Short Answer

Yes, electric meters for common areas may be operated differently if all flats are tenanted.

Detailed Explanation

Rule 68 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965 allows for the management committee of a cooperative housing society to decide on the method of charging electricity expenses for common areas. This means that if all flats within the society are tenanted, the management committee can choose to have a separate meter for common areas and charge the tenants accordingly. This practice is common in many cooperative housing societies to ensure fair distribution of electricity costs among all residents.

In practice, the management committee would need to pass a resolution deciding on the installation of a separate electric meter for common areas and determining the method of charging tenants. The tenants would then be billed based on their usage of common area electricity as per the decision of the management committee. This process helps in avoiding disputes among tenants regarding the sharing of common area electricity expenses.

For example, in a cooperative housing society where all flats are rented out, the management committee may install a separate electric meter for common areas such as lighting in corridors, parking areas, and common facilities. The committee can then calculate the total electricity consumption for these areas and divide the expenses among all tenants based on their usage or a fixed formula.

Another scenario could be where the management committee decides to include common area electricity charges as part of the maintenance fees paid by tenants. This method simplifies billing and ensures that all tenants contribute towards the upkeep of common areas.

Overall, Rule 68 provides flexibility to cooperative housing societies in managing electricity expenses for common areas when all flats are tenanted, allowing for a fair and transparent system of cost-sharing among residents.

References

• Rule 68 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Rules, 1965: Official PDF