I have always had a feeling that there is something drastically wrong with
my meter because my KWH usage seems to be way above what other families with
similar homes and lifestyles have. A couple of times I have asked National
Grid to come out and take a look at the meter to be sure that it is working
properly because my usage just seems really high compare to others.

Well this month really clinched it for me that something is definetly wrong.
Last year's bill for the period Sept 11 - Oct 10 I had 840 KWH usage but
this year I had 960 KWH - About a 15% increase. There is no way I used this
much more than last year.

This both my kids are in school and my wife is back to work. That means
that no one is using the TV, leaving lights on, cooking, or playing with the
computer, or any toys during the day from 7:30 to 4:00 any more. 40% of our
awake time in the house has been eliminated. Additionally because of the
high cost of energy I have run around like a crazy man replacing all my
standard bulbs with the CF bulbs all rated at about 1/4 the watts of the
standard bulb. I know lighting is not that much of the bill, but it shoud
save something by replacing $150 in bulbs. Also, I don't have electric
heat, no AC was running during this time, no new appliances or any issues
with current ones.

I called National Grid and I just got the run around. They tried to pretend
like they make the only gadget in the world that does not break or act
irratic. I told them that I demanded that they come out and look at the
meter because my lifestyle change and the fact and all the energy savings
that I have done should have reduced my bill significantly, not increase it,
but they still will not.

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here to take
a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing it right?

Jordan,

Sifting the wheat from the chaff in your rant, I gather that you doubt
the accuracy of the watt meter used by your electric company. Many electric
companies will install a replacement, so ask them or maybe a local
electrician about this. A bad meter is really unlikely though. The "kill a
watt" meter is a consumer device for metering electricity in a single
device. You plug each device in for a few days and eventually you'll see
which devices are using a lot of electricity.

Dave M.

"Jordan" wrote in message

Well this month really clinched it for me that something is definetly
wrong. Last year's bill for the period Sept 11 - Oct 10 I had 840 KWH
usage but this year I had 960 KWH - About a 15% increase. There is no way
I used this much more than last year.

,
I called National Grid and I just got the run around. They tried to
pretend like they make the only gadget in the world that does not break or
act irratic. I told them that I demanded that they come out and look at
the meter because my lifestyle change and the fact and all the energy
savings that I have done should have reduced my bill significantly, not
increase it, but they still will not.

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here to
take a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing it
right?

Northeast Utilities was just busted for giving customers the run around for
checking meters. There should be a system in place where meters are checked
within a reasonable time from a customer complaint. Do some searching
around National Grid to find the right person to talk to. Escalate to a
supervisor. If you get no response, does your newspaper or TV station have
a consumer advocate?

As for using 15% more, I don't know your lifestyle or your appliances.
Dryer vent clogged? Refrigerator gasket going? Freezer door left ajar?
Outside light staying on during the day?

My use does not translate to anything you do, but the two of us used 735 kW
during the past month and we have an electric dryer, freezer, two fridge.

On Nov 1, 8:12 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
"Jordan" wrote in message

Well this month really clinched it for me that something is definetly
wrong. Last year's bill for the period Sept 11 - Oct 10 I had 840 KWH
usage but this year I had 960 KWH - About a 15% increase. There is no way
I used this much more than last year.

,
I called National Grid and I just got the run around. They tried to
pretend like they make the only gadget in the world that does not break or
act irratic. I told them that I demanded that they come out and look at
the meter because my lifestyle change and the fact and all the energy
savings that I have done should have reduced my bill significantly, not
increase it, but they still will not.

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here to
take a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing it
right?

Northeast Utilities was just busted for giving customers the run around for
checking meters. There should be a system in place where meters are checked
within a reasonable time from a customer complaint. Do some searching
around National Grid to find the right person to talk to. Escalate to a
supervisor. If you get no response, does your newspaper or TV station have
a consumer advocate?

