Payment receipts for utility services have recently included a column designated “DHW heating.” This is a separate type of service for which residents have to pay monthly.
Failure to make payments for it leads to the formation of debt. Not all payers have an idea about and what it means in the payment document. At the same time, the legality of paying this type of utility bills is established by law.
What is DHW in the receipt?
The abbreviation “DHW” is nothing more than hot water supply. They are provided with apartments in houses. In this case, the hot water supplied to homes must correspond to a certain temperature regime. DHW does not mean only hot water. This is thermal energy used to heat water to the required temperature.
DHW can be supplied to apartments through central and autonomous systems. The first option is the most common and is used in apartment buildings. Water is heated at a thermal station, after which the resource is supplied to homes. The autonomous system has found application in private homes. A boiler or a special boiler installed in the premises heats the water. The resource is subsequently distributed only within one private home.
Hot water supply is paid only by citizens using the central heating system. Users of an autonomous system do not pay for the resource itself, but only for heating it using electricity or gas.
Note! Receipts also contain the column “DHW at one-way service station”. The last abbreviation means general house needs (pressure testing of pipes, preparation for seasonal heating, delivery of coolant to common areas). Domestic hot water supply on one heating system implies the consumption of energy to heat water, which will be used for the needs of all inhabitants of the house, and not just individual apartments in it.
Other methods for calculating heat volume
You can calculate the amount of heat entering the heating system in other ways.
The formula for calculating heating in this case may differ slightly from the above and have two options:
- Q = ((V1 * (T1 - T2)) + (V1 - V2) * (T2 - T)) / 1000.
- Q = ((V2 * (T1 - T2)) + (V1 - V2) * (T1 - T)) / 1000.
All variable values in these formulas are the same as before.
Based on this, we can say with confidence that the calculation of kilowatts of heating can be done on your own. However, do not forget about consultation with special organizations responsible for supplying heat to homes, since their principles and calculation system may be completely different and consist of a completely different set of measures.
Having decided to construct a so-called “warm floor” system in a private house, you need to be prepared for the fact that the procedure for calculating the volume of heat will be much more complicated, since in this case it is necessary to take into account not only the features of the heating circuit, but also provide for the parameters of the electrical network from which and the floor will be heated. At the same time, the organizations responsible for monitoring such installation work will be completely different.
Many owners often face the problem of converting the required amount of kilocalories into kilowatts, which is due to the use of measuring units in the international system called “C” by many auxiliary aids. Here you need to remember that the coefficient converting kilocalories into kilowatts will be 850, that is, in simpler terms, 1 kW is 850 kcal. This calculation procedure is much simpler, since calculating the required volume of gigacalories is not difficult - the prefix “giga” means “million”, therefore, 1 gigacalorie is 1 million calories.
In order to avoid errors in calculations, it is important to remember that absolutely all modern heat meters have some error, but often within acceptable limits. The calculation of such an error can also be done independently, using the following formula: R = (V1 - V2) / (V1+V2) * 100, where R is the error of the common house heating meter
V1 and V2 are the parameters of water flow in the system already mentioned above, and 100 is the coefficient responsible for converting the resulting value into a percentage. In accordance with operational standards, the maximum permissible error may be 2%, but usually this figure in modern instruments does not exceed 1%.
Hot water law
Until the beginning of 2014, a one-component scheme was in force in Russia, according to which receipts for payment of thermal energy were generated. The basis was taken only by the cubic meters that residents consumed per month. Their number was multiplied by the tariff and the fixed figure of 0.06 Gcal. The last value was derived from calculations. It means the approximate amount of energy required to heat 1 m3 of water.
Government Resolution No. 406, adopted on May 13, 2013, fixed a new tariff in the water supply system. It became two-component. This tariff now takes into account both cold water and thermal energy.
In all receipts, the columns “DHW” and “DHW heating” began to be written separately. The basis of the 2-component tariff is not only cold water intended for domestic hot water, but also heat energy.
Is it necessary to install water meters? No! Law 261 on the installation of meters.
The line “DHW” implies an accrual for the volume of water consumed during the month that passed through the hot water supply flow meter. If the water meter does not work or is not present in the home, then the volume of water calculated according to the average indicator or a unified standard taking into account the number of officially registered persons is taken as a basis. The volume of DHW supply is calculated according to the same scheme as the tariff for cold water supply.
The line “DHW heating” indicates the amount of energy spent on heating the resource supplied to the apartment to the required temperature. Indications about the amount of energy used during the month for heating water are taken from the general house flow meter.
The approval of a two-component tariff is due to the fact that previously organizations charging utility bills did not take into account the energy consumed by heated towel rails and risers. Due to their use, the rooms in the houses were also slightly heated. But apartment residents used such thermal energy for free.
The legality of the two-component tariff and the inclusion of a column about hot water heating in receipts is questioned by many payers. Some of them stop paying this tariff. Such an action on the part of residents is unjustified, since the obligation to pay this tariff is fixed both in the housing complex and in government decree number 406.
