Laundry utilities

[Sam G.]

Hello,

I'm in a small dilemma and not sure what to do, so I thought I'd reach out to the BP landlords. 

Newly purchased property has a small coin laundry room that's shared between 3 units. I assumed the gas was being paid for by the 1st floor while the electricity was linked to the 2nd floor unit for this room. I only saw an electric baseboard heater in the room which hadn't been turned on. I assumed it would turn on when the 1st unit turned their heat on. Well, pipes froze, then burst! First real scare with my 1st property. Turns out its not that big a deal ($350 fix later). Figured out the heater is electric and must be turned on all winter, which I told the tenants to keep it on.

Got an email from 1st unit tenant asking if they pay the electricity for the heater because they saw the pipes from the heater run to their electric box. I know the lightbulb in the laundryroom is linked to the 2nd floor by following the pipe to the panel. Never looked at the heater, but assumed that ALL electricity in the room would be going to the same panel.

Apologize for the lengthy explanation. I'm going to find out who pays for the heater's electricity and not sure how to handle the tenant if she does pay for it. I didn't know at lease signing so I didn't tell her. Do I owe her a credit of some kind for electricity for the winter? Not sure what to propose to fix this. Should I just tell her it is (if) and keep it at that?