As for using 15% more, I don't know your lifestyle or your appliances.
Dryer vent clogged? Refrigerator gasket going? Freezer door left ajar?
Outside light staying on during the day?

My use does not translate to anything you do, but the two of us used 735 kW
during the past month and we have an electric dryer, freezer, two fridge.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You need to do your own energy audit to calculate usage of apliances
and everything. You could have a short somewhere also. A Kill-a-Watt
meter and clamp on amp probe are needed. You want a meter that goes
to .01a, a 35$ Greenlee works most stores only carry ones that go to .
1a . Start by using Cfls, unplug tvs etc when not in use.

In article ,
"Jordan" wrote:

I have always had a feeling that there is something drastically wrong with
my meter because my KWH usage seems to be way above what other families with
similar homes and lifestyles have. A couple of times I have asked National
Grid to come out and take a look at the meter to be sure that it is working
properly because my usage just seems really high compare to others.

Well this month really clinched it for me that something is definetly wrong.
Last year's bill for the period Sept 11 - Oct 10 I had 840 KWH usage but
this year I had 960 KWH - About a 15% increase. There is no way I used this
much more than last year.

This both my kids are in school and my wife is back to work. That means
that no one is using the TV, leaving lights on, cooking, or playing with the
computer, or any toys during the day from 7:30 to 4:00 any more. 40% of our
awake time in the house has been eliminated. Additionally because of the
high cost of energy I have run around like a crazy man replacing all my
standard bulbs with the CF bulbs all rated at about 1/4 the watts of the
standard bulb. I know lighting is not that much of the bill, but it shoud
save something by replacing $150 in bulbs. Also, I don't have electric
heat, no AC was running during this time, no new appliances or any issues
with current ones.

I called National Grid and I just got the run around. They tried to pretend
like they make the only gadget in the world that does not break or act
irratic. I told them that I demanded that they come out and look at the
meter because my lifestyle change and the fact and all the energy savings
that I have done should have reduced my bill significantly, not increase it,
but they still will not.

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here to take
a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing it right?

Perhaps someone is stealing your electricity. Have you turned off every
light and appliance in the house and checked to see that the meter
stops? Seems to me you could also get a rough idea of meter accuracy by
leaving a known power draw on for a fixed time, and comparing the
theoretical meter reading to the experimental one.

Smitty Two wrote:
In article ,
"Jordan" wrote:

I have always had a feeling that there is something drastically
wrong with my meter because my KWH usage seems to be way above what
other families with similar homes and lifestyles have. A couple of
times I have asked National Grid to come out and take a look at the
meter to be sure that it is working properly because my usage just
seems really high compare to others.

Well this month really clinched it for me that something is
definetly wrong. Last year's bill for the period Sept 11 - Oct 10 I
had 840 KWH usage but this year I had 960 KWH - About a 15%
increase. There is no way I used this much more than last year.

This both my kids are in school and my wife is back to work. That
means that no one is using the TV, leaving lights on, cooking, or
playing with the computer, or any toys during the day from 7:30 to
4:00 any more. 40% of our awake time in the house has been
eliminated. Additionally because of the high cost of energy I have
run around like a crazy man replacing all my standard bulbs with the
CF bulbs all rated at about 1/4 the watts of the standard bulb. I
know lighting is not that much of the bill, but it shoud save
something by replacing $150 in bulbs. Also, I don't have electric
heat, no AC was running during this time, no new appliances or any
issues with current ones.

I called National Grid and I just got the run around. They tried to
pretend like they make the only gadget in the world that does not
break or act irratic. I told them that I demanded that they come
out and look at the meter because my lifestyle change and the fact
and all the energy savings that I have done should have reduced my
bill significantly, not increase it, but they still will not.

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here
to take a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing
it right?

Perhaps someone is stealing your electricity. Have you turned off
every light and appliance in the house and checked to see that the
meter stops? Seems to me you could also get a rough idea of meter
accuracy by leaving a known power draw on for a fixed time, and
comparing the theoretical meter reading to the experimental one.

