The usage fees for public facilities that Americans have to pay include telephone charges, electricity charges, water charges, gas charges, etc. Utilities in the United States are expensive.
Let’s learn about the essence Vocabulary
Common expressions related to public services
utilities Public facilities refer to services such as telephone, water, electricity, gas, etc. provided by public service departments.
public utility company refers to a private enterprise that has obtained government approval to provide services such as telephone, electricity, gas , water, etc.
utility bill bill, utility expense bill
power company power company
electric company
gas company natural gas company
kwh kilowatt-hour
phone company Telephone company
In the United States, companies that handle city telephone business and long-distance telephone business are usually independent of each other, so we must decide which type of company to choose according to the specific situation.
long-distance phone company
basic phone service Basic telephone service refers to a service that cannot make long-distance phone calls and can only make calls in the city. The feature of this service is that you can make unlimited calls in the city by paying a certain fee every month.
dial-up modem connection Dial-up Internet service
rubbish company garbage disposal company United States heating
natural gas natural gas
heating oil heating oil
furnace furnace
boiler Boiler The water boiler used at home is called
water heater (water heater).
insulation insulation material , insulation material
soft water conditioner Water softener When there is a problem with the pool or bathroom
plumbing Pipeline
plumber Plumber, plumber
be backed up
be clogged (up) jammed
leak Leak
give an estimate Give an estimate
must have the essence of expression when talking about public facilities Expressions
Q: I’d like to start gas/electricity service in my apartment. I want to open gas/electric service in my apartment
I’d like to install a phone line. I want to install a phone line.
I’d like to repair my phone.
A: Certainly. Please give me your address. OK, please give me your address.
I need your name and address.
Q: I’d like to install an additional phone line, please. In the United States, if you want to install a telephone or answer a telephone line, you need to call the local telephone office first to apply. Then, the telephone bureau will send technicians to the home.
A: Sure. Do you have an extra jack on the wall? OK. Are there any extra sockets on the wall?
We’ll send a technician to your home.
A: Sure. Do you have an extra jack on the wall? OK. Are there any extra sockets on the wall?
We’ll send a technician to your home.
Q: How much is the phone service? How much is the phone service charged? Municipal telephone companies vary in most states in the United States, while long-distance telephone companies are also independent. Long-distance calls generally record the phone fee through call details, including the call start time, call duration, phone number dialed, special calls, etc.
A: The monthly fee is $19, which includes unlimited local calls. Our monthly fee is $19 and we can make unlimited calls. You can make unlimited calls in the United States as long as you pay a certain basic fee every month. Like long-distance calls, city phones will not show detailed purposes on the phone bill list.
Q: My sink is backed up. My sink is blocked.
be clogged up can also mean "blocked". sink can refer to both "the sink in the kitchen" or "the washbasin in the bathroom". The two can be distinguished by kitchen sink and bathroom sink.
A: I’ll send a plumber right away. I’ll send a plumber right away.
Do you need a plumber there?
Q: Hello, I’m here to check your meter.
A: Oh, the meter is at the back of the house. Sure. It’s underneath the sink. OK, it’s underneath the sink.
Remember these expressions:
How much is your utility bill every month? How much is your utility bill every month?
We’re out of heating oil.
My phone bill is so high! My phone bill is so high!
My phone isn’t working. My phone is broken.
There is a gas leak.
The power is out. Power outage.
The water is not coming out. There is no water.
Scenario Dialogue Real Talks I want to install a phone.
A: I’d like to install a phone line, please.
B: Yes, Sir. We’ll send a technician to your home.
A: How much is the service?
B: The basic monthly fee is $19.
A: Does that include unlimited local calls?
B: Yes, it does. Long-distance calls will be extra.
A: Hello, I want to install the phone.
B: OK, sir. We will send a technician to your home.
A: What is the price of this service?
B: The monthly rent is US$19.
A: Can I make local calls without restrictions?
B: Yes, yes. But long-distance calls will be charged separately. How much is the phone bill?
A: How much was your phone bill?
B: It was about $230.
A: $230? Why was it so much?
B: I make a lot of long-distance phone calls.
A: Do you use a long-distance calling card?
B: No, I don’t.
A: You should. It will save you a lot of money.
A: How much was your phone bill?
B: Almost $230.
A: $230? Why are there so many?
B: I made a lot of long-distance calls.
A: Have you used a long-distance call card?
B: No, no.
A: You should use it. That can save a lot of money. Learn slang together: juice is a slang term that means "energy" and "electricity". “I need more juice.” means “I need more energy.”
blackout Power interruption, power outage status.
brownout refers to reducing the lighting intensity in order to reduce the power consumption.
The tank is empty. It can be literally translated as "the fuel tank is empty", or it can also express the meaning of "energy exhausted".
