I’d like to get an outside perspective on this to figure out how to move forward.
Me F(20) and my roommates F(21) and F(22) split an electric bill for a shared college townhouse it’s a two story home and about 1600sq ft.
For some background, we all come from different financial situations and have different habits when it comes to using electricity. I am typically very conservative I unplug electronics when they’re not in use, turn off lights, and don’t leave fans running when I’m not home.
My roommates have different habits. One is generally more mindful than the other but both have always left lights or fans on when they leave including when they are gone for multiple days.
There have also been instances where the AC or heat is adjusted outside of what we’ve agreed upon or windows being open when the AC/heat is running.
These differences in usage play a part in why I was already hesitant to an even split from the start but previously agreed to do it that way when we were all going to be in the house but we had previously stated we would revisit a different approach when it comes to the holiday season
To jump into it, we all signed individual leases which only requires that there be an electric account (now under one of my roommates) however it doesn’t specify how the bill has to be split. During our most recent billing cycle, I was gone for most of the month (2/3) and for the upcoming cycle I won’t be there at all.
We had just received our most recent cycle and the bill didn’t change even with reduced occupancy. I had pointed that out to both roommates via text and basically said I will split this one equally but for the upcoming one I will not. Instead I told them I’m willing to split the baseline/always on portion of the electricity but will not agree to split the full bill evenly when I’m not present or using electricity.
My roommates feel that since I live there and share the apartment, the bill should always be split evenly regardless of usage or time away. However I feel that them asking me to split evenly for a cycle Im not there for is me paying for part of their usage. I’m trying to find a solution that’s fair and keeps things amicable. They seem pretty set that this is the most fair way and we haven’t gotten closer to a compromise. I do enjoy living with this girls and want to keep peace in the house but also don’t feel comfortable with this split. From a neutral standpoint, what would you consider a reasonable way to handle this? AITA for not wanting an even split?
TLDR; I share a townhouse with two roommates and we have different electricity habits. I’m conservative with usage and was gone for most (2/3) of the last billing cycle (and will be gone all of the next), yet the electric bill didn’t decrease. I agreed to split the most recent bill evenly, but for the upcoming cycle I only want to pay my share of the baseline/always. My roommates think the bill should always be split evenly since I live there regardless of attendance. I’m looking for outside opinions on what’s reasonable or fair and how to move forward without straining our relationship.
**Edit -**
I want to clarify my perspective. Mentioning different habits and usage was only to show we all approach electricity differently, not to argue I should pay less because anyone else uses more. Originally, we agreed to split the bill evenly when we were all living in the house but only for that. We said we’d revisit it for holidays or absences.
After reading comments I realize that where I possibly wrong is by paying only a portion of the upcoming bill could be seen as not fully contributing and how that comes across as unfair. To me this was about paying for what is actually used. I also wouldn’t expect them to pay equally if they weren’t contributing to usage.
For the next cycle, I offered to contribute about 15% of the bill, covering the baseline/always on appliances (40%). The remaining 60% is variable or due to usage, and I didn’t think it fair to pay for electricity I didn’t use.
When I left, I cleared out my fridge/freezer and shut down my room, so nothing in the house is mine that would contribute to usage.
I understand that we live together and that even if I were living alone I’d still have a bill which is why I want to contribute something, but also my absence should reduce the bill if I were alone. Since my roommates were home using electricity, the bill stayed roughly the same.
I had just met this girls as we were assigned to the same home and genuinely enjoy living with my roommates and haven’t had issues besides this. I’m not trying to be nitpicky or unreasonable I had only wanted the split to be fair and reflect actual usage, while still contributing to the shared baseline.
Is my suggestion workable or is splitting it truly the only right way?
Yta
YTA should have been a discussion not you deciding. It is not a hotel where if you don’t stay you don’t pay.
Disclaimer, you would get me annoyed if you “told” me this rather than asking for discount. It is your choice to not be there, leaving roommate splitting bill between 2 not 3 which is what they thought they were signing up to. Costs above supply includes covering temperatures in shared spaces such as living room and kitchen , refrigerator, water heating etc. You need a proper conversation about what is fair and getting facts from potentially smart plugs to see how much running essentials is using and the maths surrounding extra AC running costs. Also you’re the one complicating a situation so it should be a burden you do the maths for if you want to split at that level of detail.
YTA…
YTA. To split evenly was the deal. To could talk to your roommate about their wasteful habits.
YTA-esh. It’s pretty annoying to have roommates that burn electricity, but still, that’s not how Gavin roommates work. Unless you have a previous agreement, or if there’s a crazy discrepancy, things are split evenly.
You being gone from the townhouse doesn’t change that you don’t have to pay the bills.
YTA – that’s not how having a place to live works
YTA
YTA. This is new to you, but this is life. You can’t calculate every penny. You have to split equally. The most you can do is turn the light and fan off after them.
You’ll learn later on, especially in marriage, that you can’t be so tight on everything.
I understand why your annoyed. But you share a house and made an agreement at the start to split the bill. If you’re unhappy you should move.
YTA…welcome to the real world. Just wait until you have kids. You will be following their tracks around the house turning off lights as you go. Lol.
Most of the cost is delivering the electricity. Unless they are mining bitcoin, the electricity will be static. Leaving lights or lamps on costs a few cents.
While I’m sympathetic to your frustration, YTA. The bill gets split evenly because you agreed to that from the outset and there’s no way to figure out exactly who uses how much electricity anyway. This is not a hill worth dying on and the friction will only hurt your relationship with your roommates. Let it go.
Yta, there is a minimum charge for having electricity hooked to your building. If you don’t like other people’s habits get your own apartment.
YTA. It is conventional to split the bill evenly, regardless of who is there, because you really can’t tell who used what. Your argument that the bill didn’t change when you were gone actually works against you because it shows that nothing you did to cut your usage while you were gone actually saved the household any money. so your actions aren’t as frugal as you think and if this was solely your place you’d still be liable for that electricity that was used when you were gone.
Also, what is the difference between what they want you to pay and what you think you should pay? That amount is the value you’re placing on your friendships and having a good roommate relationship. Pretty small amount I’d bet. Proceed to argue at your own risk.