Your electric bill should list the day of "reading." Start reading your own
meter and check it against the bill.

I replaced a 10 year old refrigerator and noticed I am now using 200 kw less
a month than last year. I'm now looking at replaceing the washer / dryer to
see that translate into more savings on both water and electricity.

It could be your appliances are getting older, and becoming more wastful
with age.

--
Zyp

Jordan wrote:
I have always had a feeling that there is something drastically wrong with
my meter

snip

Turn off your main breaker and check to see if the meter has really
stopped. Turn it back on, then turn individual breakers off to see
which circuit is spinning the meter fastest. Ammeter readings or Kill-
a-Watt readings on each appliance will pinpoint the culprit(s). Tired
older appliances and utility rate increases are causing a lot of
consumer concerns these days. HTH

Joe

Zyp wrote:

Your electric bill should list the day of "reading." Start reading
your own meter and check it against the bill.


Better yet see if you can enter your own readings. In my area utility
readings are taken every other month. Yet bills are sent out monthly
with an "estimated" reading for the second month. I'm able to enter
my own readings via the web and thus get 12 months of accurate use.

Things to check:
1 Got a septic pump? Maybe its running too much, ground water running back
into tank, or stuck in on postion, etc
2 Are you in a 1 family house? not a duplex or apt?
3 Leakage to ground from bad wire or some such thing?
4 Water pump? if so check its working properly
5 Check fridge and freezer door seals
6 Attic fan? is it running continuously?
7 Electric Water Heater? check elements and thermostat, make sure hot
water isnt running down the drain somewhere
Thats all I can think of at the moment. Others here have some good
suggestions too
Eric

Jordan wrote:

I have always had a feeling that there is something drastically wrong with
my meter because my KWH usage seems to be way above what other families
with
similar homes and lifestyles have. A couple of times I have asked
National Grid to come out and take a look at the meter to be sure that it
is working properly because my usage just seems really high compare to
others.

Well this month really clinched it for me that something is definetly
wrong. Last year's bill for the period Sept 11 - Oct 10 I had 840 KWH
usage but
this year I had 960 KWH - About a 15% increase. There is no way I used
this much more than last year.

This both my kids are in school and my wife is back to work. That means
that no one is using the TV, leaving lights on, cooking, or playing with
the
computer, or any toys during the day from 7:30 to 4:00 any more. 40% of
our
awake time in the house has been eliminated. Additionally because of the
high cost of energy I have run around like a crazy man replacing all my
standard bulbs with the CF bulbs all rated at about 1/4 the watts of the
standard bulb. I know lighting is not that much of the bill, but it shoud
save something by replacing $150 in bulbs. Also, I don't have electric
heat, no AC was running during this time, no new appliances or any issues
with current ones.

I called National Grid and I just got the run around. They tried to
pretend like they make the only gadget in the world that does not break or
act
irratic. I told them that I demanded that they come out and look at the
meter because my lifestyle change and the fact and all the energy savings
that I have done should have reduced my bill significantly, not increase
it, but they still will not.

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here to
take a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing it
right?

A few years ago my electric bill one month was more than double what it
should have been. My septic pump was stuck on (bad internal switch). I
had a float switch installed and built a sensing system to tell me
whenever the pump was running.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

Jordan wrote:

I have always had a feeling that there is something drastically wrong with
my meter because my KWH usage seems to be way above what other families with
similar homes and lifestyles have. A couple of times I have asked National
Grid to come out and take a look at the meter to be sure that it is working
properly because my usage just seems really high compare to others.
....
I called National Grid and I just got the run around. They tried to pretend
like they make the only gadget in the world that does not break or act
irratic. I told them that I demanded that they come out and look at the
meter because my lifestyle change and the fact and all the energy savings
that I have done should have reduced my bill significantly, not increase it,
but they still will not.

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here to take
a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing it right?

