Paying for all the outside lighting on 5 units

[Greenlake]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington State

We are part of 5 townhomes. The contractor built the units with all the outside lighting (26 lights-including garage lights and front step lights) being powered off of our unit. I called City Light and they said it is illegal for a contractor to put all the outside lights on one unit. It is also not in the CC&Rs that our unit pays for the electricity on all outside lighting for the property. The townhomes were built in 1998 (Greenlake, Seattle, WA). In addition, we were not informed when we purchased our home that all the outside lighting was being powered by our unit.
Question: what steps can we take to resolve this issue? We would like an electrician to rewire the outside lights to the corresponding units and fix the matter completely. We believe the cost should be covered by each individual owner.

 

[justalayman]

Question: what steps can we take to resolve this issue? We would like an electrician to rewire the outside lights to the corresponding units and fix the matter completely. We believe the cost should be covered by each individual owner.

If it were me, I would find the breaker that runs the lights and turn it off anytime I didn't need lights. It might be a hassle but it will make a point.


then, when somebody complains, tell them they are welcome to have their lights connected to their electrical service, at their cost of course.

 

[FarmerJ]

You do pay association fees for maint and water & sewer yes ? I agree shutting off the breakers that service those circuits will get attention but at the same time if a safety hazzard caused a injury cant help but wonder if someone will try to sue you , cant say they would win or not but considering how people are maybe the best thing to do is first to contact a electrician to learn what it would cost to have a separate meter and breaker panel installed & permit cost too so those circuits can be on own and be billed to the association. Once you have a couple of estimates I would say to send each of the unit owners that benefit from current install a letter telling them about this problem via certified mail and tell them what each persons share would be to pay for the install of a new meter to correct this, and want it resolved in X number days. If you dont get cooperation then talk to a atty about your liability if you shut off the circuits your atty can also advise you about what it would take to sue someone to have it corrected and whom would be the best target.

 

[HomeGuru]

If it were me, I would find the breaker that runs the lights and turn it off anytime I didn't need lights. It might be a hassle but it will make a point.


then, when somebody complains, tell them they are welcome to have their lights connected to their electrical service, at their cost of course.

**A: now that's a boss idea.

 

[Kiawah]

Here's an alternative you can suggest.

That circuit breaker would be rated either 15 or 20Amp. Figure out the maximum cost of electricity, and have them compensate you for that electricity or reduce your HomeOwner Association fees by that amount.

Let's say it's a 20 Amp circuit.

20Amp x 24 hours x 31 days x (your rated utility electrical rates) = max monthly electric charge.

It's a win/win. Everyone avoids costly electrician rewiring. You'll get compensated for the maximum power consumption, whereas those outdoor lights will probably seldom (if ever) draw the maximum current. They could never draw more than the rated current, or the breaker would trip.

Agree to adjust the rates to match electrical utility rates annually.

 

[FarmerJ]

Kiw`s suggestion isnt bad but the problem there even if you used a sub meter to moniter those other circuits consumption if one person refuses to pay then how fair is it to shut off the power on the others or be forced to be in the middle again when this was something that should have had a separate meter & fuse box install to start with or individually wired to each home. Cleaner solutions would be whole new meter and panel to serve those circuits and HOA entity that pays common related maint fees pay the monthly cost and add it to the monthly fees or for each owner to have new wiring installed.