determining utility usage for a tenant

[Jay Garrison]

Hello,

I have a tenant who still hasn't put the electricity in her name, and waited two weeks after she moved in to put the gas in her name. It was a rookie mistake that I allowed her to move in while the utilities were on and in my name, I know.

I am in Chicago - ComEd cannot determine usage by day - or so I was told in a phone call. I am reluctant to divide the utility bill for that cycle up equally by day, and then charge her for the days she has been present, as the tenant may say that this calculation doesn't reflect her actual usage. 

In her lease it says she must put all the utilities in her name, and obviously she hasn't yet. My lease only states that I can include the utilities in the rent, no penalty or service fee. I will have to tighten up that portion of the lease as well.