Also, another act fixes the obligation of residents to pay for this service. Government Decree No. 354 of May 6, 2011 contains an order obliging consumers to pay for utility services on time. This obligation also applies to the service for the supply and heating of domestic hot water. This Resolution also prescribes paying for the service in full and not allowing late payments.
conclusions
“DHW heating” is not an independent utility service; the specified term refers to the amount of heat energy spent on heating cold water to provide a hot water supply utility service. The specified heat energy is one of the components of the DHW utility service.
When the state authorities of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation establish a two-component tariff for hot water supply, presenting the cost of hot water supply to the consumer in the form of the cost of two separate components of this service does not contradict the current legislation.
Author: Nifontov D.Yu.
hot water 22myths housing and communal services 29
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Water heating equipment
A water heater is installed in an apartment building. Failure of the device does not affect the tariff change. But the repair of a broken water heater is paid for by the residents of the house. The device is part of the common property. If it breaks down in the housing and communal services receipt, in the line “Repair of property” there will be a certain amount spent on fixing the problem.
Important! Residents of apartments equipped with an autonomous system do not have to pay for water heating. They do not use the central system and pay only for the amount of electricity or gas spent on heating the resource with a home boiler or boiler.
Component thermal energy
This expression refers to heating cold water. The meter is not fixed on the component, which makes it impossible to calculate this indicator using the meter. When calculating the component, the following data is taken into account:
- tariff set for hot water supply;
- calculation of heat loss;
- funds spent on maintaining the centralized system;
- expenses incurred for transferring a resource.
The service is calculated based on the available readings from the common house hot water flow meter. The amount of energy available in the hot water is also taken into account. This indicator is calculated individually for a separate apartment.
You can calculate the amount of energy by multiplying the current water meter readings and the specific energy consumption.
This product is multiplied by the number established by the tariff. The resulting value is the same contribution recorded in the receipt.
How to make your own calculation
The correctness of the amounts calculated by settlement centers can be verified. To calculate the cost of hot water supply, you will first need to find out what the price of thermal energy is at a given time. The final amount of the calculation is influenced by the presence of a water meter in the home. If there is a flow meter in the apartment, then the readings from it are taken into account. If there is no water meter in the home, then the standard is taken into account in the calculations. This is an average indicator of the consumption of thermal energy used to heat water. The standard is approved by the energy supply company.
If there is a general energy flow meter in the house and a water meter in a separate apartment, the amount for hot water supply is formed on the basis of the indicators of the general house flow meter and the subsequent proportionate distribution of the resource among apartments. If the house does not have a general house flow meter, then the calculation is made based on data from individual water meters and the established norm of energy consumption per 1 m3.
The amount that a resident needs to pay for hot water supply can be calculated using a single formula:
- P = Vhot.in * Tcold.in + (Vheat.energy * Vhot.in / ∑Vhor.in * Theat.energy)
In this formula, the designations are deciphered as follows:
- Vhot.v is the volume of hot water consumed in the home over a monthly period;
- Tcol.w – cost of cold water at a fixed tariff;
- Vtherm.energy – the amount of heat energy used during the month to heat cold water;
- ∑Vgor.v – the total amount of hot water consumed by all apartments in the building during the month;
- Theat energy – the tariff set for heat energy.
Using this formula, DHW is calculated for those apartments where individual flow meters are installed. If the housing does not have these, then the calculation is made on the basis of the standard established in the region. Its value must be divided by the number of registered occupants of the apartment. However, the final result is inaccurate. Housing organizations involved in settlements additionally include in receipts expenses for repairs and maintenance of metering devices in houses.
When making calculations, it is important to find out how hot water supplies the apartments. It can be supplied either through common house equipment or through a centralized system. If DHW is supplied to the apartment using common building equipment, and it has hot and cold water supply meters, then the calculation is done in the following way:
- DHW flow meter readings * tariff for cold water supply * cost of heat energy.
If an apartment dweller’s hot water meter shows 2 m3, the tariff for cold water is 14 rubles, and the cost of heat energy is 2000 rubles, then the calculation will be as follows: 0.06 gigacalories * 2000 = 240 rubles. + (14 * 3) = 282 rub. This is the price of 2 m3 of hot water. The number 0.06 indicates the approximate amount of energy used to heat 1 m3 of water. If your home does not have water meters, then you must first multiply the standard by 0.06, and then multiply the resulting product again by the heat tariff.
Controversial aspects of the application of a two-component tariff
Despite a fairly transparent calculation scheme, the use of a two-component tariff seems quite controversial, as evidenced by contradictory judicial practice. Below we look at some of the most high-profile cases.
