Is it worth it to install a counter for heating?

The heating meter is a special device that allows you to record the actual consumption of heat energy. Theoretically, such a device will reduce the amount of utility payments. Let's try to find out how much this corresponds to reality.

In our country, the problem of increasing payments for utilities has appeared relatively recently. 30 years ago, in the receipts for water, heat and electricity, ridiculously low sums stood, and no one thought of accurate accounting. All agreed with a single tariff rate, which depended on the footage of the living space and the number of people living. At present, when energy resources become more expensive every year, utility payments have become a significant part of the family budget. Therefore, heating meters seem quite reasonable way to save. It should be noted that such devices have long been used in European countries, where initially there was no cheap oil or gas, therefore, the problem of accurate accounting of consumed heat was paid special attention.

Heating meter: the price of the question

How much does it cost to install such a device? There is no unambiguous answer, since the total amount consists of several components. First, the meter itself costs about 10-15 thousand rubles for heating. 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 increase to the sky. 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 3,000 rubles, pay for installation (500-1,000 rubles), and finally check the heating meter . Last service is by no means free, and it will have to be carried out every four years. After all these steps have been successfully overcome, it is necessary to sign an agreement that you will pay heat on the meter.

Result

The most important question remains: what will be the economic effect? Theoretically, the heating meter allows you to reduce utility payments by about half, and therefore, despite the high price of the device itself and the additional costs, it pays off in about a year. But this is in theory. Sometimes payers find themselves in an ambiguous situation: having installed a counter, they can not enter into a contract when, for quite objective reasons, and when and for far-fetched reasons. And then you either have to accept and pay as before, or go to court.

But that's interesting. Some HOAs install a house heating meter and are calculated with GorEnergo solely according to the instrument. But the tenants are given to pay quite different amounts calculated at the rate. So it is obvious that the meters allow you to save, but in order to save money saved 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 change in utility payments.