While it is possible that there is something wrong with your meter,
it is more likely that the meter is correct and somehow you are using more,
maybe, for example, due to something wrong with one of your appliances.
The difference that you mentioned between last year and this year
could be caused by just two 75 light bulbs being left on (maybe in
an attic or basement?). Something going wrong with your fridge
(as another poster mentioned) could easily account for it.

Many utilities have programs to help customers figure out where the
power is going. If you adopted a less hostile attitude, you
could probably get their help in figuring out what is going on.

Look for things that have motors in them (fridge, A/C, pumps, fans, etc.)
Look for things that are on 24/7: computers and related equipment,
outdoor lights, etc.
Look for things that run automatically on timers, photocells, thermostats, etc.
And finally watch out for "power parasites": things that use power
when "off" or "idle" such as chargers, TV satellite receivers, etc.
The latter can use 1KwH per day when "off"!

The more energy costs get out of hand, the more I keep an eye out for any
abnormalities. Although I never timed how often the fridge kicks on or what
light stays on the most, I know my habits have been extrodinarily different
and I have not seen any behaviour in any electrical item that gives me any
concern.

The biggest problem I have is that no one is home any longer during the day
when last year the kids and wife were home all day wasting all sorts of
electricity - TV, computer, toys, lights when not needed, etc. This year
there is none of that. My bill is always an actual because in 2002 we got
some of those new meters where they don't have to go up to them to read
them. I believe they just drive down the street and get a radio signal or
something.

What makes me very suspicious about the accuracy of the meter is that NG
said that I should not be concerned because everyone's usage went up about
that percent in my area. I said that is fine for them, but we are awake in
the house 50% less than last year and we did all these improvements that
they recommend on their site so it makes no sense that there would an
increase. I think that is is very suspicious that despite all these
improvements in equipment and habit my usage seemed to increase inline with
others in my area.

"M Q" wrote in message
news:gpsWi.32167$eD3.8265@trnddc03...
Jordan wrote:

I have always had a feeling that there is something drastically wrong
with my meter because my KWH usage seems to be way above what other
families with similar homes and lifestyles have. A couple of times I
have asked National Grid to come out and take a look at the meter to be
sure that it is working properly because my usage just seems really high
compare to others.
...
I called National Grid and I just got the run around. They tried to
pretend like they make the only gadget in the world that does not break
or act irratic. I told them that I demanded that they come out and look
at the meter because my lifestyle change and the fact and all the energy
savings that I have done should have reduced my bill significantly, not
increase it, but they still will not.

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here to
take a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing it
right?

While it is possible that there is something wrong with your meter,
it is more likely that the meter is correct and somehow you are using
more,
maybe, for example, due to something wrong with one of your appliances.
The difference that you mentioned between last year and this year
could be caused by just two 75 light bulbs being left on (maybe in
an attic or basement?). Something going wrong with your fridge
(as another poster mentioned) could easily account for it.

Many utilities have programs to help customers figure out where the
power is going. If you adopted a less hostile attitude, you
could probably get their help in figuring out what is going on.

Look for things that have motors in them (fridge, A/C, pumps, fans, etc.)
Look for things that are on 24/7: computers and related equipment,
outdoor lights, etc.
Look for things that run automatically on timers, photocells, thermostats,
etc.
And finally watch out for "power parasites": things that use power
when "off" or "idle" such as chargers, TV satellite receivers, etc\0\0\0 The latter can use 1KwH per day when "off"!

"Jordan" writes:

What can I do to get these scumbags who are ripping me off out here to take
a look at it and what I can I do to make sure they are doing it right?

Why not try checking your own meter?

Put your house in a state where all of the loads are constant. Unplug
or turn off refrigerator, freezer, furnace, air conditioner, and
anything else that starts and stops. Turn on a bunch of constant loads
(e.g. electric lighting). Then go around the house figuring out the
total load in the house in watts.

