Electricity problems

[Jeanie831]

Please help my electric bill skyrocketed I've been dealing with this for a year now and the electric company hasn't helped in any way it started last year my I've been living in the same house for 8 years now my bill was always $60-$90 at most now it's $350-$450 a month we turn off everything we don't use anything different than before my bill started spiking I've called the electric company and they pretty much just told me that's my bill what can I do

 

[pcgeek11]

Compare the KWH used from a prior bill and now. If there is some large difference it is possible that your meter is broken. Have the electric company check or replace the meter. If they are close to the same KWH then look at the bill and it should give you the rate they are charging.

 

[JoeBleed]

Odd first post, but what PCGEEK11 said. add to that, if your kwh usage is much higher. after getting your meter checked, I'd look at your heating/cooling system. Short of the above and my suggestion, i'm not sure what else it would be. I'd manually check current on circuits in the power center and go from there. Not recommending that to someone though. I'd recommend calling an electrician after/if the above pans out.

Not sure why the power company isn't willing to come out and look.

 

[who?]

Some electric companys are charging more per customer to make up for the fact that we're using less power with energy efficiency so high now.

 

[MrDudeMan]

• Compare the actual usage instead of the dollar amount of the bill.
• Go look at your meter and see how fast it's spinning/updating/incrementing. Call them to make sure the number listed on the meter matches what they are reporting. It's possible, though unlikely, that the reading is wrong.
• Walk around and look closely to see if anyone is stealing power from any of your external outlets.
• Similar to point #2, turn off every breaker in your panel except the kitchen/fridge and see if it stops moving or slows way, way down. If it stops moving, the power is being consumed by something that's ultimately attached to your panel. If the meter doesn't stop spinning/incrementing, something else is wrong.
• Look at your bill to see how much you are being charged per kilowatt hour or if there are any fees.

You really haven't given us enough information. Post one of your bills with the sensitive information redacted and we can probably help more.

 

[Stopsignhank]

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would try to rule out appliances one at a time. Maybe you have a defective freezer or fridge that is stuck on defrost or something. Do you have any electric heat sources anywhere, it does not take much to rack up a bill with resistive heating. A coffee machine that is set to keep the water warm for example.

 

[cbrunny]

You must live in Ontario.

 

[mxnerd]

See if Electricity company provides daily / hourly usage statistics on its website.

Also check if your neighbor is stealing your electricity.

 

[boomerang]

I got an astronomical bill one month and when I investigated I realized the well pump was running constantly. The well guys came out to find that the drop pipe on my well had rotted enough to keep the pump running 24/7. Water pressure was fine, the leak was just enough to allow the pump to maintain pressure if it ran continuously.

 

[pete6032]

OP is too poor to buy a punctuation mark.

 

[rcpratt]

Odd forum to join specifically to ask an electricity question.

 

[Thebobo]

Maybe someone is stealing your Electricity? You have the power company come out? You have a huge grow room using metal Halides?

 

[Fern]

Hot water heater. I had a problem, small leak in a hot water line running underground and out to my detached garage. A leak like that can keep your (electric) water heater running constantly (and your elect well pump, if you have one).

OP you might wanna list which appliances you have that are electric as opposed to gas etc. People here will have a better idea how to help.

Fern

 

[BoomerD]

OP is too poor to buy a punctuation mark.

Beware...I got vacationed a while back for calling out a first-time poster who joined the forums just to ask an automotive question.

 

[Sheep221]

Someone is stealing his power.

 

[iwajabitw]

Possible causes

1. Electric water heater thermostats stick, also an element can go out, causing the other one to run longer to reach temp.
2. If you have a heatpump for heating, make sure the thermostat does not call for the auxillary heat to come on first, or run when you do not want them too, sometimes called Emergency heat on the tstat. Also low refrigerant can cause the compressor to run a lot and never heat the home.
3. Make sure fridge outer coils are clean of dust and that its set on the normal settings, not cranked all the way up.
4. Check dryer vent and lint traps to make sure the air can flow.

Those are the most used and highest amperage devices in a home, except the fridge, but it has to stay on.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Electricity theft would be unlikely given it's kinda hard to hide and someone would be an idiot to try it, but suppose it's worth checking all your outside plugs to rule it out. Especially in winter when you may never even go in your back yard if you have an outlet there someone could in theory sneak an extension cord under the snow, I guess.

But I'm thinking it's more of a load that is just abnormal like something defective or something new. Any new appliances or "always plugged in" items that you've purchased lately?

Either way it's probably Kathleen Wynne's fault.

 

[Humpy]

Beware...I got vacationed a while back for calling out a first-time poster who joined the forums just to ask an automotive question.

Not in ATOT tho?

Here we can theoretically refer to the OP as a complete fucking moron and perhaps speculate that his/her mom has been running up the bill with her massive electric butt plug.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.


OK, I'll correct you. Did you happen to think she may actually be a new person in need of help?
Look at her posts on the next page.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[iwajabitw]

Not in ATOT tho?

Here we can theoretically refer to the OP as a complete fucking moron and perhaps speculate that his/her mom has been running up the bill with her massive electric butt plug.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I almost spit beer all over the keyboard when I read that!:beer:LMAO!

 

[olds]

You must live in Ontario.

They are illiterate there?

 

[BoomerD]

Not in ATOT tho?

Here we can theoretically refer to the OP as a complete fucking moron and perhaps speculate that his/her mom has been running up the bill with her massive electric butt plug.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Yep...and got dinged for the Nathan Fillion/Castle gif.

 

[John Connor]

Learn how to check your meter, man! They are gouging you and if it's their error sue their ass!

 

[Rubycon]

This is a billing problem not an electricity problem.
I could probably help with the latter, however.
Are you in the USA? I understand there are scammers that will switch your providers and you wind up paying crazy fees.
As others have said compare SPLY (Same Period Last Year) bills on meter readings and final billed rate.
Do you have a smart meter?
Sometimes, criminals will switch their meter with yours and you're actually paying for the electricity THEY are using.
So they crank up the heat, grow weed, or have a crazy hobby, you know like a basement full of reef tanks or computers mining for bit coins.

 

[John Connor]

Smart meter doesn't sound very smart. I call it bullshit.