From the Forum: Sharing Electricity With a Neighboring Construction Project?
A Brownstoner reader was approached by the contractor of a neighboring construction project, asking to use their electricity. dnk writes: I’m the owner of a brownstone. Behind me a five-story apartment house is being built (not a renovation; full construction, started from digging & pouring foundation. At this stage walls & floors are up for…
A Brownstoner reader was approached by the contractor of a neighboring construction project, asking to use their electricity.
dnk writes:
I’m the owner of a brownstone. Behind me a five-story apartment house is being built (not a renovation; full construction, started from digging & pouring foundation. At this stage walls & floors are up for all five stories).
This week the contractor rang our bell. He asked if he could run electricity from our house to the construction site. We asked him why he doesn’t have electricity yet, and he replied “we cannot get it until we pass inspection.” He said his construction firm would give us a contract and pay 100% of our electrical bills for the time that he’s using our electricity (and to be clear: he’s asking to run an exterior-grade extension cord into our backyard and plug it into our outside GFCI).
I’m inclined to say “no.” First of all, our electrical bill is not huge so there’s not much incentive there. I guess the only thing giving me pause is that if we say “no,” they’ll have to start up a generator back there which will be chugging along all the time (annoying). Anyone have advice? Does this sound on the up & up? (Is it true that he could not get any electricity until passing an inspection?)
Commenters suggest the original poster tell the contractor to get lost. What would you do? Share your thoughts in the original post.
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I would do it in exchange for the electrician running cameras through the back and front of my home. I’d also have him install a camera/intercom, and vanity lights in my bathroom. If you purchase the items and he uses hus workforce it won’t course him a dime.
Like I said in the original thread… YES, I’d allow.
And, like I said again… better to not have a generator running all the time. Perhaps if this guy says no, another neighbor will say yes.
I would do that in a heartbeat. You’re not risking anything, the outlet is on a breaker, you get free electricity for the duration, and you’re helping someone out. There’s no conceivable downside. And the future owners of that building will know you as the people who helped out. If you ever have an issue with the new property, that advance good will can go a long way, and can’t be bought. That alone is worth more than anything they’ll ever pay to Coned on your behalf.
My 2¢.