, if during the period of repair work there is no hot water, and the meter adds cubes, then you need to apply for recalculation.
5. Residential consumers are tenants. In such a situation, recalculation is made based on the actual number of residents.

Grounds for recalculation

Recalculation may not be possible in every situation. All details are specified in the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 06, 2011 No. 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings.”

There are 3 significant and legitimate reasons when receipts are required to be reviewed:

• When the apartment is empty for a long time (from 5 days) . If several people are registered in a residential area, then each resident must apply for recalculation with a separate application. The receipt will be recalculated, taking into account all days of absence of residents.
• The water supply was suspended for some reason . At the same time, there are standards for the permissible period for disconnection - 8 hours per month. In case of serious accidents - no more than 24. You can safely demand a recalculation in connection with a water outage if it has not been there for longer. The only exception is the planned suspension of resource supply (regulated by SanPin 2.1.4.2496-09).
• Poor water quality . You cannot use it, and you do not need to pay for such a service. The qualitative component is such parameters as chemical composition, pressure, temperature (for hot water), transparency. These characteristics will be measured by specialists and a conclusion will be issued. You can immediately contact Rospotrebnadzor with it.

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If there are meters

You just need to submit evidence for the period of lack of water. Then the next receipts will come taking into account the overpayment for the service not delivered.

Important: devices must be sealed. This means that when installing a meter, you need to notify the water utility. Otherwise, recalculation will be refused.

In the absence of installed meters

At this point, installing a meter is a responsibility. Therefore, if there are no meters, you will have to pay bills all year round. Even if the water is often turned off. In some houses, the water supply pipes are laid in such a way that it is impossible to install a separate meter for the apartment. To make a recalculation, you must provide a certificate stating that it is not technically possible to install meters.

Such confirmations are issued by the management company (MC).

Deadlines

The time that Art. 7.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation and Procedural Rules of the Russian Federation No. 354 of 04/02/2020 is allocated for recalculation; it differs depending on the situation. The deadlines are the same for cases when the consumer was not on the premises. For example, if a tenant was away from home for 5 working days, then he can receive a recalculation for this period.

However, you can only submit an application within 1 calendar month after your return . The period for which a citizen can receive a recalculation should also not exceed 6 months.

Reference! From 3 to 7 days are allotted for consideration and decision making. Rejection or approval will be reflected on the monthly payment slip.

Where to complain if a recalculation is refused

It is the responsibility of the supplier and management organization to change the amount of payment for water supply services depending on the circumstances. If the management company refuses to recalculate water costs, you can find leverage.

First, you should receive a written refusal from the company. You can complain about this refusal to the prosecutor’s office and Rospotrebnadzor. An appeal, supported by a written refusal and a copy of the application for recalculation, will become a reason for verification. If the requirements are justified, a recalculation will be made.

If the instructions of the regulatory authorities do not find a response, there is another chance to restore justice - a trial. It will also help in compensation for moral damage. You can go to court without going through the supervisory authorities.

Read more about where to complain about the Management Company.

Procedure according to Government Decree No. 354

Resolution No. 354 regulates the procedure for receiving recalculation, dividing it into stages. According to PP No. 354 (based on clause 98 of Rules No. 354 and clause 4 of Appendix 1 to Rules No. 354), the tenant:

1. 
   Officially confirms the reason for the recalculation.
   It is important to remember that the indicators are recorded only by the commission, based on the results of which the application has already been submitted. Without the last paper, the application will be automatically rejected. At this stage, the indicators of the device, the chemical composition of the water and the temperature are clarified. If desired, a full analysis of the water supply is carried out through Rospotrebnadzor.

2. Based on the established deviations from the norm x, an application is submitted. The latter is written in a business style, with a mandatory signature and the date of contact with the utility service.

Attention! The consumer is initially recommended to conduct the research on their own: let the hot water drain for 3 minutes, then pour a little into a glass and measure the temperature using a household thermometer. This will allow you to independently detect the problem, on the basis of which utility service employees are invited.

How to correct the bill due to the lack of domestic hot water?

You can recalculate hot water supply by following the instructions. To save time and verify violations, the consumer is recommended to take independent measurements and then contact the utility service and Rospotrebnadzor if necessary.

There is a general algorithm of actions that the tenant must adhere to. Step by step it looks like this:

1. 
   Diagnostics: the actual meter readings and those indicated on the payment are checked, the water temperature is measured.
   Hot water must be at least 60 degrees, otherwise it is considered poor quality service from the water supply.

