Electric Bill- This Happens to me ALL the time

[mark_wpduet]

I'll try to make this short, which I'm not usually good at.

In the April billing cycle of my power bill (at a time of year where we didn't use much heat/AC, we got our electric bill and it was like 179 dollars (which is HIGH) for that time of year. They do NOT estimate in my area either. Each reading is an actual reading.

Next billing cycle, my bill is 50 dollars!!! (for 32 days mind you) and the AC was used a lot that month (I keep it on 73)

So I just receive my billing cycle from June 18th to July 15th. July 15th was the actual read date. On the bill the July 15 read date showed the kilowatt hours on my meter to be 84564. Yesterday, when I received my bill (three days later) I go out to the meter with a pencil/paper, and write down my kilowatt hours and they are 83767

I called to verify if it is estimated and she said no. I asked if they used a device to point or if they go straight to the meter and read it. She said it depends on your meter. I think they point because I have never seen them read my meter in almost seven years. I wonder, when they are pointing, if they are hitting a close by house and not mine?

I don't know why they are always reading my meter wrong. I guess they have to ultimately make up for it since the meter itself will ultimately be correct....But it's a pain because the past year I've been getting some very high bills one month and low bills another month and I'm thinking something is wrong

Has anyone else had anything like this happen?

 

[cycla-fabric]

I had a problem like that too from the electric company. I went out and check the meter and the bill had the wrong reading, mine was lower. I called the electric company and had them come out and read it again. They credited the account as they read it wrong. I would call them and have them come out asap, as the reading will continue to change.

Doug

 

[henry200]

Mark, bill fluctuations and inaccuracies like that are inexcusable!  Are any of your neighbors experiencing the same issues?  You're probably not the only one.  It sounds to me like the meter readers aren't doing their job and the power company needs to clean up their operation.   I'd let the state attorney general's office know about the situation.

 

[sudsmaster]

Out here PG&E has moved to what it calls "Smart Meters", which are digitized and can be read remotely from a vehicle in the street. They also transmit their data to the utility and consumers can access their energy usage on a minute-by-minute basis. It's interesting.

The Smart Meters have generated a fair amount of controversy, with some subscribers saying their bills shot up after the installation. I haven't noticed much difference at my home, however.

It sort of sounds like your utility is time shifting your bills by a month.

 

[henry200]

I'm on the budget plan with my utility company and my monthly average for gas and electric over the last year was $100.  It's shocking how much of that $100 is taxes and fees!  The average recently went down a few bucks at the "cleanup month."  The meters get read every few months and in between the readings are estimated but I've never seen any unusual spikes or dips.  I'm anxious to see what the next electric reading is going to be after this heatwave we're experiencing.  I don't think I needed the ac more than a few weeks in August last year; mostly to take the humidity out of the air.  It's been running a lot more this month.  I keep the thermostat at 80 for ac.  The house is poorly insulated but mostly shaded by lots of trees.  I also have a dehumidifier running continuously in the basement, a small chest freezer, and a GE Profile fridge which seems to run a lot. 

 

[joe_in_philly]

It sure sounds like something isn't right. You should read your meter yourself and offer them as proof that something is wrong. Your bill may state your next meter reading date.

 

I believe each meter has a unique identifier, so when they remotely read a meter, they know what meter goes with each address. We don't have smart meters yet, but my electric, water, and gas meters are all remotely read. I assumed it is a common practice in most places. They just drive down the street with a special van and read everyone's meters. The driver just stays in the vehicle - they don't have to point anything at each house. They never have to come into my house or physically look at the meters. A couple of years ago the gas company had to come and replace the gas meter, as the battery lasts only about 10 years and it was due for replacement. I have been told that the electric meter will be replaced in a year or two, and at that time we will get a smart meter, which will provide more feedback about our usage.

 

[passatdoc]

We moved over to Smart Meters this winter. Still cannot access the real-time energy usage, SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric) has not updated their website to accomodate that feature.

I did not notice a change in my bill vs seasonal norms, and we've had the smart meters for about six months. In spite of the utility's name, they provide only electricity to southern Orange County (they provide both gas and electricity in San Diego County), while gas comes from Southern California Gas Co.

Both SDG&E and SoCal Gas are now owned by Sempra Energy of San Diego. So in my area, we get a separate gas and separate electric bill from two separate companies, even though the parent company is one and the same. Customers in San Diego County get a unified single bill from SDG&E. I understand that SDG&E is installing smart gas meters as well, but they won't reach us up here, that move would have to come from SoCal Gas.

 

[mrb627]

Pic is worth...

Don't just read your meter on a regular basis, take a good digital picture of it.  It is the best proof if it comes to that.

 

Malcolm

 

[toggleswitch]

I moved into an apartment budding that was constructed in 1946.
My apartment has 30a 110v main service. There are two circuits of 15a each.
Needless to say I cant run my electric toothbrush and a vibrator at the same time.

I made sure that my first bill did not include any usage of the prior tenant. My second bill was something like $400.

I went and read the meter myself. The PROFESSIONAL meter reader went up to the next number on one of the middle dials instead of rounding down. With my old meter the dial to the right determines what you record as to the reading for the one to the the left of it. If the dial to the right has not passed the "0" then you round down, if it has, the dial (to the left) is at the next higher number.

IDIOTS. I forced them to come read it again. And forget using logic with the customer service rep. UH SWEETIES is it physically impossible for me to us THAT much power with my limited ancient service......

I got a big fat credit the next month.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I will take a picture of it. But in the long run (since the meter is the proof) if they did read my meter at almost 1000 kilowatt hours MORE than was actually on the meter, then when they read it next month correctly, my bill will be super LOW, since it takes about 15 days to even catch up to their "wrong reading". So in my mind, no matter what I do, it will even out. I hope! If it's screwed up next month then I will definitely let them know. My budget is 145 per month, and in January (settle month) I'm always owed some money. But the budget USED to be 125 per month, I think these SCREW ups make them calculate my budget amt wrong; that I used more electricity than I actually do, so my budget went up 20 dollars last year, which it really shouldn't have.

 

[mark_wpduet]

PS.

Not sure if the neighbors have this issue. The next time I see one of them, I will ask.

 

[joe_in_philly]

Good Luck. Hopefully it will be easily straightened out.

 

[whirlcool]

Related:

Be careful when a new smart meter is being installed. There have been several house fires caused by those things soon after they are installed. Usually the electrical box catches fire.

The power company said that since this is caused by wiring problems in the house they won't pay for any damaged. In fact, to add insult to injury they come out and remove the smart meter and won't reinstall it until you get a city inspector out to inspect your homes electrical system to make sure it meets current code. On your dime of course. This means you won't have any electricity until then.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Here's the part of bill showing the meter killowatt hrs read on July 15th

 

[mark_wpduet]

Here is a pic I just snapped 7/19/2011

here

 

[toggleswitch]

Considering it reads 83,825 and you were billed for 84,564, I think the problem is solved.

 

[arbilab]

I've had it happen but in all the years paying electric can only remember twice.

Wait 'til they get that first digit wrong. Really stand your hair on end.

 

[yogitunes]

We had a faulty meter once.......the Electric Company didn't believe that the less we used, the higher the bill...........

Called their service team out to the house, flipped OFF the breakers, one by one, as I did the meter started going faster and faster....when I hit the main, it should have been standing still.......

They installed a new meter.....and still don't think its any of their fault

 

[appnut]

Mark, have you thought about simply you being responsible for the meter reading and sending it in?  Some utility companies offer that as an alternative just for this reason.  Inaccurate readings.