Roommate Rant

So, my apartment recently got a$58 bill for overuse of electricity.

Jennifer and Monica paid electricity as part of their all-encompassing bill for study abroad, while my BU roommate and I had to pay $150ish each for electricity shortly after we moved in to this fantastic tin can in the sky. (That was another source of stress altogether.)

But anyway, my apartment as a unit got this $58 bill, so the powers that be split it evenly four ways and I'm expected to pay the $14 or whatever. That's really not that much, and I should probably just buck up and pay it.

But let me vent about it for a minute.

I heard from other people that UniLodge charged them for overuse of electricity as early as August. And by August, I had already noticed the shifty energy use patterns of my roommates.

For one, our tiny, useless fridge doesn't close on its own, but thankfully (...), it chirps obnoxiously when it's been left open for 10 minutes. Though I'm equally as guilty, our fridge is often caught chirping, undoubtedly working overtime to try and cool down our tiny, useless kitchen.

But Jennifer and Monica both continuously leave their bedroom lights on when they leave the apartment. Stuff is still on and running when they go away for the night or even the weekend.

More arrestingly, Monica left her MacBook not only on but open on her desk while she was on her two-week break (which started the week before mine). (Monica at least, though Jennifer actually closed the door to her bedroom, so I can't be sure the status of her laptop. It was probably on. It's usually left open as well.)

Now, when I heard from my first-floor friends that they got a bill for overuse of electricty, I mentioned it to Monica and Jennifer, not accusingly, just as a kind of heads'-up. Both were like, "Oh, that's so retarded!" to which I agreed for the sake of conversation, but then I suggested that maybe we all (*hint*) should watch our energy habits more carefully. Both assured me they don't use too much electricity. I didn't argue, but it's obvious that they do.

So, anyway, I came home from my two-week break a week after they arrived home to not only our electric wall heater turned up to 27 (the highest it will crank up) and our living room window open, but also a $58 apartment-wide electricity bill.

I AM PISSED.

Not to mention the fact that the bill came while I was on vacation? Though under careful scrutinisation, I discovered it's a bill for the month of August. Which then causes a new worry: that we might get one for September.

BUT I SWEAR. I'M REALLY NOT THE ONE WHO IS USING TOO MUCH ELECTRICITY. And in their defenses, I think Jennifer and Monica really do think they're not using too much power... They're just spoiled and are used to using an excessive amount. GRARHHH.

I've tried to talk to them about the bill, too: I've pointed out that I turned the heat off when the window was open (they didn't know the heater was on when they opened the window... Right, so, next time, check). I've also been passive-aggressively turning off their bedroom lights when they're not home. The next step is to close their freaking laptops. Both are on and open to Facebook right now. Neither roommate is home right now.

There. Now, put it in the boat, and watch it saaaail away.