\input tex \twelvepointroman {\noindent\parskip=0pt\obeylines 3 June 91 \vbox to 0pt { % TO address, etc Steven Michelson Productions } \leftskip3in\vbox{ % FROM Fido Software Tom Jennings 666 Illinois San Francisco CA 94107 (415)-552-8156 }} \medskip I have completed the measurement of our power usage. I measured¨ current draw by our two main power connections on the hour over a¨ period of weeks, computed averages per-hour, and from that, a total¨ per-day, of power used. The pattern was typical; heaviest power usage¨ was afternoon/early evening, lowest was 3AM -- 6AM when there is¨ rarely anyone here. Previously, I had been calculating what we owed by the {\tt THIS¨ YEAR/LAST YEAR} columns from the PG\&E bill. The rationale was that¨ SMP's power usage was constant from 1989 -- 1990 and that the¨ difference was our added load. I wanted to be generous enough to avoid¨ argument. I grossly underestimated SMP's power-usage increase in that¨ time. I simply guessed, as it was {\it far} easier than any other¨ method. So now we have hard numbers. We have just leased a Canon copier, and¨ while we're pretty good about keeping it on standby, it will raise our¨ power usage. I will monitor our power usage in a month or so after our¨ copier usage has leveled out. The bottom line -- our power usage in July was \$52/month. This is¨ based upon measured .602{\it kwh}/day power consumption, and¨ 12/cents/{\it kwh} cost. (The cost varies; it runs from 11\cents\ to¨ 12\cents\ per.) Probably our power usage has not remained constant¨ either (who's does?) and this is number is slightly high for previous¨ months. In addition using the old calc-from-the-PG\&E-bill method, we've¨ overpaid SMP \$550 from June 90 through 11 April 91. At \$52/mo.~this¨ is about 10 months worth. So starting 1 Jan 92 (under 9 months from 11 April 91), we will mail¨ you on the first of every month, \$52 for electricity. I think the¨ regularity will go along way to smooth things out. In the mean time, I¨ will once again measure our usage, to compensate for the copier, and¨ to double-check the current figures. Regarding the water bill: after literally months of phone calls and¨ correspondence, it turns out that we can do nothing to change the¨ buiding's allotment. It has to be done by whomever appears on the¨ bill. We figured that at that time (Spring/Summer 91) there were 20+¨ people occupying the building, between SMP, Watermark (?) and us. We¨ have 8 full-time employees, plus a dozen or so part time, using the¨ facilities at all hours. I assume SMP had 10 or more. We can only¨ assume that future tenants will have the same occupancy load. The appeals process is fairly simple; you fill out a form and the¨ allotment is increased. Probably now, when there is no crisis, is¨ about as painless as it gets. If there's something we can do to help,¨ let us know. Since the responsibility lies with SMP, if come next spring there is¨ water rationing again, we will not be responsible for the over-usage¨ penalties. We are very, very careful in all of our utility usage. Rooms are not¨ left lit when they are not occupied. Water is never left running. We¨ ahve our own trash pickup. We recycle everything. The reason I mention¨ this is that we're pretty conscious of our usage of things. If¨ anything changed radically here, we will contact you as soon as¨ possible. \vskip.4in {\leftskip3in\obeylines\parskip=0pt Tom Jennings } \bye