2. Definition of failure. If problems are identified, the citizen contacts the commission through the utility service. During the day, civil service employees will come and conduct an inspection. They need to immediately report any problems identified and find out about the possibility of recalculation.
3. Study. If a commission employee confirms a failure in the water supply, he will certainly issue a direction or an application form with which you can issue a water recalculation.
4. Contacting the government service.
5. Approval or rejection of the application.

How to prove necessity?

The need for recalculation is proven only with the help of official papers - utility bills, personal documents.

The inspection is carried out entirely by water supply employees or representatives of Rospotrebnadzor, who follow the instructions. If there are violations, then they are obliged to issue a document about this , which will be the first full step towards receiving a recalculation.

Information! All services are guided by the protocol and legislation of the Russian Federation (based on clause 98 of Rules No. 354 and clause 4 of Appendix 1 to Rules No. 354). Thanks to this, the tenant can always analyze the refusal by contacting official sources.

List of documents

The documents that will be required for recalculation include a passport and utility bills for the last 3 months. It is also important to take care of papers confirming the tenant’s absence from the premises for several days.

These papers include:

1. Confirmation from the place of work about the business trip (a similar certificate is issued by the HR department).
2. Plane, train or bus tickets. It is better to provide round-trip tickets. This will allow water officials to accurately determine the number of days the resident has been absent.

Important! It is necessary to provide a certificate or opinion from the utility service . It not only confirms the existence of reasons for recalculation, but also serves as a guarantee for receiving it.

Recalculating water charges

To receive a recalculation for hot and cold water, each resident of the apartment must separately contact the management company or the service provider company. This must be done no later than 30 days after your return.

When the water supply is turned off, each recipient of the receipt must apply, having previously documented the fact of the lack of water. The certificate is issued by the management company. You can draw up an arbitrary act of lack of water with the signatures of two neighbors.

The time to submit an application is 30 days.

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Required documents

If no one lived in the apartment:

1. Confirmation from the employer about sending on a business trip.
2. Certificate of inpatient treatment.
3. Confirmation of hotel payment.
4. Availability of temporary registration in another apartment.
5. Certificate from the dormitory of the educational institution.
6. A document from the HOA confirming residence on the dacha plot.

If water supply services turn out to be of poor quality:

1. An act with the date of inspection and the address of the premises.
2. Expert opinion (you need to contact Rospotrebnadzor).

Submitting an application

It is written in free form; you must indicate:

1. Details of the organization to which the application was sent (can be found on the receipt).
2. Personal information.
3. Address of the apartment where the violations occurred.
4. Statement of the request for recalculation.
5. Indication of the period and type of unsatisfactory service.
6. Reasons with documentary evidence.

How to make an application?

The application for recalculation is submitted in two copies. It is filled out in accordance with the requirements for the form and sample. They can be found on the government services website or at the organization where the form is sent.

Basic Rules

When writing an application, the consumer is guided by the rules. They contain the following information:

1. Formal writing style (business address).
2. It is necessary to have a “header” where the addressee is indicated.
3. In the center is the title “Statement”.
4. The following paragraphs indicate the reason why the recalculation should be made.
5. A personal signature and date are placed.
6. The application is written in two copies.

Reference!

When filling out, it is recommended to refer to the legislation (based on clause 98 of Rules No. 354 and clause 4 of Appendix 1 to Rules No. 354).

Step-by-step compilation with examples

The alleged consumer Ivanov A.B. returned from a long business trip and discovered that all this time a fee and penalty had been charged for hot water supply.

Having confirmed his absence, he writes a statement:

1. In the upper right corner: “To the General Director of Vodosnachanie LLC, V. I. Bogdanov.” Then, under these lines, the addressee’s information is filled in: “From Ivanov A.B., owner of the apartment at the address: Leningrad region, St. Petersburg, st. Universitetskaya, 54"
2. Next, necessarily in the middle: “Application” under it: “for recalculation of hot water.”
3. From the paragraph, fill in the number “In the period from 05.20.20 to 05.25.20...”, then - the address and reason for the application.
4. The next paragraph indicates the documents and measurement results of the commission.
5. The next paragraph indicates the reason - “Absence of the tenant during the period from ... to ...”
6. The date is placed in the lower left corner, and the consumer’s signature is below.

Attention! If a recalculation is made due to poor quality service, then after the first paragraph it is written: “according to the standards of clause 3.1.11. SanPiN 2.1.4.2496-09 hot water should be (for example, not lower than 60 degrees). During the measurement, a temperature of 58 degrees was recorded.”

Where and how to submit an application?

