My electrical bill is random. It is simply not based on usage at all. I've seen some of my march/april bills(with no heat or air) be higher than my July/August bills. My December bill was half what my January bill was, despite the fact that January in my area was far milder and I used heat a few hours a day. For almost a full week, I did not use it at all.

I am not confusing when I get my bill with my usage. I am referring to my usage dates. This is not because of using power at peak times. I already considered that.

My meter is simply running totally at random.

Now, I have %100 indisputable proof(for me). My May-June bill. I was in Florida for over three weeks. I cleaned out my icebox and literally shut the power off at the wall. My bill for May-June? Higher than my February bill.

I already called them and they said they would "send someone out to check into it" and I think we all know what that means.
So, how do I go about proving this?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sandbelt,

you can ask the power company to replace the meter because of the problem. They will usually comply.But, meters rarely go bad, and some meter readers just do an estimate of what they think it should be, figuring that if its inaccurate, a subsequent reading will correct it .That is if he underestimates the usage the next reading that is actually taken will show the correct reading and just add the underage to the reading. So actually you would be paying the correct amount that you owe after the actual reading
I think the problem is the meter reader. Ask your power company what is the exact date that your meter will be read, then see if the reader actually reads it or does it long range from the nearest bar

Just adding my two cents as it is a royal pain to get the local utility to swap out a meter in these parts. Usually after telling them a phone call to the commonwealth PUC is planned that action takes place. Would think that it is a regional thing.
Are we talking about a single home here, I wonder aloud.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CommonwealthSparky,

A lot of utility companies will estimate usage and only actually read the meters every few months. Strictly a cost saving measure. While it will give some odd-looking bills for their estimated usage, over time it all works out fairly.

Give them a chance to check things out - they want to get accurate readings as much as you do.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaybee:
A lot of utility companies will estimate usage and only actually read the meters every few months. Strictly a cost saving measure. While it will give some odd-looking bills for their estimated usage, over time it all works out fairly.

Give them a chance to check things out - they want to get accurate readings as much as you do.

True. But once again it is a regional thing, as smart meters were installed in these parts 5 years ago. Once a month that reading is sent back to the home office and a bill is generated.
I also get scolded by those fine folks when a pop a meter if no disconnect is present, as they think I'm up to no good. Yes pulling a meter also will trigger a response by those in charge. Like we all have time to wait for disgruntled linemen to be on time. Shame on them...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CommonwealthSparky,

around these parts, you break the meter seal, they take it away until things get sorted out. the exception is a licensed electrician calls a magic number at the power company, reads 'em the meter number and the license number on their card, and eventually a lineman will replace the meter seal.

there are two good reasons the power companies can get cranky. one, meter tampering or bypassing. two, if there is a load in the house when the meter is replaced... or Lord forbid, a dead short in the entrance panel... the lineman plugging in the meter can get seriously injured by the mating connection causing what amounts to a copper explosion.

estimated readings usually have a mark beside them on the bill. readings either side of a * or E line month to month are going to be rather silly. it works out.

you might also want to check for "vampires" biting onto your wiring. drawing the blood from your wallet. some "vampire" devices that draw power even when "off" so a remote or soft button turns them on are surprisingly costly. a Kill-A-Watt or similar device, which used to be $80 and is now in the $15 range, will plug in between your stuff and the wall, and when programmed for your power cost, will tell you in a few hours what that "vampire" is eating off your table.

then you can decide whether you want to shut 'em off manually with a power strip or not.

I hear ya... The local power concern in these parts get antsy when you break the meter seal. Being seriously understaffed with lineman or qualified techs, they have few options. AS in recently they told me a salon I was upgrading soon to be open had power. Well it did not even though they stated power had be checked twice. Well maybe it was but not at the meter base as the same power company had placed shunts in the meter sockets a few months before. After tell them about the problem they mentioned they would attach a new seal, and one of these days I may stop to check..
Remember they possess such a complete history of power being provided to any one home or business that robbing power is rather hard to do these days. Not that people have stopped trying for sure.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CommonwealthSparky,