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Electrical and Lighting: Troubleshooting High KWH Usage

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Forum: Electrical and LightingReplies: 2, Views: 23
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HandyGirl
Tucson, AZ

September 2, 2006
7:08 PM

Post #2685747

Ive been troubleshooting this for several months now and have just about tried everything.
My digital electric meter is showing more usage than I am using.
Ive had my amps read on circuits nothing is showing high, also my usage has jumped when Im not home signifigantly, without appliances on (thoroughly checked)
My neighbors electric is lower than mine and they use Air Conditioners and I do not.
I have unplugged appliances that I use for signifigant time, and meter still reads same usage.
Can someone elses high commercial usage go through the transformer or lines and come back to my meter in any way shape or form if they are using any filtering device or is there any other way the usage can spread out to my meter?


Someone else also suggested me bypassing my house outlets, use extension cords to plug direct to my circuit box and see if the meter still rises high. Another suggestion was that I could be sending electric into the ground? Im not really electricly inclined but am learning as I research this problem.

Any ideas please??????
raisedbedbob
Valley Lee, MD
(Zone 7a)

September 6, 2006
9:12 AM

Post #2696757

Have you contacted your local power company to have them verify that the meter is working properly?
digital_dave
Springfield, MO
(Zone 6b)

September 6, 2006
8:45 PM

Post #2698585

RBB's suggestion is a good one.

You say your meter shows more usage than you use - How can you be so sure?
Amp readings are only a measure the amount of power you are using at the moment - your bill is based on the monthly accumulated energy you use.
No one else's usage can go through your meter (unless someone is stealing from you with extension cords plugged into your outlets. (I've seen it!)
Bypassing outlets will make no difference.
Sending electricity into the ground - quite unlikely
I'm a retired Electrical Engineer in the utility business for 35 years and I've seen a lot of strange things.

Tucson Electric should have all kinds of tools to help you. The first is to look at your historical energy use - the longer you have been in the same location the better the data will be. They should also be able to send a technician out to look everything over physically, as well as taking data on your connected appliances and your use habits. Then they can make some estimates and compare this to your meter data.

In Tucson if you don't have air conditioning and your meter shows you are using more energy than a similar neighbor who does, somebody's meter is bad or one of them is wired in wrong (I've seen that happen too.) or someone is stealing power from you.

Persevere...

Good luck,
Dave

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