Consolidating natural gas lines to incentivize potential tenants

[Lisa Brooks]

Hey BP peeps -

I own a 3-flat in Chicago. Live in one apartment, rent out the other two. I've had a lot of work done to this 100 year old building during the 7 years that I've owned it including work to fix gas related stuff like replacing old stuck pipe valves, etc.

My gas guy (independent contractor) has more than once suggested that I modify my gas meter setup, moving from 4 meters (one per unit plus one for common area gas to laundry and boiler) to just 1 meter. He says that, while a gas bill for the apartments usually comes in at about $25/month, the actual gas costs about $2 to $3. The rest of the bill is about fees and charges for, eg, meters. His logic: pay the $5 or $6 bucks that it costs to supply cooking gas to tenant units and remove that cost from them. Then I'd be able to advertise that the only utility tenants pay is electricity. He owns a couple of 2-flats in Chicago and did this in both. Said that this savings did make a difference to potential tenants. 

My guy wants to charge me about $250 to do this modification, but a neighbor told me that the gas company will actually do this for free. I need to follow up with Peoples Gas to know that for sure. But first I'm wondering -

What do you all think about this? Would you pursue it? the $25/month does represent a $300/year savings to tenants which is a nice chunk. Also competition is getting stiffer and stiffer in Chicago. Nowadays it's not unusual to see things like free internet offered or even first month free. Anything reasonable a landlord can do to stick out is worth considering. Do you think this is worth $60 - $70 a year added to my expenses? And if I have to pay to have it done at a cost of $250 - worth it?

Look forward to your thoughts!