Korean Job Discussion Forums

bbud656 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010

The last two months Ive had some pretty high bills. I had one reach 350 last month. Thats almost as much as I was paying a month with rent and utility bills in college. Anyway, It went down to 250 this month which is still a lot higher than I want to pay. I only really run my heater when my gf stays over, once a week, so It cant be that. Im in an officetel so I know they do some sharing thing, but the strange thing is, I took a quick look at some of my neighbors bills and in some cases mine were 3x higher. The second highest bill I saw was 150 (the bills are just kind hanging out of the mailboxes, so I could see them pretty openly) Almost all of the floor plans are the same. I cant think of a reason for such a huge difference in what I am paying vs what other people in my building pay. Anyone experience this?

Soldier · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

When I first worked in Seoul, I paid 250 000- 300 000 Won for an electric bill. I lived in a very tiny apartment and was very conservative with energy use. I can't say for sure, but I suspect that you may be paying a bit much for a utility bill, especially a bachelor apt (officetel.) This can't be much of an apt to heat, esp that way you use energy.

I reccomend going to your goto guy/gal at your school and try to work thru this issue. You may be paying too much, or you may be doing something wrong with the way you comsume energy. One question: You heat up your apt once a week...so, could it cost more money to heat it than to maintain the same higher temp of the apt for whole week?

Think of physics, Newtons Laws. It takes much more energy to push an object that is at rest than it takes to keep pushing the same while in motion. Perhaps the same can be said for heating an apt.

bbud656 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010

I had a 200 dollar bill while i was on vacation for a month with my heater turned completely off. They couldnt very well explain that. Ive heard people say its cheaper just to leave it around 20 degrees all the time or something. I usually left it at like 14 or 15. I just dont see how turning it up for a few hours before bed once a week could net me a bill 3x higher than people who have warm floors all day. Those heat mat things cant be that efficient.

Soldier · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

I don't know all the facts for utility bills in general wherever you live. It seems to make sense to keep the tem at 20C. As to the once a week to heat the apt to a cozy temp, it may or may not be a factor. I would get someone at the school to help you get the bill examined. It seems a little high, but not bad.

ontheway · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Difference in utility bills

Soldier · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

Well, you learn something new everyday, explains the rates for a teacher living in an officetel. I will avoid them in that case, assuming all the other forms of accomodation are better.

ontheway · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Changes over the Years

Soldier · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

Thanks for the advice, that is very helpful for my return to Korea. I am in the process of selecting a school.

Cheers.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Also I have found that the apartment and maintenance fees for officetels can be up to 3 times more then regular one room and villa residences.

I have paid typical 30k and a bit more per month for my one room. Some comments on here some people say upwards of 100k for officetels, which is not including gas or electricity. 100k for lackluster security which includes a surly most of the time sleeping Korean adjoshi. Clean hallways which constitutes running a oily old damp mop over the floor once or twice a month. Working light in the hallways, well every third or fourth socket.

Soldier · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

Thanks you for this cool tip, it too is very helpful.

Cheers!

bbud656 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010

On the bright side, officetels are usually nicer/newer. They have real wood floors instead of that laminate stuff. They are usually located in convenient places like near train stations, by restaurants, many have food in the building. There is someone to take your big packages. I didnt choose this place, but it is the third place ive lived in Korea and I would rather live in my one room officetel than my 3 bedroom apartment.

Got the bill checked out. My water bill was 80 bucks. I have no qualms about paying that since I should be conserving water better.

Soldier · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

Well, that's good to know as well. Yes, convienence and quality are good. Glad to see you got your water bill checked out. It's easy to use alot of water, I am just as much of a water hog, especially taking a shower for 15-20 minutes at times.

Cheers!

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

abigolblackman · Joined: 06 Jun 2009

I'll tell you what's happening. They are taking the average of the whole floor and dividing the total among everyone on your floor.

I don't know the size of your spot, but if it's bigger than other residents on your floor, they are unfairly charging you more because they assume that since your place is bigger, you are using more energy, whether you really are or not.

This happened to me my first year and my school didn't help me out even though they admitted it sucked for me. I froze that winter not using any heat at all while other residents roasted it up. Every month they complained that the foreigner (me) was using so much heat cause I was from California and liked warm weather. The manager believed them and I always had to pay at least 50% more for the utility bills. Those bastards sucked up the heat and I literally froze.

I moved out immediately.

I have a much bigger place now and pay less than 50,000 won for everything!