I received some bills from local Elektrizitätsversorgung company and not quite sure what they mean. For example, this bill appears every three month:
Energie: 50CHF
Netznutzung inkl. Abgaben: 190CHF
Signalnetz Radio + TV: 80CHF
And bills like this appear in unknown period (there's no date/period on the Rechnung):
"Bei der kontrolle unserer offenen posten haben wir festgestellt, dass folgende Rechnung noch offen ist: 464.85CHF"
Could anyone explain to me what are those expenses about? We use a gas tank for heater at home, so I assume the energy cost is for non-heater related utility cost. However, what's the difference between "Energie" and "Netznutzung inkl. Abgaben"?
And what is that 464.85 Fr about?
We use Cablecom at home, I assume that "Signalnetz Radio + TV" is related to cable service as Cablecom is like an ISP and this Elektrizitätsversorgung is the company that provides physical cable service to us, it that understanding correct? If we use DSL instead, do we still have to pay that "Signalnetz Radio + TV" fee?
Thanks!
You used 50 chf of energy.
You must pay a fixed fee of 190 chf for the right to receive the energy (basically the fee for connecting your home to the city network).
You have an unpaid bill of CHF 464.85 on their records.
Tom
No, it's for electricity, which you presumably use unless your home is 100% solar or generator powered. Key word is "Elektrizität" (electricity).
No, but then you have to pay for the DSL.
There is no free lunch here!
Tom
So far I received three bills like this, and the Energie part is a fixed amount (50CHF), but the "Netznutzung inkl. Abgaben" is variable (180, 190). Could the explanation the opposite to what you said?
Yes, as "nutzung" is usage.
Alas, Helm has it backwards.
Tom
My question is, what is this bill different from the one above? I paid each of them but never understood what they are.
You will have to ask them.
Tom
Energie: Nobody knows exactly without further specification.
Netznutzung: Costs for the entire infrastructure to be paid by everybody with a connection to it.
Abgabe: Could be for concessions if your pipes/cables run through public ground. And could be the promotion of green energy or for protection of water or fish.
Signalnetz Radio + TV: The easy one, this is for the connection to the TV and Radio (and perhaps internet) network.
Do go by their office, bring the bill along and ask for somebody to clarify how this all works, we cannot tell you how the bills in your situation are exactly made, nor can we have any clue as to why they want 464.85 Fr extra from you besides that you have not paid previous bills and risk Betreibung and/or Disconnection when doing nothing.
I'm not sure if I get this. What is the "electricity" used for the cable service? I can think of the router and set-top box I use, but that should be attributed to "Netznutzung" above right?
I'm paying a subscription fee to Cablecom so it's never a free lunch. My question is, how is this "Signalnetz Radio + TV" different from what I paid for Cablecom?
Netznutzung is the infrastructure
Yet again we do not know for certain, my best bet is that you are connected to the television and radio network through the cables of your electrical company. Wether you use it or not is not important to them. (or at least their system thinks you are connected to it and they make an error).
Can you upload a picture of the whole bill, I'd be surprised if this indeed would be all it says. (and feel free to cut out or anonymise your personal data)
So that "Signalnetz Radio + TV" is like a fee to use the internet/cable infrastructure rather than the service part (e.g. cablecom) right? Do I still need to pay this if I don't use "Cable" but only DSL (landline)?
Yes.
You pay to be connected.
Don't want to pay? Have them disconnect you.
Tom
I didn't mean to not pay it, just try to understand what that means for my own education.
Have a look at their website for if they have an explanation of their bills, or give them a call (better speak good German) or go by their office.
UPC Cablecom is UPC Cablecom.
UPC Cablecom does not offer electricity.
It looks like your energy provider (also) offers TV and Radio connection.
Two possibilities:
- You pay for something which you do not need as you get your Radio/TV/ and or Internet Signals through other means.
- You do not get your Radio/TV/Internet signal through UPC Cablecome but through your energy provider.
You have to find out who acctualy provides the signal you use and may cancel the one which you do not need.
"offene Rechnung" == unpaid bill.
Energy == Energy (Electric energy in your case)
Netzuntzung == Grid costs
Abgaben == "Fees"
Sorry could not find an explanation in English. This one from the EWZ is in German:
https://www.ewz.ch/content/dam/ewz/s...zh-private.pdf
It is rather strange that "Netznutzung inkl. Abgaben" is so much higher than "Energie" normally it is the other way round.
But:
I am sure somewhere it says "Erstes Quartal 2018" or something to the like. It is the "Akkontozahlung" == prepayment for the first quarter. Once the annual reading is done you will get a final bill where you can see your electricity consumption. If you paid more than you used you will get reimbursed (or they transfer it to the next year). If you prepaid less than you used you will get an additional bill.
My advice is to take all the paperwork to their customer support office as soon as possible, and ask for an explanation.
If you are a new customer, you might be paying for March and an estimated amount for April.
As Swiss in US says, it is dangerous to ignore bills: once you have a registered debt it is difficult to clear your name, even after paying in full.
Energy companies will also cut your supply until all the bills are paid. Also I read they operate a black list of customers owing money, if you as a debtor move to another town, you may be refused energy until the outstanding bills are paid.
Today the energy companies are sharing their cable trunking with Internet companies, and you the customer will be paying, but probably much less than if they dug the road up and put in a thin Internet cable.