Electric bill sky rockets

[LarryFine]

. . if the refrigerator is empty, ALL the energy feeding it is wasted.

Nu-uh! You gotta keep that light bulb cool, y'know.

 

[LarryFine]

I put a PowerSaver on my van and now I can start it with a couple of flashlight batteries.

Well, of course! We all know that capacitors like DC better than they like AC.

 

[brian john]

Nu-uh! You gotta keep that light bulb cool, y'know.

Larry turn the bulb off before you shut the door...LIKE DUH!

 

[LarryFine]

Larry turn the bulb off before you shut the door...LIKE DUH!

 

[RJohnsonMasterElectrician]

have the power co. come out and hook up their recording meter to the meter on the unit and let them monitor it for a week. They will come back remove their recording equipment take it back to the office and print out the spikes at what ever intervals you would like,IE: every 15 minutes, once an hour, once every 6 hrs etc.
from that you could tell if the well pump switch is bad you you keep seeing spikes every few minutes, or they have a fancy dryer that has an anti wrinkle cycle that kicks on every couple minutes.

I had a customer with a 360+ BILL A MONTH.
1. I installed a time clock on pool pump motor
2. had them turn off the anti wrinkle setting on dryer
3. had them replace the well pump
After all that I got there bill down to around 200
Family of 5 with occasional transit

 

[mivey]

Well, of course! We all know that capacitors like DC better than they like AC.

Actually, it increases the efficiency of the alternator by reducing the ripple. That's why Fred would never buy one.

 

[Volta]

How many months?

Sometimes the meter reader gets it wrong, the utility bills it that way, then estimates it that way again next month . . .

 

[boboelectric]

Those Maytag bottom freezer fridges are real economical,having to run a fan to push cold air up to the food division.

 

[stars13bars2]

Maybe they just take longer hotter showers, or some hot water is leaking.

 

[brian john]

Maybe they just take longer hotter showers, or some hot water is leaking.

So if the EC takes some of the constructive ideas in the post he should be able to isolate the issue.

isolate, identify and conquer (or preferable invoice)

 

[K8MHZ]

So if the EC takes some of the constructive ideas in the post he should be able to isolate the issue.

isolate, identify and conquer (or preferable invoice)

OK, since you insist on dragging this back on topic......

First, make sure the allegations of low power use from the previous tennant are accurate. Determine if the charges were a result of meter readings of estimates. Determine if the charges were on a budget plan. You need to isolate any variables when making an attempt at an accurate comparison. Oh, and don't forget to make all your usage comparisons on kWh, not $$ spent.

I would also look into the time of peak use.

I feel that what you have been asked to do is beyond the scope of the average electrician and one that has such a specialized skill should be compensated adequately. That person would also have the needed equipment to record use over time and check the accuracy of the POCO meter. This won't be cheap and people are reluctant to pay for such services. Good Luck on your endeavor.

 

[iwire]

OK, since you insist on dragging this back on topic......

OK, another thing I came up with it this. Most meters run slow if they are not true. Perhaps the first tenant was getting under charged and when they moved out the power company pulled that meter and then when the new tenant moved in the power company installed a freshly calibrated meter.

 

[K8MHZ]

OK, another thing I came up with it this. Most meters run slow if they are not true. Perhaps the first tenant was getting under charged and when they moved out the power company pulled that meter and then when the new tenant moved in the power company installed a freshly calibrated meter.

Bills past and present w/ actual reads would confirm or deny this.

 

[iwire]

Bills past and present w/ actual reads would confirm or deny this.

Not really, it would be imposable to separate meter error from change of usage.

 

[K8MHZ]

Not really, it would be imposable to separate meter error from change of usage.

I didn't mean that.

The new meter will have a reading that is very different from the old one. That should be noted on the bills.

I had a meter change out and it was clearly evident. For example (I am making up the values) one month the final was 66455 and the next month it was 00079 indicating the installation of a new meter. There was other stuff there too in order to make sure the change over accurately reflected the usage.

 

[mivey]

I didn't mean that.

The new meter will have a reading that is very different from the old one. That should be noted on the bills.

If you have the old bills. Otherwise, just ask the POCO if the meter has been changed. They have no reason to not tell you.

 

[Jraef]

I'll put 10 virtual bucks on the fact that the previous tenant was a student or liked classical music etc. so he rarely watched TV and when he did, had a little 13" table top analog unit.

The new tenant has a 42" HDTV flat screen and a cable sports package, maybe with the Playboy channel too so he is watching for long periods of time, maybe even leaving it on all night thinking he needs to if he wants to record the game.