I get it. Another suggestion: try using a more energy efficient personal heater (I use a dyson cool + hot ). You could still figure out the wattage of your in unit heater and compare the savings to a personal heater, but this is an easy way to forecast your monthly usage and cost. I worked out a good blend of using my personal heater and vented heat to maximize comfort and cost.

I would explore this once you speak with PSEG and rule out an incorrect reading.

Bonus: They sell crypto mining heaters now and I’ve heard it covers the usage of the heater (one of my friends just got one which made me think of it, but personally I like my Dyson)

Few observations:

1. Your temp is on fairly high. With that said, heat to what you are personally comfortable at, but just know that its pretty high. I feel like most eco temps would be around 64-66 during day and then 66 at night that creeps up to 68 during waking hours and then dips back down to 64-66 during day for energy saving.
2. Youre losing heat through weak points. I’m not so sure if its an insulation issue, and depending on where your unit is situated within the building, I doubt its a wall/ceiling leakage issue, rather, you have large windows and you’re likely experiencing heat escape. Still, if it was bad, you’d probably be seeing condensation on your windows and since you didnt mention that, it’s hard to determine if thats the issue or not. You may want to consider insulated curtains (they help with both sound and climate)
3. You may want to ask for a reading. PSEG gets it wrong occasionally, and if you truly feel this isnt matching usage, call them. My brother in Law in NYC had freakishly high bills and knowing his heating habits, it was clearly wrong. He called, they came out and it was sorted out. His situation was different though, he had his heaters off majority of the time and the usage wasnt making sense. It was easy to isolate.
4. Reach out to a contractor friend or potentially someone in building management for a thermal gun to find weak points if thats something you can get your hands on.

And the final and most important one: 5. Listen to the advice people are giving you without your snarky condescending attitude. People are trying to help you and your outrageous and childish remarks and uncalled for. You probably are using more energy consumption than you’re aware of. You also may be losing heat through windows which is a very easy fix. Instead of name-calling in your replies (i.e. calling someone a ‘miserable f&&k’ or being sarcastic about water freezing), maybe dig deeper and figure out your estimated/actual energy usage compared to similar tenants. PSEG provides all this….just call them. Also, finding out the wattage of your unit is easy (even if installed by building), ask for brand/model and look it up.

Or dont…its your energy bill after all. What do I know, I only reduced mine (even with energy rate hikes) by over $250/mo by monitoring heating habits and getting thermal insulated curtains.

Got it, thanks for the clarification! But the eviction moratorium obviously impacted EVERYONE right (both at the federal and the local Newark level), correct?

(Edited: also, how does this play into the article posted? Isnt the city wide freeze over? And the big question here is: Because the freeze was over a 12 month period, wouldn’t multiple raises be allowed even with rent stabilized ordnances? Thats the part I dont fully understand when reading the article)

The reason I mention this is if you look at MLS sale records and the RE market today in newark…with Principal & Interest + escrow payments, renting in every scenario is cheaper. Thats why i mention policy is critical because without private or local landlords having a decent chunk in the market…developers take over.

Again, I totally understand its a sensitive issue and judging by some of the “eff landlords” comments….I get it. But the alternative is what? Developers touting their chest, Newark losing tax revenue and then absolutely zero net gain in equity for residents….its kind of a mess.

But they did on the eviction moratorium, right? Also doesn’t Newark have the “allowable increase to not exceed 4% within a 12 month period” stipulation for all situations? (I could be wrong on this)

Agreed. I’m so confused by the point of the article. The NJ eviction Moratorium ended almost a year ago, even with Newarks exec order (extra 2 months), it’s long gone.

Maybe and unpopular opinion, but I’m conflicted. On one hand, it’s the pavilion apartments with a property manager, so I have less sympathy towards corporate structures. They have more flexibility with bulk write offs, and touting their chest in legal battles.

On the other, private landlords are getting squeezed too, and this precedent or behavior can be be parasitic leading to a worse housing issue in Newark.

