How do you stop a Utility Company from "tampering" running up the meter?

Question

When you have had little or NO Utility use:
1 (Vacant office with no electrical appliences present) NO USE.
or
2(Only Gas used is Gas Water Heater) very LOW readings
^^^
1After Months of NO USE, (although I still paid a minimum charge)
we had a small refrigerator there for Two Months, (a small encrease) It was removed and back to NO USEage.
Then suddenly a Monthly reading bumped it up to 3000 Units -
(I think they "tested" the Meter by running it up)
NO Use following Month (same identical reading) -
Then bumped it up again; another 3000
I know they THINK somebody is using Utilities But the place is VACANT and does not even Have appliences there capable of generating that usage!!!

2 The Co was suspicious of the low reading (i only use Gas for water heater); and tested/changed my meter. The readings still being low they suddenly after a few Months- ran up the Meter - when I was gone for 2 weeks. (to the amount it "would be" if furnace ect were used) WHAT DO YOU DO!!

Answer 1

Sometimes they make an estimate according to the regional average of the season. At some point in time, they will take an actual reading and reimburse you if neccesary. That has happened to me before. They aren't trying to cheat you.

Answer 2

Take a dated picture of the meter. You shouldb e able to see the number that the reader sees. Take the pictures about the time that the reading is done (the reading date should be on your bill. Then take another picture the day after the meter reading.

If the reader is changing the number, you will see a large jump in the one or two day period, which will ook suspsicious to anyone. If it doesnt change, then you have proof that no one is actually reading the meter, they are just charging you.

You can then send copis of the pictures to the utility and challenge hte billing, you could probably also demand a refund for past readings.

Answer 3

Your electric company may have tested the meter because they were suspicious of zero usage. I don't know what you mean by 3000 units. Do you mean 3000 Kilowatt Hours? That is certainly excessive and far beyond the amount of electricity required to test a meter. Dispute your bill and demand an adjustment if the only usage was for the electric company testing their meter. You should not have to pay for that.

However, there may still a load that you are not aware of. To be absolutely certain that you are not using any electricity, turn off your main circuit breaker.

Answer 4

The house is "ice" cold? Doubt that. The pipes which have water in them to the kitchen and bath would have frozen. So you must have some heat.The furnace needs electricity for the thermostat and to run the fan motor.
Otherwise the cost of replacing the plumbing (due to cracked pipes from freezing)would outweigh any saving gotten from not using any heat.
The utility company "owns that meter" not you.
I don't care if they change the numbers on the meter - was power used in that unit and were you charged for it? Otherwise you could charge a multinational with something and they would lose. Do you think they are that dumb?

Answer 5

Call the company, it's not them, it's the person reading the meter. They sometimes don't actually check the meter, they just estimaate the usage, thata has happened to me before. The Supervisor over the meter readers is who you need to talkto. Call the Company, and if what they ttell you doesn't sound right call the mayor or go to a city council meeting, (usually held oncea month) someone has to be able to fix the problem. Also, ask neighbors around if they have had discrpancies in their meter readings and if they have make ssure to document it. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Could be the person reading the meter or maybe someone is using the place without your knowledge. Seen that before many of times.

Answer 7

cut off the utilities