Minor Roommate Issue

[GlutusMaximus86]

I doubt anyone remembers me but I was a regular here up until about 3 years ago. Anyway I'm having a roommate issue and was thinking about how to handle it when for some reason I just remembered this website (strange how that happens). The issue is essentially just over utilities. I run a rather powerful computer in my room and guy that is living with me for the summer felt that it was unfair that he pays for 50% of the electric bill when he feels I'm using a lot more electricity then he is. I also prefer to have the A/C going in the summer when it is like in upper 70s or higher while he has never lived in a place that uses A/C (he's from Iowa and is staying here in VA for the summer for an accounting internship), so that was another reason he felt I should pay more. I reluctantly agreed to just do it where I pay for 60% and he pays for 40%, but when he saw the bill for this month (it was only for 7 days) he already felt like the 60-40 breakdown was still unfair. He paid it but he said he's probably gonna wanna do another breakdown of the percentages when the full month's bill comes in. We talked about some things we could do to cut the electric bill (replacing the air filter for the A/C unit, always turning off electronics when there not in use etc.), but I'm still pretty sure he's gonna try and get it where it's something like 70-30 when the next bill, and I just wanna be ready when that comes up, because I just feel like that is a bit extreme. Also I'm not exactly sympathetic to his situation considering he will be making well over $10,000 this summer and has a nice scholarship for his school, where as I'll be working two part time jobs that get me $8-9.00/hr and my parents won't be paying for my college this year and I have no scholarships whatsoever. Anyway I just wanted your guys opinion on how to handle this situation. I've had plenty of issues with roommates before, but it was generally over something like cleanliness, never money. The next bill comes in like June 12ish so I have plenty of time to think about this...I just wanna be ready when the time comes. Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Corona]

The easiest thing to do would probably be to stop using the AC so much. The upper 70s? Just try to keep the sun out and just chill in the house in shorts and beaters when you can.

If you want to nitpick, you can get one of these electricity usage meters, and then go through and find out just how much electricity your devices use.

I wouldn't let it get to that level, though. Once you guys start nickel and dimin' one another, it seems like things get all petty and the roommate relationship breaks down. I'd just say that 60/40 is fair enough, explain through the reasoning that you posted here.

 

[Stud]

so you use most of the power and just because he has money, it means he should pay for your power usage?

 

[GlutusMaximus86]

so you use most of the power and just because he has money, it means he should pay for your power usage?

Stud, I don't mind paying more (I'll even bend to like 65-35) but as Corona pointed out if feels like he's nickel and diming it to an insane degree and that's what's frustrating. Yeah my computer may take more power but whenever he is home he either a cooking something really complicated or playing video games on the projector in the living room. I'm certainly not gonna be getting one of those electricity usage meters, cause then I'd just be doing what he is doing. It'd be like if you made one of your roommates pay more for cable just because they watched it a few more hours a month then you do.