FAQs
Utilities
Which utilities will I be
responsible for?
Although there may be some exceptions for certain units, you will be responsible for electric, gas/heat, water/sewer and trash.
Do I need to put the utilities in my name?
No. All utilities are in the name of Mozart Management and Mozart will be responsible for handling the utility accounts and related billing.
Will these utility charges (electric, gas/heat, water/sewer & trash) be a fixed amount each month? Or will they vary month-to-month?
All the utility charges will vary month-to-month, depending on usage. For example, electricity will typically be higher during the summer months (because of air conditioning) while gas/heat will typically be lower in the summer months (because of warmer temperatures), and vice versa.
Do you have any estimates on how much these utilities will cost?
We can provide you with the average historical usage cost (based on 2022-2023 usage) for your floorplan. Please reach out to one of our property managers, who will gladly assist in providing you that information. Because of seasonality, please note that usage and cost will vary month to month. Also, because usage is based on a variety of factors and utility rates are subject to change from time to time, we cannot guarantee that these estimates will be accurate.
When and how will utilities be billed?
​Utilities are billed monthly and are typically 1 to 3 months in arrears, depending on when billing information is received from the utility providers. Utility charges are posted directly to your financial ledger in the Payments tab of the Resident Portal on or around the 15th of each month and are due on the 1st of the following month along with your rent.
No. However, Mozart Management routinely purchases both electricity and gas in bulk for its accounts. As a result of having multiple accounts and a larger pool of utility consumption, Mozart typically has leverage to negotiate better rates with suppliers.
Can I participate or be placed on a budget plan for utilities?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide a budget plan with our new system/process.
Is there a fee associated with this new billing?
There will be a monthly fee of $5.50 charged by Conservice for the monthly billing of ALL utilities. There will be one consolidated monthly bill covering all the utilities.
Is there a utility deposit? Yes, you will be required to pay a one-time utility deposit, which is 12% of your monthly rent. This deposit is due in connection with the signing of your lease agreement.
What happens if the utility deposit is larger than my last month's utility bill? Do I get the remaining deposit back? If my last month's utility bill is less than the utility deposit, will I have to pay any excess amount?
Yes, you would receive the difference back if the utility deposit is larger than your final utility bill. If it's more than the deposit, you would owe us the difference.
Why did Mozart choose Conservice as the third-party billing company?
We chose Conservice as our third-party billing company after an extensive process of evaluating several companies. Conservice, based in Utah, is well-respected and one of the largest utility management companies in the U.S. We decided to use Conservice for multiple reasons, particularly for the convenience of our residents not having to deal with the various utility companies (we have historically had multiple complaints each year from our residents about dealing with the utility companies). Conservice provides timely and accurate utility billing with access to live, multilingual customer service representatives and online account data. In addition, Conservice integrates with our software (Entrata) and thus will be able to make the bills available through the Resident Portal, which is both efficient and convenient for our residents. Conservice received the 2023 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
How will utilities be calculated/billed?
The methodology used varies with each utility and is compliant with Pennsylvania and local laws.
For any utilities that are currently on a direct meter, you will continue to pay for what you use, determined by the meter for that unit.
For utilities that are not currently on a direct meter:
Typically, there is only a single meter for the entire building (for each utility), so we will use a ratio utility billing system (RUBS). RUBS billing is typically utilized where space, building age, configuration, or complexity makes it impossible or too expensive to install individual submeters. RUBS provides a fair and equitable way to distribute the expenses of utilities, such as water, gas (heat), and trash collection among residents based on consumption and industry-accepted formulas, which consider factors like square footage and occupancy. Please note that the methodologies used do not result in residents subsidizing any costs for vacant units.
Our boilers are controlled by a computer system that calculates the proper amount of heat to deliver (using an algorithm based on multiple factors, including current exterior and interior temperatures, prior 24-hour temperatures (trend line), humidity, sky cover (sun), and time of day). This system has been refined over the past several decades, and it has proven to provide the most efficient and greatest comfort level to our residents.
The radiators in your apartment are designed to be controlled by you, subject to the limitations of the central boiler controls. The radiator handle at one end of the radiator controls the steam (or water) entry and is the only means of controlling the individual radiator. For our one-pipe hot water-based systems (some portion of our buildings), please note that there are only two (2) radiator handle positions that will allow the system to function properly:
How can I help conserve utility usage?
By using this new utility billing method, residents are aware of how much water, sewer, gas, electricity, and trash is being used or consumed, therefore encouraging conservation among the entire community/property. Please continue to immediately notify management of any leaks, running toilets, etc. or any other utility-related issues so that we can limit waste. We hope that this important conservation program results in significant conservation of our natural resources, which as we all know are becoming more expensive and scarce. We can all play a part in conserving utilities and thereby helping our environment. Thank you for being part of this important program.
Although there may be some exceptions for certain units, you will be responsible for electric, gas/heat, water/sewer and trash.
Do I need to put the utilities in my name?
No. All utilities are in the name of Mozart Management and Mozart will be responsible for handling the utility accounts and related billing.
Will these utility charges (electric, gas/heat, water/sewer & trash) be a fixed amount each month? Or will they vary month-to-month?
All the utility charges will vary month-to-month, depending on usage. For example, electricity will typically be higher during the summer months (because of air conditioning) while gas/heat will typically be lower in the summer months (because of warmer temperatures), and vice versa.
Do you have any estimates on how much these utilities will cost?