People can argue “who cares about them” or “all landlords are scumbags” but then try buying in Newark, it’s near impossible. Outside of sale prices, Essex county property taxes are still insanity. Newarks inflation and cost of living is still high to the point where outside of existing properties or renting, it’s at a point where the lifestyle doesn’t equate to the cost of living.

Years ago (pre Covid around 2017-2019) I was considering an investment property in Newark (like a 2 family where I can live in one and rent another unit out or just rent both out). I wanted to be apart of Newarks revitalization and be a proud owner and maintain the property to help. I searched over a year, countless open houses and the math never mathed. The risk reward was awful. In most scenarios, these homes were unprofitable and literally the only way to make money was to be a slumlord (rent out every component of the home separately and not maintain it). To which I was like “why would I ever do that to a tenant or my own property? That’s just stupid”. Ultimately I gave up. Newark’s housing isn’t the only frustrating aspect; it’s their constant battle for fairness done poorly where these scenarios occur that ends up screwing everyone over making it a net loss for everyone involved.

A city’s policy setting can direct dictate the relationship between both developers and private LL’s relationship with tenants and unfortunately, Newark is in this limbo where it’s difficult and frustrating for all.

Frustrating as hell

Same! Rent won’t ever be 3500 in that area but I’m honestly fine with luxury apartments there.

That 5guys is always slammed. They tell you 20 minutes, and it’s an hour. During Covid when takeout and DD was huge, they had to-go orders on every surface available, it was insane.

I think Newark could benefit from one

Also I decided I’m getting 5guys for dinner tonight now, ha

The messaging on this is bizarre, makes me question Silva.

Regardless, I have zero opinion on this

Repurposing this area is a good thing, it needed an overhaul. That doesnt necessarily mean ALL of Newark needs to be demo’ed and turned into ‘luxury housing’. I think thats a big fundamental issue I notice in this sub, facebook discussions, etc. Turning vacant lots that no one in decades wanted to touch and adding luxury units doesnt mean the area is kicking people out and fully gentrifying…its just adding newer housing stock at this point.

I understand people’s concerns and there will always be critics, however, this area desperately needed this in attempts to start change and to refresh housing stock.

Look at Passiac Ave in Kearny/East Newark (specifically Vermella East and West properties since were talking about Vermella/Russo in this thread). Residents there, still complain (which honestly, for the most part, a lot of the complaints there are unfounded and lack support from facts/data as it pertains to traffic, school congestion, etc. but I digress). That redevelopment zone took abandoned and contaminated areas; revitalized it and build these apartments and then built a river walk, new sidewalks, plants, etc. which are also accessible by the community.

East Newark is now building a park (adjacent to clay street bridge), renovated Tops and repurposing the Clarke Thread warehouses. The entire community benefits from it, not just those living in those buildings. Now, in this area, did it lead to buyers completely revamping their housing stock in attempts to collect more rent? Somewhat. You saw a buyer overpay for the General Kearny Apartments and slightly increase rent (slightly!). In return, they worked on roofing and exterior improvements, are continuously working on the cockroach infestation they have there and slowly upgrading the inside’s of units as there is attrition and turnover. Once again, this is a good thing. People are retrofixing old housing stock to be modernized and safe for decades to come….but that investment USUALLY starts when more developer interest occurs.

This is happening in Newark, theres a development Boom in very isolated and specific areas (some controversial, others not so much). And as a result, as long as the city can keep making good deals (living wage for local workers at these residential buildings, Low income housing stock in exchange for PILOT, etc. etc.) it can be a good thing. What Harrison did in the lower portion of the town is frustrating; but thats NOT the approach Newark and other towns (referencing Kearny and East Newark) are doing.

Understandably, people are afraid of the change and what that will do to the community. Change is scary, I get that. But on the other side of the coin, we also need to keep modernizing housing to meet todays standards to boast quality of life (and unfortunately, that does come at a cost)