The mountains of snow and dangerous subzero temperatures are greatly impacting the D.C. region. This week has the potential to drain millions of dollars from the local economy. With fewer people out and about, stores, restaurants, and other businesses are seeing less traffic. Less business means that money is being lost, and economic activity is dropping. According to Planalytics, a stretch of frigid weather like this could potentially cost D.C. $10 million every day. Consumers also will be shelling out more money for heating. Typically, heating an entire home accounts for at least forty percent of a utility customer’s bill. On top of everything else, plumbing issues have been increasing expenses for scores of home and business owners. Local utility companies are being inundated by hundreds of customers reporting frozen or broken pipes. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and Loudoun Water have both received more than five hundred calls. More than three thousand calls have flooded Fairfax Water’s phone lines. Home and business owners are typically responsible for paying the bill in cases of plumbing problems on or inside their properties. Utility companies will foot the bill for water main issues if they occur on public property. They will also likely cover the cost of replacing a frozen or broken meter, which can cost anywhere from forty to two hundred and fifty dollars.