We can provide you with the average historical usage cost (based on 2022-2023 usage) for your floorplan. Please reach out to one of our property managers, who will gladly assist in providing you that information. Because of seasonality, please note that usage and cost will vary month to month. Also, because usage is based on a variety of factors and utility rates are subject to change from time to time, we cannot guarantee that these estimates will be accurate.
When and how will utilities be billed?
​Utilities are billed monthly and are typically 1 to 3 months in arrears, depending on when billing information is received from the utility providers. Utility charges are posted directly to your financial ledger in the Payments tab of the Resident Portal on or around the 15th of each month and are due on the 1st of the following month along with your rent.
For example, utility usage from May may not be billed until June, July, or August, depending on when billing information is received.
You will also receive a copy of your utility bill by email. If your property uses Conservice, you can access your account online at www.utilitiesinfo.com for your account history and billing details. Your Conservice account number and password are included on your monthly statement.
Can I choose my own suppliers for my gas and electricity?No. However, Mozart Management routinely purchases both electricity and gas in bulk for its accounts. As a result of having multiple accounts and a larger pool of utility consumption, Mozart typically has leverage to negotiate better rates with suppliers.
Can I participate or be placed on a budget plan for utilities?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide a budget plan with our new system/process.
Is there a fee associated with this new billing?
There will be a monthly fee of $5.50 charged by Conservice for the monthly billing of ALL utilities. There will be one consolidated monthly bill covering all the utilities.
Is there a utility deposit? Yes, you will be required to pay a one-time utility deposit, which is 12% of your monthly rent. This deposit is due in connection with the signing of your lease agreement.
What happens if the utility deposit is larger than my last month's utility bill? Do I get the remaining deposit back? If my last month's utility bill is less than the utility deposit, will I have to pay any excess amount?
Yes, you would receive the difference back if the utility deposit is larger than your final utility bill. If it's more than the deposit, you would owe us the difference.
Why did Mozart choose Conservice as the third-party billing company?
We chose Conservice as our third-party billing company after an extensive process of evaluating several companies. Conservice, based in Utah, is well-respected and one of the largest utility management companies in the U.S. We decided to use Conservice for multiple reasons, particularly for the convenience of our residents not having to deal with the various utility companies (we have historically had multiple complaints each year from our residents about dealing with the utility companies). Conservice provides timely and accurate utility billing with access to live, multilingual customer service representatives and online account data. In addition, Conservice integrates with our software (Entrata) and thus will be able to make the bills available through the Resident Portal, which is both efficient and convenient for our residents. Conservice received the 2023 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
How will utilities be calculated/billed?
The methodology used varies with each utility and is compliant with Pennsylvania and local laws.
For any utilities that are currently on a direct meter, you will continue to pay for what you use, determined by the meter for that unit.
For utilities that are not currently on a direct meter:
Typically, there is only a single meter for the entire building (for each utility), so we will use a ratio utility billing system (RUBS). RUBS billing is typically utilized where space, building age, configuration, or complexity makes it impossible or too expensive to install individual submeters. RUBS provides a fair and equitable way to distribute the expenses of utilities, such as water, gas (heat), and trash collection among residents based on consumption and industry-accepted formulas, which consider factors like square footage and occupancy. Please note that the methodologies used do not result in residents subsidizing any costs for vacant units.
- Water/sewer billing - we will be using the 100% Ratio Occupancy allocation method. This means we divide the charges being allocated by the total number of current authorized occupants of the property. We then calculate your share by multiplying the result of this calculation by an occupancy factor based upon the total number of authorized occupants in your apartment. Because two people do not use twice as much of a utility as one person due to shared usage, the following occupancy factor is used to reflect an estimate of consumption:
| Number of Occupants | Occupancy Factor |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1.6 |
| 3 | 1.9 |
| Each additional occupant | +0.3 |
- Gas (heat) billing - we will be using the 100% Square Footage allocation method. This means we divide the charges being allocated by the total square feet of all units at the community/property. We then multiply the result of this calculation by the estimated square footage of your apartment.
- Electric billing - we will be using the 100% Square Footage allocation method. This means we divide the charges being allocated by the total square feet of all units at the community/property. We then multiply the result of this calculation by the estimated square footage of your apartment.
- Trash billing - we will be using the By Unit allocation method. This means the total charges being allocated are divided by the total number of rentable and occupied units at the property, and the result is your allocation.
Our boilers are controlled by a computer system that calculates the proper amount of heat to deliver (using an algorithm based on multiple factors, including current exterior and interior temperatures, prior 24-hour temperatures (trend line), humidity, sky cover (sun), and time of day). This system has been refined over the past several decades, and it has proven to provide the most efficient and greatest comfort level to our residents.
The radiators in your apartment are designed to be controlled by you, subject to the limitations of the central boiler controls. The radiator handle at one end of the radiator controls the steam (or water) entry and is the only means of controlling the individual radiator. For our one-pipe hot water-based systems (some portion of our buildings), please note that there are only two (2) radiator handle positions that will allow the system to function properly:
- All the way open (full counterclockwise)
- All the way closed (full clockwise).
How can I help conserve utility usage?
By using this new utility billing method, residents are aware of how much water, sewer, gas, electricity, and trash is being used or consumed, therefore encouraging conservation among the entire community/property. Please continue to immediately notify management of any leaks, running toilets, etc. or any other utility-related issues so that we can limit waste. We hope that this important conservation program results in significant conservation of our natural resources, which as we all know are becoming more expensive and scarce. We can all play a part in conserving utilities and thereby helping our environment. Thank you for being part of this important program.