With a clamp-on meter, measure the actual current drawn from the
utility pole at some convenient and safe place (for example, the
service entrance cap where the utility feed is splice to your wiring).
You don't need to disconnect anything or remove any insulation to use a
clamp-type ammeter. Measure the two black wires separately and add up
the two numbers. Ignore the white/neutral wire. Now multiply the total
by 120 V to convert from amps to watts.

This should match the number you got from adding up individual load
wattages, within a few percent. If it doesn't, and the measured power
is larger, you've got a load somewhere that you didn't count, or
something is drawing more than its nameplate rated power. Make another
round of the house looking for something you missed, or measure current
of each of the active loads individually. That current is going
somewhere.

Once you know what your actual load is, read your meter before and after
a known amount of time. See if the amount of change in the meter agrees
with the known load times the time. For example, if your total load is
2000 W, and you take measurments 2 hours apart, the total energy usage
should read 4 kW-hr. This will tell you if the meter is reading
correctly, at least at that particular load.

Dave

"Jordan" wrote in message

What makes me very suspicious about the accuracy of the meter is that NG
said that I should not be concerned because everyone's usage went up about
that percent in my area.

That would scare me too. How do they come up with that logic?

"Jordan" wrote in message
. ..
The more energy costs get out of hand, the more I keep an eye out for any
abnormalities. Although I never timed how often the fridge kicks on or
what light stays on the most, I know my habits have been extrodinarily
different and I have not seen any behaviour in any electrical item that
gives me any concern.

The biggest problem I have is that no one is home any longer during the
day when last year the kids and wife were home all day wasting all sorts
of electricity - TV, computer, toys, lights when not needed, etc. This
year there is none of that. My bill is always an actual because in 2002
we got some of those new meters where they don't have to go up to them to
read them. I believe they just drive down the street and get a radio
signal or something.

What makes me very suspicious about the accuracy of the meter is that NG
said that I should not be concerned because everyone's usage went up about
that percent in my area. I said that is fine for them, but we are awake
in the house 50% less than last year and we did all these improvements
that they recommend on their site so it makes no sense that there would an
increase. I think that is is very suspicious that despite all these
improvements in equipment and habit my usage seemed to increase inline
with others in my area.

It seems to me that a general increase in costs would likely be weather
related if not due to rate or other billing increases. Hotter in the summer,
colder in the winter, more clouds requiring more lighting, etc.. It could
even be due to change in work patterns, such as holidays. Actually, it is
very difficult to assess savings or cost increases because the weather and
usage patterns are so variable. That is one reason why so many people will
give testimonials for products which really do nothing. Reading your own
meter on a daily basis could give you some clues as to what your usage
patterns are.
Energy costs are getting really high but I do not think anyone would be
billed for more than they actually used. Meters do go bad but it is pretty
rare for them to read high and they are generally very accurate.

Don Young

---MIKE--- wrote:

A few years ago my electric bill one month was more than double what it
should have been. My septic pump was stuck on (bad internal switch). I
had a float switch installed and built a sensing system to tell me
whenever the pump was running.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

tell me more about your sensing system...
Eric

Eric wrote:
---MIKE--- wrote:

A few years ago my electric bill one month was more than double what it
should have been. My septic pump was stuck on (bad internal switch). I
had a float switch installed and built a sensing system to tell me
whenever the pump was running.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

tell me more about your sensing system...
Eric

I live in N. Calfornia and my electric bill jumps up and down because I
believe
the company guesses the meter reading every second month. I may have a $15
bill one month and a $30 bill the next. It averages out ok.

RF

"RF" wrote in message

I live in N. Calfornia and my electric bill jumps up and down because I
believe
the company guesses the meter reading every second month. I may have a $15
bill one month and a $30 bill the next. It averages out ok.

RF

I'd pay a hundred dollars to get a $15 electric bill. Honest, I'd still
come out ahead.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
I'd pay a hundred dollars to get a $15 electric bill. Honest, I'd still
come out ahead.

Are you related to Al Gore?

--
Angry American flags attack Hillary Clinton!