question for electric company meter readers!!!

**stokernick** · 03-20-2016, 07:44 PM

in the 10 plus years I've lived here my monthly electric use averaged 250 kwh/month. Last month's bill came and it says I've used 649 kwh. Seems strange since I've even been converting to led bulbs. Where do I look?? Thanks

**transomstand** · 03-20-2016, 07:55 PM

Look for an extension cord running to the neighbor's house

**Onetime** · 03-20-2016, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by transomstand

Look for an extension cord running to the neighbor's house

Good one!

All kidding aside. Is this one of those new "Smart Meters".

**Riverratt** · 03-20-2016, 09:20 PM

I would be happy if my usage was only 649. Mine is usually between 850-1100 per month

**stokernick** · 03-21-2016, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by Onetime

Good one!

All kidding aside. Is this one of those new "Smart Meters".

Don't know if it's a smart meter, but it is one that they read doing a drive by, they don't physically, read it, probably 10 years old.

**stokernick** · 03-21-2016, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by transomstand

Look for an extension cord running to the neighbor's house

no neighbors, they're in Florida !!

**rockyone** · 03-21-2016, 08:11 AM

Nick it's possible the past couple bills were estimated (under read) then the last bill was actually read causing the higher reading or your nighbor has a really long extension cord!

**Baja170** · 03-21-2016, 08:51 AM

Put an amp clamp on your hot water heater right after someone showers. We had one of the element controllers short on ours and it did the same thing to us. Power use tripled for the month. It was old, we replaced it and back to normal.

**stokernick** · 03-21-2016, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Baja170

Put an amp clamp on your hot water heater right after someone showers. We had one of the element controllers short on ours and it did the same thing to us. Power use tripled for the month. It was old, we replaced it and back to normal.

gas hot water tank, still possible??

**Baja170** · 03-21-2016, 08:56 AM

Nope, ours is electric. You have gas heat too? If you have heat strips in your air handler for auxiliary heat they are also high amp draw devices. I don't know of anything else in winter that can triple your electrical use. If you have any baseboard heaters teh line level thermostats can go on them and cause one to use more power but not sure if that would triple your electric bill. Think about your house setup. What high amp draw devices do you have in the house? Put an amp clamp on them first. I see you are in upstate NY so you got the same cold we have here 26 this morning, 71 two days ago. Going to be a lot of sick people here, back to the 70's Wednesday..... I get so tire of this year's crazy weather.

Very sharp looking Stoker BTW.

**John S** · 03-21-2016, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by Baja170

Put an amp clamp on your hot water heater right after someone showers. We had one of the element controllers short on ours and it did the same thing to us. Power use tripled for the month. It was old, we replaced it and back to normal.

Why are you heating hot water?

sorry, son of a plumber, that always drives him nuts.

Good suggestion. Could also call the utility and ask for if there's a timeframe the power usage raised, or if it was constant.

**Onetime** · 03-21-2016, 09:26 AM

Turn everything off in the house and see if the meter is still going.

**electricjohn** · 03-21-2016, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by transomstand

Look for an extension cord running to the neighbor's house

Yea, a real thick one.

**electricjohn** · 03-21-2016, 10:48 AM

Do you have a well? If so make sure it is holding tank pressure when no water is being used. Check your toilets for leakage too. Did you forget to close the refrigerator? Any type of motor load is a big electric draw. The electric company (National Grid?) will tell you their meters don't make mistakes.

**stokernick** · 03-21-2016, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by electricjohn

Do you have a well? If so make sure it is holding tank pressure when no water is being used. Check your toilets for leakage too. Did you forget to close the refrigerator? Any type of motor load is a big electric draw. The electric company (National Grid?) will tell you their meters don't make mistakes.

[B]NatGrid, got that right. Gas hotwater baseboard heat, gas stove, gas dryer, house is 13 years old, overly insulated , wood stove primary heat, 1300 sq/ft chalet, never used 300kwh in a month. I do have a 10 amp electric snowblower that I use to clean off the deck but how much snow did we get this year, used it 3 times!