Need to sort out utility bill issue

For many years, the subject of who pays for utilities was of little interest to most Dubai residents. Recently however, this situation has changed such that both landlords and tenants are becoming more aware of the annual cost of cooling one's office or residence.

Electricity was a commodity that was taken for granted by most expatriates as well as nationals during the developmental stages of the country and little attention was paid to energy saving features.

Very few people asked about the costs of electricity or water during their search for premises, whether residential or commercial.

As rates for utilities have risen, it is an expense that can no longer be disregarded and must now be a core consideration when making a decision to build or buy as well as for the end user. The Consultant should not disregard this matter at the design stage, or the landlord may ultimately be responsible for substantial utility bills.

Owners and investors are becoming more aware of this issue and have shown substantial interest in soliciting energy management companies to guide them toward cost savings.

Well-insulated houses save a tremendous amount in utility costs and will ultimately impact on a potential tenant's decision when leasing a property. Apartment utilities vary, depending on the A/C system used; e.g. in the case of a chiller system, the landlord pays the major portion of the cost.

Either way, someone bears the expense and it is either directly by the tenant or it is reflected in the rent. This should be considered at the beginning of a project, and the most efficient system implemented in order to allow the owner more flexibility with the rental rates.

It resulted recently that a particular building upon completion was found to have no A/C in the corridors. It was considered a luxury building and therefore unacceptable to tenants to have hot air greeting them when they opened the front door.

The overwhelming blast of hot air from the corridor was naturally absorbed into the apartment and reflected in the tenant's monthly Dewa bill. As a result of the complaints, the owner was forced to install split units in the corridors much to everyone's delight.

Rectifying this was a costly and inconvenient procedure, and defeated the purpose of omitting it in the first place. This was simple proof of the landlord's awareness of electricity costs, but at the same time overlooking the ways to reduce the costs in a practical manner.

Building design is important and in the long run saves money for everyone but it takes time to educate the involved parties. There are many energy saving methods that can be implemented both before construction, and afterward. Addressing these issues is ultimately beneficial to everyone.