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3 June 91
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Steven Michelson Productions
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Fido Software
Tom Jennings
666 Illinois
San Francisco CA 94107
(415)-552-8156
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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.


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Tom Jennings
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