Utilities

Information about utilities and services that the space uses.

Trash Collection

Waste Management of Illinois provides the dumpster for refuse removal. The Management Service Center phone # is 866-834-2080. Our local rep is Andrew Hornbeck. [email protected]. Phone (630)652-9626 Fax (866)833-3245

We are billed for waste management monthly. Bill payment is automatic via ACH. ACH payments have a tendency to break whenver we make changes to the Chase Account. The cost for three times per week is $175.

Pro Tips: Trash

They empty the dumpster 3 times per week.

Do not overfill the dumpster. If the lid won't close all the way completely flat, Waste Management will not pick it up. Leaving bags of trash inside the back door works well; someone (hopefully you) will put them in the dumpster when it's empty. 

There is no recycling pickup. Waste Management supposedly sorts the trash. They refer to it as passive recycling. They pull out the stuff they can find on the conveyor to sell. There is no room for recycling bins in the alley, due to parking spots. If that were to change the cost to add a 96 gallon recycling toter (Big Blue Recyling bins that look like a trash can) serviced twice per week would be about $230.

Do not put electronic waste in the dumpster.

Do not put hazardous waste in the dumpster.

Do not put paint in the dumpster without using a hardener powder for paint disposal. It's really cheap at home depot.

If you accidentally leave metal out near the dumpster, scrap faeries will take it -- so be careful. Items like CRTs may be broken for just the metal bits, so don't leave them out there.

Gas

We get gas through People's Gas. Bill payment is automatic via ACH. ACH payments have a tendency to break whenver we make changes to the Chase Account.

Internet

We get internet Service via Comcast Communications. The service has Cable Television included as it is a package for the rate, although we do not have a TV attached. Bill payment is automatic via ACH. ACH payments have a tendency to break whenver we make changes to the Chase Account.

Electricity

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) is our electricity provider. The bill is in the name of Tony Khouri, our landlord, his office is next door.

Splitting the Bill

We split the bill with the landlord using some sort of formula that is stored in a spreadsheet in a google drive folder. The formula should be made public.

Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Amuz936ed_AzdG5tUmt2cXdQLXB2UVA5alpRYTdzNmc&usp=drive_web#gid=0

The formula is as follows: determine difference in ps1's meter (meter for sub-circuit of the building) in kwh since last bill. Determine ratio of kwh used by PS1 out of total Kwh used. Use this ratio to determine total new charges that should be allocatd to ps1. Compute new charges owed by landlord by subtracting ps1's new charges from total new charges.

Determine if either ps1 or the landlord has credits/underpayments from previous months. If so, alter the amounts owed by landlord and ps1 accordingly. Schedule payment online for ps1's portion of the bill. Email the landlord the amount they should pay and the amount ps1 is paying. Show math to landlord while doing this.

Historically a lot of mistakes have been made in paying the electric bill both by ps1 and by the landlord, so keeping a detailed record of figurings is important to make it simpler to fix confused mistakes later.

Procedure to enter and Pay bill

Enter the Data in the allocation spreadsheet

1. Column A Date of the bill from the bill itself
2. Column B Due Date from the bill itself (top right corner)
3. Column C - Column D from the prior month
4. Column D - Amount From Landlord (AB Reading)
5. Column E - Formula in spreadsheet
6. Column F - Formula in spreadsheet
7. Column G - Total KW from Bill - Top right number from usage column of Meter Information section of bill
8. Column H - "Total Current Charges" from bottom line on page one of the bill
9. Column I - Enter any misc fees from page 2 of the bill
10. Column J - Formula in spreadsheet
11. Column K - Formula in spreadsheet
12. Column L - Enter amount Landlord paid last month (Listed on page 2 of bill)
13. Column M - Formula in spreadsheet
14. Column N - Formula in spreadsheet
15. Column O - Enter amount PS1 paid this month

Pay ComEd

1. Browse to www.ComEd.com
2. Select "Pay Your Bill"
3. Select "Convenience Payment
4. Select "Pay Now"
5. Enter 5412411007 in Account Number box
6. Select Account Type - "Business Customer"
7. Enter Phone Number (Entering 2196701042 will automatically enter our bank account on the next screen.)
8. Enter [email protected] in Email Box
9. Select Continue to go to next screen
10. Enter Bank Information if needed (See phone number above)
11. Enter amount to pay
12. Click Process
13. Approve processing fee
14. Print receipt to PDF for our records. Upload to treasurer@pumpingstationone,org Google Drive and E-mail to [email protected].
15. Scan bill to PDF for our records. Upload to treasurer@pumpingstationone,org Google Drive and E-mail to [email protected].