Freaking out over my electric bill/meter...

TnAndy · #41 01/28/11, 12:55 PM

Let's concentrate on the readings.

What is the last reading on that January bill....the one where you used 2615kw/hr. ?

It should have a "previous" and "present" meter reading. What is the higher number ? ( the "present" reading ).

Then what is the service date range.....from sometime in December, most likely, to sometime in January.

I want to know what DATE in January the bill was read.

THEN give me the reading the power company took YESTERDAY....1/27/11

THEN, go out and read your meter right now, or give me the dh's reading.

We'll get to the bottom of this yet !

**Cabin Fever** · #42 01/28/11, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedTartan

Are you saying that my space heater (which I used last year too BTW, note last Jan's #'s) doubled my electric bill?

Yes, if you used the space heater 3 hours more per day this January than you did last January,

TnAndy · #43 01/28/11, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

Uh, don't think so...believe you missed an "ought".....

45kw/hrs is 45,000 watt hours. 45,000/1500 = 30 hrs.

You'd have to use that 1500w heater 30 hours per day......which, on the face of it, doesn't seem possible.

Thread got to running kinda fast, and I know you missed this on page one.

No, that space heater isn't the problem.

RedTartan · #44 01/28/11, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

Let's concentrate on the readings.

What is the last reading on that January bill....the one where you used 2615kw/hr. ?

It should have a "previous" and "present" meter reading. What is the higher number ? ( the "present" reading ).

Then what is the service date range.....from sometime in December, most likely, to sometime in January.

I want to know what DATE in January the bill was read.

THEN give me the reading the power company took YESTERDAY....1/27/11

THEN, go out and read your meter right now, or give me the dh's reading.

We'll get to the bottom of this yet !

The meter was read yesterday by the electric company's guy. My bill says the following:

Dec 31-Jan 27 (28 days)

Dec (estimated reading) 92,258 present (actual reading on 1-27) 94,873

This morning my DH (and I double checked it too) read it to be: 95,949

Since Dec's was estimated, I'll also give you Nov's reading which was actual: 90,997

I figure I've either got a bad meter OR I have an appliance (like a previous poster) that's burning out and suddenly using way more electricity. If the latter is the case I need to figure it out asap so I can unplug it since I'll be responsible for the bill.

Jan Doling · #45 01/28/11, 01:10 PM

Could someone be tapping into your electric line?

cfabe · #46 01/28/11, 01:14 PM

So have you tried turning off breakers and seeing which circuit has the heavy load yet?

RedTartan · #47 01/28/11, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan Doling

Could someone be tapping into your electric line?

No, I don't think so. My house is very old and we don't have any outdoor outlets. Well, we have one, but it's in the dogs' yard. You'd have to be pretty desperate to steal electricity to go into a yard with a St. Bernard and an Australian shepherd to do it.

RedTartan · #48 01/28/11, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfabe

So have you tried turning off breakers and seeing which circuit has the heavy load yet?

My husband has to work until 6pm EST. We can't fiddle with the breakers until then.

RedTartan · #49 01/28/11, 01:19 PM

I just checked the meter again.

This morning it read 95949
Now (3 hours later) it reads 95944

How did it go down???

**Cabin Fever** · #50 01/28/11, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

Thread got to running kinda fast, and I know you missed this on page one.

No, that space heater isn't the problem.

My bad! I know I shouldn't do math in my head. Evidently, my mental decimal point slipped to the left one place.

TnAndy · #51 01/28/11, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedTartan

The meter was read yesterday by the electric company's guy. My bill says the following:

Dec 31-Jan 27 (28 days)

Dec (estimated reading) 92,258 present (actual reading on 1-27) 94,873

This morning my DH (and I double checked it too) read it to be: 95,949

Since Dec's was estimated, I'll also give you Nov's reading which was actual: 90,997

I figure I've either got a bad meter OR I have an appliance (like a previous poster) that's burning out and suddenly using way more electricity. If the latter is the case I need to figure it out asap so I can unplug it since I'll be responsible for the bill.

They read it yesterday and you already have the bill ? Wow.....ours takes a couple weeks from the reading date to the day the bill shows up.

But assuming they read it correctly at 94,873 YESTERDAY, and you read it correctly at 95,949 TODAY, then it's run 1,076kw/hrs between the two.

Why, out of curiosity, did you read the meter today ? ....and if it's the old dial type meter ( our have been digital for years now ), are you DEAD sure on that "5" between the two "9"s ? Because if it hasn't rolled quite up to that 5, it's a 4....and you've only used about 75kw/hrs.....which is pretty much in line with what you've used over the course of the last two months. ( Nov to Jan is about 4,000hrs, or 2,000/mo. 75 x 30 =2250 for the coming month...well within range of believable ).

BUT if the meter REALLY DID turn 1076 since yesterday, you have a bad meter. If some appliance was drawing that kind of power, you'd smell the burning

TnAndy · #52 01/28/11, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

My bad! I know I shouldn't do math in my head. Evidently, my mental decimal point slipped to the left one place.

