No, we don't only pay $40. Basically alumni own the house but they contract out one of the local apt rental companies to manage the house, so they collect per-person rent which INCLUDES utilities but also upkeep the house. They have been losing money on the house because the utilities have been so high. So our individual monthly rent next year is $40 cheaper per month than this year (so we save that $40 on rent overall) which will definitely offset most, and hopefully all of the cost, but obviously that $40 is just going back into utilities. The only diff is that the rent doesn't cover all utils.
Mini-fridges: Everyone has one, literally one for each person. Our "kitchen" is pretty much for show; no one uses the main fridge.
Washing machines: Our washer/dryers are 50c each. The realty company takes that money now but next year we will be getting that money.
Showers/Water: There's never enough hot water as it is. Limiting showers would help but probably no one would enforce it. Especially someone like me who wakes up around 10 and showers

. Although perhaps we could put something on the faucets like in public restrooms that you have to push down and it slowly releases? Although I think our realty's guy main problem was the water bill.