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Suspicious electricity bill...
So, my wife and I live in a 1200 sq. ft. apartment, and our normal electricity bill is about $40-50 a month. Then, our May-June bill was $85, even though we never turned the air on, which was higher than our Christmas bill when our lights, heat, etc. were on all the time. I called them, and they said, "Well, it is summer... oh, you're not using your air... are you using a dehumidifier... oh... well, it's still summer..." or I heard "you must have an appliance going out..."
Then, for June-July, we were out of town for 2 weeks of that billing month and had everything unplugged, and low and behold, the bill when we get back - $105.... So, I call them again, tell them that I think something is going wrong, and whether it be the meter, or the reading device, or something, that we aren't using that much electricity, etc. They respond "Well, it is summer... are you sure that you aren't using an air conditioner or dehumidifier... an appliance must be going out..."
Fast forward to this morning. I go to mess with the breaker to troubleshoot, I hit the AC breaker, and our neighbor's AC turns off (apartment). I turn it back on, their air goes back on. I then did this 3-4 more time, and surely enough, their air conditioner is hooked to our breaker. We informed maintenance, and they said that will get right on it (they are pretty quick to respond).
End of the story, there have been three times when my family or I have received strangely high bills, and never once has it been due to us running an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, an appliance going out, or anything like that. I am curious, though, how this was missed for the 7-10 years since these apartments have been built... Anyway, in case anyone else is having strangely high electricity bills, I hope that this may help!
-Justin
Then, for June-July, we were out of town for 2 weeks of that billing month and had everything unplugged, and low and behold, the bill when we get back - $105.... So, I call them again, tell them that I think something is going wrong, and whether it be the meter, or the reading device, or something, that we aren't using that much electricity, etc. They respond "Well, it is summer... are you sure that you aren't using an air conditioner or dehumidifier... an appliance must be going out..."
Fast forward to this morning. I go to mess with the breaker to troubleshoot, I hit the AC breaker, and our neighbor's AC turns off (apartment). I turn it back on, their air goes back on. I then did this 3-4 more time, and surely enough, their air conditioner is hooked to our breaker. We informed maintenance, and they said that will get right on it (they are pretty quick to respond).
End of the story, there have been three times when my family or I have received strangely high bills, and never once has it been due to us running an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, an appliance going out, or anything like that. I am curious, though, how this was missed for the 7-10 years since these apartments have been built... Anyway, in case anyone else is having strangely high electricity bills, I hope that this may help!
-Justin
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