Utility Billing (RUBS)

Dimension Properties utilizes a “Ratio Utility Billing System” (“RUBS”) to divide the utility costs of a building between individual units. The portion each individual apartment is charged is determined by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms each apartment has, with each bedroom and each bathroom constituting 1 unit for calculating the ratio.

To illustrate this, lets use a fictional apartment complex called Blackacre Apartments. The complex has 5 apartments: Apartment A has 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom, Apartment B has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, Apartment C and D each have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and Apartment E has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The apartments convert to the units below:

• Apartment A is 2 units (1 bedroom + 1 bath)
• Apartment B is 3 units (2 bedrooms + 1 bath)
• Apartment C is 4 units (2 bedrooms + 2 baths)
• Apartment D is 4 units (2 bedrooms + 2 baths)
• Apartment E is 5 units (3 bedrooms + 2 baths)
• Blackacre Apartments’ total units is 18

The utility company sends Dimension Properties a bill for the entire complex of $180.00 for the month. Under RUBS, Dimension will divide the utility bill by the number of units each apartment has compared to the whole. For example, Apartment A has 2 units, so their portion of the utility payment is 2/18ths of the main bill or $20. As such, Dimension divides the costs of the bill as follows:

• Apartment A is billed $20
• Apartment B is billed $30
• Apartment C is billed $40
• Apartment D is billed $40
• Apartment E is billed $50

This billing system is consistent with the provisions of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18).