Racer's Lounge - Crazy High Electric Usage in home- Any one work for electric co.?

Just got my bill- From Nov.- April, I have been averaging 800KWH of electric usage in a 2200sq ft home. Shot up to 4000KWH in May. What the heck? Last Sept. and Oct. were around 1800KWH per month.

Any ideas?

Shut your main breaker off, and see if the meter is still running outside, if so something is drawing power that shouldn't be. Maybe your neighbor tapped in somehow lol.

Shut your main breaker off, and see if the meter is still running outside, if so something is drawing power that shouldn't be. Maybe your neighbor tapped in somehow lol.

I would curb check my neighbor if they did that to me. :mad:

Interesting, because some people are restoring the house next to mine.

Interesting, because some people are restoring the house next to mine.

Bingo. They are running an extension cord to your house probably. I have busted contractors using people's water spickets before. Believe me these people know when you are gone. I'm not saying that is the sure bet cause, but I would definatly start there. Turning your main breaker off during the day would help if this is the problem. Just put candles in the fridge ect, your house will get hot. At least mine would. While these contractors are around your house I would invest in at least one wildlife game camera. These things are motion activated, can take pics in the dark, are relatively cheap, and you can put it out of reach. If I caught these guys doing that the company would hear from an attorney.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_95973____SearchResults

You could probably do better on the price. I just used the Bass Pro Shop site because I knew I could find the camera easily, but you get the idea.

my parents had a huge spike like this last year... at the same time for like a week straight, it was very wet and rainy, so the sump pump was basically running 24/7 (but the thing runs, shuts off, then immediately starts again... startup draws alot of power)

if there were any weird scenarios like this , that could account for it

Also, read your meter to make sure they didn't transpose a digit or anything

that's an outrageous amount of power usage but then again most people aren't trying to cool 2200 squares

is it two story?

ranch/split

i had that happen with my gas bill this winter. I called and was like wtf. They had me read the meter to them and the meter reader read mine wrong. She then corrected it.

You could just shut off the breaker(s) for any and all external outlets they may be using...that is, if you really think it could be the contractors. Seems like overkill to shut the main breaker just for that.

I had the same thing happen in an APARTMENT in GA when I was still stationed there. Somehow in a month where NEITHER one of us were there for 90% of the time, and the heat/air was turned off, we got a bill 4x the amount of what we used in the summer with the air on the whole time.

Tried to fight it, and the company basically told us to fuck off.

Hell, the bill in GA for that month for a 900sq. ft. apartment was more than twice what we spend in a 1700sq ft. house with a climate controlled garage monthly.

Just cut the entrance cable.lol

Here is my opinion on the power company.... Bend over and hold on!!!! I think they just spin the wheel of "who should we screw this month."

Wow that sucks man, now i get why people get into windmill and solar power alternatives. In some cases the power company even pays you for the extra power you send back to them (to over charge other people). :lol:

Let us know... the point in turning the main breaker off is to check the power meter, it should stop moving if you shut the main off. Also if the contractors are stealing power with an extension cord... they'll be cut off too lol.

Have someone watch the meter while you go work
the breaker panel, and call out when the wheel
stops or slows way down. May do it in a couple of
steps, but you can narrow it down like that. Or if
you have a clamp-on ammeter, pull the face panel
in the breaker box and put it on one of the hot legs
(or just one breaker wire at a time).

I've seen those kind of meters pretty cheap at HF.
Like $29, which is way less than your monthly
problem.

Another thing... when did the construction start next door? Makes sense if you can find a coorelation to the construction starting and your quadrupling of your electric bill... would be a little too coincidental.

I blame global warming....
On a more seriously note...My family's house had their gas bill outrageously high...Turns out it took the gas/electric company 3-4 months to figure out that there was a gas leak... 1/2 the time they don't even meter the shit just overcharge...

I blame global warming....

And I blame Al Gore for not solving global warming yet.

Any updates OP?