My electric bill has sky-rocketed from last to this month 91.00-772.00...?

Question

My aprtment complex is brand new (2 months old) and my bill was 91.00 first month.

At the beginning of this month some electrical company came and did some maintanance in the elevator mechanical room on the first floor. I live on the 2nd floor, right next to the elevator. I mean, right next to it. I also noticed that when someone goes up in the elevator my lights flicker once. Could they have crossed wires and put the elevator on my meter?

It's a 3 story apartment building with a hydraulic elevator.

So my bill has went from 91.00 to 772.00 this month...I called the utility company and they tell me that they show an increase in use since the last meter reading.

Answer 1

Holy cow, something is definitely wrong. I don't think a single family residence (especially an apartment) could use that much electricity in a month, even if everything in the house was on, the AC was one and so was the heater! The electric company needs to come out, possible replace the meter, and check the repair work they did. That is a totally unreasonable amount for your bill.

Answer 2

Anything is possible. Check with other tenants and the building manager. Get all the info you can.

Chances are you can not get to your meter without the managers key.

Perhaps when labeling the meters they mislabeled yours as the "house" meter.

Im sure the manager will get it sorted out. If not call the city to do an investigation or call the state. They WILL get it taken care of. Usually calling the Housing Developement Authority gets results. First call the manager then the city electrical department, then the electrical provider, then the state electrical commission, then HDA. In that order and you wont piss off as many people unless they are dropping the ball.

Just out of curiosity what was the difference in the readings?

Answer 3

I would ask the management of your building to show you the electrical panel for your apartment and where does the feed for the elevator go to. Explain to your landlord what is going on and see what he/she can do to help figure this out. I would ask the utility company what would cause your bill to go up 800%. Ask the utility company what was the reading at the beginning of the month and you give the reading, maybe somebody new screwed up. I hope everything works out!

Answer 4

It should be easy to test.

Turn everything off in your apartment including the frig... just for a short time.

Watch the meter and see if it moves at all.

Then have someone ride in the elevator. If it starts to move, yup, they wired it incorrectly.

It is literally IMPOSSIBLE to draw that much current in one apartment. The wiring inside your unit won't support that much current....

Using a rate of 5 cents per KWH, a charge of 772 dollars mean you used a whopping 15440 KWH. Because this is a montly figure, that's 514KWH per day.

Since there is only 24 hours per day, 21KWH per hour. Assuming it is calculated at 120 volts, 178 amps CONTINUOUSLY. That's a huge amount of current. Enough to sustain 8 average size A/C unit running at full blast continuously.

You can show them my calculations. Something is wrong.

On the second thought, having wired to your circuit is also unlikely. The service wire from your meter to your house is also not thick enough to support that kind of current. BUT, something is definately wrong.

Answer 5

If you know which meter is yours shut all the power off in your apartment and look and see if the meter dial is still spinning.If it is something is drawing power. The power company needs to check it out. ASAP

Answer 6

domicile or place of dwelling? Do you run AC ? Are you forgetting and leaving the lights furnishings on? I went to a house to verify out the answer to this very comparable question. It grow to be her fist bill on the grounds that stepping into the domicile and since the previous proprietor's bill by no potential ran over $seventy 5.00, she grow to be troubled that her bill grow to be over $one hundred seventy five.00. As I appeared and appeared, i observed the school bus pulled up and 3 teenagers bumped into the domicile, I asked her only how a lot of human beings lived right here previously. while she informed me that only the single guy lived there, I informed her to supply me my money and enable me be on my way. i in my opinion had to describe to her why. look, my component is that normally the respond is suited in front of you and you do no longer see it. sturdy success in all you do and would God bless.

Answer 7

This could be a dangerous situation. You need to contact power company asap. Also, notify the apartment management.

Answer 8

Yeah. I think so try talking to the owner of the apartment and the electricians have them check it out. You shouldn't pay for something that you're not consuming.

Answer 9

speak to the supervisor or manager at the electric company...sounds like you are paying for the buildings utility bill, not just your apt.............

Answer 10

I think you recieved the apartment complex bill.