Electrical usage for your house???

[Old Paths]

Eddie, how is power quality out there? Specifically, transients, spikes, lightning can mess with a meter, I have also seen what lightning can do to things underground...Interesting article at
Cabinet Magazine Online - All About Lightning: An Interview with Martin Uman

describing fulgurites. I would also be interested in voltage at the meter (or nearby) and at the end. You can predict voltage drop by length of run and wire gauge, if the drop is any more than expected, you have found the issue. If you do shut off the mains before the underground portion, disconnect both ends and use a megger (used to test insulation) and you will find the problem if there is compromised insulation anywhere. You also should be concerned with delivered voltage, as the voltage being low will result in increased amperage, taxing the wires...
$0.02 from an electrical engineer

Jerry

 

[EddieWalker]

With all the rain that we've had, my dad got bored and decided to spend a day on the phone playing the game with the power company. It really is sad, but it took all day yesterday and half the day today to finally get somebody to explain to him how to read the digital meter. Turns out all you do is wait for the row of x's to apear and then the next set of numbers that appears is the multiplier and usage.

This is significant. My bill shows that my multiplier is 8. They take the reading on the meter and multiply it by 8 to get the actual usage. Dad discovered that the multiplier on the meter says one. He then spent the better part of the rest of the day getting somebody to come out here and verify this so we can go on to the next step.

If this proves correct, then we've been paying 8 times what my actual energy use is.

They said it will take up to 15 days to have somebody come out here. Dad kept calling them back and after the forth or fifth call, they said they'd send somebody out here sooner, but wouldn't commit to when, which my dad figured was about the best he could hope for.

The saga continues......


Eddie

 

[MossRoad]

If this proves correct, then we've been paying 8 times what my actual energy use is.

Surprise! Oops, our fault. We'll give you a credit on your account and you won't have to pay again until the balance is zero.

Translation: thanks for the interest free loan.

I hope it works out in your favor.

 

[irvingj]

Yeah, dividing your billed KWH by 8 would make a difference....

...and would sound closer to "normal" for your 1000 sq ft, where not everything is electric like in my house.

Be sure to give your Dad the "Patience" award for hanging in there on the phone (and thank him)!!

Sounds like you may be on your way to a more efficient life- hope it gets resolved!

And yes, electric companies CAN screw up on the meter- I had one replaced, they put in the "wrong type", and my bills jumped about 80% until I noticed it. If I hadn't called them on it, it probably would have stayed there indefinitely....

 

[Bird]

With all the rain that we've had, my dad got bored and decided to spend a day on the phone playing the game with the power company. It really is sad, but it took all day yesterday and half the day today to finally get somebody to explain to him how to read the digital meter. Turns out all you do is wait for the row of x's to apear and then the next set of numbers that appears is the multiplier and usage.

This is significant. My bill shows that my multiplier is 8. They take the reading on the meter and multiply it by 8 to get the actual usage. Dad discovered that the multiplier on the meter says one. He then spent the better part of the rest of the day getting somebody to come out here and verify this so we can go on to the next step.

If this proves correct, then we've been paying 8 times what my actual energy use is.

They said it will take up to 15 days to have somebody come out here. Dad kept calling them back and after the forth or fifth call, they said they'd send somebody out here sooner, but wouldn't commit to when, which my dad figured was about the best he could hope for.

The saga continues......


Eddie

Eddie, I might be wrong, but I'll bet if you called the Texas Public Utility Commission in Austin and told them just what you've posted here, the power company will have someone out there within 24 hours.

 

[hr3]

Eddie.. Just found this thread very interesting reading ,, I hope your multiplier is {1}.. That will take care of it,,, If not you are right to check the amps at the breakers below the meter,,With the mains off at the house you should read 0.. Also you might want your dad to do the phone thing again,,or talk to the guy who comes out to check your meter,, Ask them about the line balance,,, older meters did read the power drawn on both hot legs... the newer digital meters may take a reading from both and record the highest of the 2,,, Makes sence too.. on a load basis...

Good luck with the RV park when you get it going..Maybe someday when I retire I'll spend a night,,

 

[BobRip]

Eddie.. Ask them about the line balance,,, older meters did read the power drawn on both hot legs... the newer digital meters may take a reading from both and record the highest of the 2,,, Makes sence too.. on a load basis...

Why does this make sense? You are supposed to pay for kilowatt hours. With the suggested system, you are paying some bogus amount. Kilowatt hour is a scientific, engineering, and I suspect legal term. The bogus method is not. Does anyone have knowledge of this approach? I hear the rumor of it, but no real confirmation. The power company could just set any multiplier and get away with. I guess they did this here. But it is not legal.

Since the power company is seeing the same power on their line regardless of the balance or unbalance then this really does not make sense. Sorry if I am off topic.

 

[hr3]

Bob,,, Your right if he had and old "Thompson" meter but i think he said he has the newer Smart meters,, The smart meters can read both "real power" or Apparent Power"

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ter&ndsp=20&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&start=40&um=1

 

[BobRip]

Bob,,, Your right if he had and old "Thompson" meter but i think he said he has the newer Smart meters,, The smart meters can read both "real power" or Apparent Power"

I just question the legality of this "Apparent Power". Sure with modern technology you can do anything you want, but that does not make it legal or reasonable. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and they do weird things.

 

[dex3361]

I live in WV and I have been working for our Company on a Power Management Team to review the Power Bills and here are a few facts for our bills in WV.

We are billed for the KW usage. Not charged by KVA (apparent power).
Each bill has a different tariff depending on the size of service and the type of service.

Power Quality is an issue but only larger services and then only if the KVAR exceeds 50% of the KWD.

The meters currently used (smart meters) does not matter if the legs are balanced or not they measure the actual KW on both legs of power individually(as reported by the local power utility) and bill accordingly.