On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:22:46 -0800 (PST), wrote:

Here in the last week and a half we have been having strange things
going on with our electricity. The lights dim and flicker. When we
try to turn on the microwave the lights will dim (& sometimes brighten
instead) and the microwave power drops low. When we use the vaccum
the lights will brighten. We usually have to turn off all the lights
in the house just to use the microwave. Other appliances don't seem
to be affected but I am guessing they are and we just can't tell like
we can with the microwave.

We have had the power company come out and he checked the voltage ?
coming into the house with the microwave off and with it on. They say
it is normal and probably something with the wiring inside. We called
an electrician and he came over and turned on the microwave and said
yes that something was wrong but he couldn't say what until he started
digging around. We're short on cash at the moment so we told him we'd
call him.

What is bugging us is this (which may mean nothing): we have made no
changes to the load or appliances etc., it has been working fine the
past two days but just started up again, and our neighbor who we share
the pole with started working on some wood projects in his garage
about the same time all this started. Could the neighbor somehow be
causing this? The only thing I am not sure of on that is that this
all also happens in the morning when he not working on anything.

Any insight or ideas would greatly help!

----------

It's the transformer on the pole outside. If you look on the pole,
there is a thing that looks like a large can, usually black or gray.
with wires coming out of it. That thing feeds your house and as you
said, it appears to feed your neighbors house too.

Anyhow, it's running out of power. Those things are filled with
electricity when they are installed on a pole. Just like the
batteries in your flashlight, they begin to run out of power as they
age, and after 20 years or so they just run dry. Most of them are
not rechargable, so they need to be replaced just like the
non-rechargable batteries in a flashlight, but some models can be
refilled with liquid electricity and are good for another 10 or more
years.

Call your power company again, and explain to them that your pole
transformer is empty and has run out of electricity. Tell them to
either replace it, or refill it with liquid electricity. If they
wont, tell them you refuse to pay your electric bill.

Additionally, It's most likely that your neighbor emptied it with all
his power tools, so I'd have a few words with him and make him well
aware that he's a (____ insert cuss words here____), and tell him you
place all blame on him, and you are extremely angry. Then explain to
him that you will forgive him is he also calls the power company and
demands a transformer replacement or refill, and that he also refuses
to pay his bill until they take care of this matter.

Grandmere Electrical Services
610 W. 12th St.
Springville, Utah 84664

We Specialize in residential wiring and service.