Yeah...I recognized it because that's the kind of thing I do too.....ahahahaaa

MattPA · #53 01/28/11, 01:24 PM

I have gas heat in my house and one year the electric blower malfunctioned and did not shut off. This caused my normal 400 Jan electric bill to shoot to nearly 715 dollars. It sucks but they will still make you pay it. It can never be their fault. Buy yourself a kill-o-watt meter and see what is pulling all the electricity and unplug those items. Also, if you haven't replaced all your light bulbs with the new spiral type you should do that also as it really reduces your bill alot. If you hate your current bill, you can make up the lost money by reducing future bills. I know its hard as alot of us do not have alot of money so anything helps. Also, if you send them what you can afford this month then next bill we be for the difference plus the new bill and that is one way to widdle your payment down until you are caught up.

RedTartan · #54 01/28/11, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

They read it yesterday and you already have the bill ? Wow.....ours takes a couple weeks from the reading date to the day the bill shows up.

But assuming they read it correctly at 94,873 YESTERDAY, and you read it correctly at 95,949 TODAY, then it's run 1,076kw/hrs between the two.

Why, out of curiosity, did you read the meter today ? ....and if it's the old dial type meter ( our have been digital for years now ), are you DEAD sure on that "5" between the two "9"s ? Because if it hasn't rolled quite up to that 5, it's a 4....and you've only used about 75kw/hrs.....which is pretty much in line with what you've used over the course of the last two months. ( Nov to Jan is about 4,000hrs, or 2,000/mo. 75 x 30 =2250 for the coming month...well within range of believable ).

BUT if the meter REALLY DID turn 1076 since yesterday, you have a bad meter. If some appliance was drawing that kind of power, you'd smell the burning

We get our bills through our email, not the mail.

I am POSITIVE of this morning's reading as well as the one I just took 5 minutes ago. I did a double take, "Shouldn't it be 95954? Nope, it's definitely 95944?!!" That second from the last dial should have moved to 5, shouldn't it?

TnAndy · #55 01/28/11, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedTartan

I just checked the meter again.

This morning it read 95949
Now (3 hours later) it reads 95944

How did it go down???

Can't, unless you have a bi-directional meter like I have, and a power source to feed in ( mine is solar, and during the day when it's cranking out more than my house is using, the main meter WILL run backwards. )

I'm leaning towards bad meter.

Since they say they can't send anyone out for 14 days ( which also seems ridiculous ), I'd be documenting the readings about twice a day until then, and I'd also be tempted to take photos showing things like it running backwards.......that last part ought to REALLY get their attention if they think they are on the loosing side of the deal !

Patt · #56 01/28/11, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRAILRIDER

I am using an oil filled radiator in one room, I have turkey poults in there. My electric bill was 150.50, up from 82.00 the month before. It was also up from the year before, same month.

Good point, we are using one in our son's cabin and it doubled our bill, course ours was only $60 to begin with.

RedTartan · #57 01/28/11, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

Can't, unless you have a bi-directional meter like I have, and a power source to feed in ( mine is solar, and during the day when it's cranking out more than my house is using, the main meter WILL run backwards. )

I'm leaning towards bad meter.

Since they say they can't send anyone out for 14 days ( which also seems ridiculous ), I'd be documenting the readings about twice a day until then, and I'd also be tempted to take photos showing things like it running backwards.......that last part ought to REALLY get their attention if they think they are on the loosing side of the deal !

My meter has 5 circular dials on it. I'm sure it's not be-directional and we have nothing to feed into it either.

Patt · #58 01/28/11, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

Can't, unless you have a bi-directional meter like I have, and a power source to feed in ( mine is solar, and during the day when it's cranking out more than my house is using, the main meter WILL run backwards. )

I'm leaning towards bad meter.

Since they say they can't send anyone out for 14 days ( which also seems ridiculous ), I'd be documenting the readings about twice a day until then, and I'd also be tempted to take photos showing things like it running backwards.......that last part ought to REALLY get their attention if they think they are on the loosing side of the deal !

I agree definitely monitor and record several readings a day and I would use a digital camera and take pictures too. If it is running up and down the meter is fried. Also let them know you are disputing this bill and all future ones until they replace your meter, they will not get a payment until you get a functional meter. That should light a fire under them.

TnAndy · #59 01/28/11, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattPA

I have gas heat in my house and one year the electric blower malfunctioned and did not shut off. This caused my normal 400 Jan electric bill to shoot to nearly 715 dollars.

Matt:

Couple things:

1. Didn't you notice the blower running 24/7 ?

2. Not sure it's possible to run up 315 bucks more JUST from a blower.

Most furnace blowers are 3/4-1hp. A 1hp blower will draw 745w. 745 x24hr = 17,800w/hr or 17.8kw/hrs per day.

30 days x 17.8 = 534kw/hrs extra ( actually less, since the blower would have run SOME normally anyway ).

315.00 / 534kw/hrs = 59 cents/kw/hr.

I'd be REAL surprised if you're paying 59cents/hr for electricity.....that would be something like 5-6 times the national average.

SO, you either had something else going on that month, OR they stuck it to ya.

SparkyMaine · #60 01/28/11, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedTartan

My meter has 5 circular dials on it. I'm sure it's not be-directional and we have nothing to feed into it either.

Maybe this is a stupid question at this point, but, do the dials alternate directions, and if so, are you reading them correctly based on the direction?

I just recently had a misread of the 1000 kWh dial because the 100 kWh was right between 9 and 0, so the 1000 kWh looked like it was right on the higher value. So, maybe there's a chance that you have a similar situation? Otherwise, maybe that 1000 kWh dial is malfunctioning?

Good luck!