The documents are sent to the organization that oversees the supply of hot water under the contract. This could equally include a private company and housing property management authorities.

If it is not known which of the two organizations the housing complex cooperates with, then you can get the answer from the receipt or from the municipality.

An application can be submitted in person or through the government services portal. In the latter case, the consumer:

1. Registers in the government services portal.
2. Goes to the section “Recalculating fees for housing and communal services within the framework of current legislation.”
3. Fills out the form online.
4. Attaches easy to read documents and evidence.
5. Submits an application.

Advice! When submitting an application in person, it is important to check the organization’s opening hours in advance.

How long should I wait for an answer?

All authorities work according to a protocol that regulates the timing of inspections. The municipal inspection will measure the quality and chemical composition of water within one day.

Submitting an application will take from 1 to 30 days from the date of receipt of the certificate (utility service act). The time for consideration ranges from 3 days to a month.

Based on this, the time for recalculation takes a maximum of 2 months. If the request is rejected and an application is filed with the court, the period will extend to 3 months or six months, which is due to the work of judges and representatives of utility services.

What to do in case of refusal?

Not all consumers sign an application for recalculation, which applies equally to water supply and electricity.

In this case, the tenant:

1. 
   Calls a utility representative to re-measure.

2. With the received certificate, he writes an application and sends it in a convenient way.
3. In case of refusal, checks the reason. Sometimes employees refer to PP 354 or legislation (in accordance with SanPiN 2.1.4.2496−09), which the consumer should check when rejecting an application. It is possible that a mistake was made.
4. If a tenant submitted an application within 30 days of returning home and has interruptions in the supply of hot water recorded by the commission, then if refused, he can file an application in court.

Reference! The court imposes a fine or administrative punishment in case of false accusations. It is necessary to check everything several times, and then contact higher authorities.

What should be the recalculation for hot water during hot water outages?

In short, then recalculation must be complete. What does full mean? 1. For the entire period lack of hot water. 2. Both for the hot water itself and for sewerage (water disposal). Reason - clause 59 of Rule No. 307: “recalculation of the amount of the fee for drainage carried out in case of recalculation of the amount of payment for cold water supply and (or) hot water supply”, as well as paragraphs. 4 clause 1 of Appendix No. 2 to the Rules.
As already reported, MU "GZHU" was noticed that it does not recalculate sewerage costs. This gross violation of the Rules must stop. Consumers' money must be returned in full.

It is also worth recalling that during periods of lack of hot water, the consumption of cold water is naturally reduced. And standard (in the absence of metering devices) 5.4 cubic meters. cold water, without hot water - are not used to their full extent. Accordingly, there must also be a recalculation, at least one that is supposed to be done once a quarter.

So here's a concrete example. There was no hot water from July 6 to September 6. Here are the payments from MU “GZHU” for July, August, September 2009:

What should the recalculation amount be?
According to Appendix 1 to the Rules for the provision of public services to citizens, for each hour exceeding (in total for the billing period) the permissible period of water supply interruption, the monthly fee is reduced by 0.15 percent of the fee determined based on meter readings or based on consumption standards utilities - taking into account the provisions of paragraph 61 of the Rules.

(For reference, paragraph 61 of the Rules: During interruptions in the provision of utility services exceeding the established duration, as well as when carrying out preventive work once a year in accordance with paragraph 10 of these Rules, payment for utilities in the absence of collective (common house), common (apartment) or individual metering devices is reduced by the amount of the cost of utilities not provided)

Allowable duration of hot water supply interruption: 8 hours (total) for one month; 4 hours at a time, and in case of an accident on a dead-end highway - 24 hours; to carry out preventive maintenance once a year in accordance with paragraph 10 of the Rules for the provision of public services to citizens.

In our case, the permissible duration of a hot water supply interruption is determined in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation (clause 10 of the Rules). But recalculation must also take place for this period (clause 61 of the Rules).

The duration of the absence of hot water was: 62 days × 24 hours = 1488 hours.

1. The amount to be refunded for hot water should be: RUB 303.06. (monthly fee) × 0.15% × 1488 hours = 676.43 rubles.

2. The amount to be refunded for sewerage should be: 69.66 rubles. (monthly fee) × 0.15% × 1488 hours = 155.48 rubles.

The total amount to be refunded should be: RUB 831.91.

In fact, a recalculation of MU “GZHU” was made in the amount of: 92.74 rubles. + 279.12 rub. = 371.86 rub. (44.7%)

Subject to additional refund: RUB 831.91. – 371.86 rub. = 460.05 rub.