wmbjk wrote:

massive snip]

He can eliminate any possibility that the main meter is a problem by
running a known load and checking the reading. He's claiming modest
use in the face of $300 bills though, so if the meter were the
problem, it would have to be out by a factor of about 4.

That can happen. A neighbor's meter was only recording 20-25% of the
true usage, and it went undetected for at least four months. Since he
was on a budget plan, he just paid the usual amount when the bill came
and never looked at the actual bill. The electric company eventually
realized that the meter was broken and - with the usual arrogance of a
public utility - said essentially "we decided you owe us $xxx" and put
it on his bill. No consideration of previous year's usage, no nothin.

Tove