Public meter readings
One of the most controversial issues is the use of a common house heat meter when calculating for domestic hot water. It would seem that its presence makes it possible to objectively measure the amount of heat expended by the resource supplier to heat water, and this practice is the only correct one. In reality, not everything is so simple.
According to the Rules for the Provision of Utility Services, when calculating the cost of hot water supply, only the established standards for heat used to heat water should be used.
Even if the heat meter is used under a contract, its indicators still cannot be taken into account when making payments to consumers and domestic hot water suppliers.
This position was supported by the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation and the Supreme Court, although it potentially leads to an unreasonable increase in the cost of the resource.
Imperfect calculations
As is known, in the regions, the receipt for heating and hot water may contain different standards for the heat spent on heating a cubic meter of water. The difference between some regions exceeds 15%. For example, in the Omsk region the standard is 0.0503 Gcal/1m3, in St. Petersburg - 0.06 Gcal/1m3, and in the Rostov region - from 0.054 to 0.066 Gcal/1m3, depending on the design features of the house.
Probably the reason for this difference is the uncertainty in the calculations regarding the temperature of the water that needs to be heated and the temperature of the already hot water. Temperature changes at different times of the year are not taken into account in the calculations, which leads to inflated tariffs for hot water supply.
Design features of houses
The use of a two-component tariff has created a problem for management organizations that service houses equipped with heated towel rails, heated floors, and so on.
The peculiarity of the hot water supply system of such houses is that the water circulating in the circuit should not cool down. This requires additional heat (about 30% of the total amount of heat used to heat the water).
Payments between management companies and residents are carried out based on apartment meters, which do not take into account these losses. As a result, the management company receives 25-35% less money from residents than it must pay to the hot water supply supplier.
Complaint due to incorrect calculation of receipt
Utility billing centers distribute the amounts spent on the repair of a common house water heater among all residents of the house. However, they do not always take into account the fact that some homes are equipped with an autonomous system. As a result, the owners of such apartments are forced to pay for equipment that they do not use.
There may also be cases when residents receive receipts with increased rates. In such situations, it is recommended to contact the management organization. You can visit its settlement department or write a letter demanding an explanation of why such amounts were accrued.
If the Criminal Code does not intend to clarify the situation, then it is necessary to write a complaint. The document is transferred to the management of the management company or its secretariat. You can also submit your complaint to the Legal Department. The management of the management company is given a month to respond. If the management organization confirms the fact of incorrect calculation, then it must make a recalculation. Based on this, the consumer will be compensated for the overpayment for hot water supply.
Important! In situations where management organizations do not respond to complaints and do not take active actions, it is recommended to complain to the court. The claim is sent to the specified authority. It is important to state the essence of the violation and your requirements. In this case, it is necessary to refer to legislative acts.
The legality of charging payments for heating hot water can also be challenged in the prosecutor's office. An alternative option is to contact the authorities that control the work of the management company. Citizens can contact the Ministry of Construction, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, housing inspectorates, and Rospotrebnadzor.
Calculation of the cost of hot water supply
Electricity used to heat water is not free. Settlement centers legally charge payments for. It is important to take into account that only from the beginning of 2014 a new line appeared in receipts regarding the need to pay for hot water heating. The legality of such charges is established by Government Resolution dated May 13, 2013, number 406.
Is it legal to pay for water heating using a receipt in 2021?
Many believe that the heating fee is charged by management companies illegally, and write complaints against the executive organizations, not wanting to pay “double payment for the supply of hot water.”
However, the appearance of such a line in the receipt is completely legal, and the basis for introducing payment for thermal energy spent on heating water is the above-mentioned PP No. 406.
Why did the government make this decision, dividing the payment for hot water into 2 components? The fact is that risers and heated towel rails connected to the hot water supply system consume thermal energy, but this consumption was not previously taken into account in calculations of utility bills.
Since payment for heat supply is charged only during the heating season, heating the air through the use of a heated towel rail was not paid for as a utility service. These unaccounted expenses fell on the shoulders of the resource supply organization. The government found a way out of this situation by dividing the tariff into 2 components.
As for non-standard situations in which residents for some reason do not receive hot water, but are forced to pay for this service because it is on the receipt, this issue is resolved by writing a complaint to the Management Company. Management company employees are required to provide a response with explanations within 30 days.
If the Criminal Code refuses to provide an explanation to consumers, a complaint is filed with the Housing Inspectorate, then you can contact the prosecutor's office with a claim in court on the basis of Art. 395 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.
If the water heating service is not provided at all, file a claim to exclude this line from the receipt, referring to Art. 16 of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”.
Issues that have arisen regarding the provision of low-quality housing and communal services can also be resolved by contacting Rospotrebnadzor regarding the violation of consumer rights . If the owner is not satisfied with the tariffs set for thermal energy, he can file a complaint with the FST (Federal Tariff Service).
Thus, paying for water heating on a receipt is legal in 2021, if such a service is actually provided to you. Well, you have to pay for convenience and comfort.
