Community Living

The comfort and classy lifestyle of living within a gated community come with a price to pay ! Yes, here we refer to the maintenance charges levied on the resident. Did you know, that a major portion of such charges is due to the electricity spent on running various appliances and machines to fulfill the amenities of community living ? In this article, we will take you through a journey to understand, calculate and hence optimize your utility( mainly focussing on electricity) bills in your own community!

What is meant by RWA and what do you pay for?

         The resident welfare association (RWA)  is a society formed to deal with issues pertaining to the members of that particular gated community . It’s mandate includes collection of monthly maintenance , management of funds , organizing meetings to present financial statements to the residents etc. Now moving on to the question of your monthly common bill.

For most communities , the key services provided by a RWA are :-

• Security :- To ensure 24/7 security at your residency ,engaging security guards from a reputed agency, implementing tools like CCTVs and other security warning systems.

• Maintenance of landscapes, gymnasium , pools etc

• Housekeeping :- Round the clock availability of janitorial staff, plumbers, electricians to instantly fix issues and problems that surface.

• DG Backup :- Fuel charges and electricity costs for backup power in common area and individual flats .

• Miscellaneous  :-  This include replacement of assets /equipment, painting of the apartment every 8-10 years and other unforeseen expenses..

 All these are accounted for in your common bill. The best way to know about them is to contact your RWA !   

      Essential Equipment for Community Living    

           After analyzing the building blocks of your maintenance fees, let’s narrow down our discussion to those machines and devices which consume electricity and hence contribute to your power bill . We have tried to prepare an exhaustive list of such items as follows:-

• Lighting :- Common area lighting including those in parks, streets, game courts, corridors, swimming pools etc.is a mandatory component in your bill for any gated community. Click here to visit our advisory section on “Lighting for RWA”

• Lifts :-  With growing populace and brevity of land area, the need to have high-rise buildings is increasing day by day. Hence , proper design of apartment lifts and elevators is a matter of concern. Click here for our advisory article on “ Electricity consumption of apartment lifts”

• Motor Pumps :- This is relevant for those areas which rely on ground-water sources for water supply. Click here to know more( link to advisory on “Motor Pumps”)

• Power Backup:-  As mentioned earlier, this is a major contributor to your bill , DG ( Diesel generator)  power backup is a popular way to backup common area as well as your individual flat . However, nowadays the more eco-friendly Solar backup systems are also coming up. Click here to view our article on “ Power backup- Solar v/s DG”

• Security  :- This incorporates security cameras, electric fencing and automatic doors etc.

• Community Hall:-  Any community residency is equipped with a community/function hall which can be booked by a resident for a particular occasion against a required charge.

           Click here to know about “Electricity Charges in RWA Community Halls”

• Others :- There are many other appliances which require electricity for their functioning. These include pumping water to overhead tanks, electric composter, Water and Sewage treatment plant, water softening plant , gardening sprinklers etc.

Are you keen to estimate your electricity expenditures for community living ? Click here to check our RWA Calculators !! ( link to RWA calculators). We have meticulously designed calculators for all services & facilities listed above. For more information and tips from Slashbill team , login to www.slashbill.com/  ( link to login page )