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So I have a strange story to tell and wanted to see if anyone has heard of anyone who went through a similar thing

Soon after I bought my one bedroom apartment close to 3 years ago, I got a large credit on my electricity bill after a new meter reading. I figured this was because the previous owners overpaid based on estimates and I lucked out. So for many months my charges were $0 because of the large credit I received. When I started getting charged again (maybe a year later?) my bills were very small – around $20. Since I was used to paying $0 for the previous year, I didn’t think much of it and paid every bill.

A year later (6 months ago I believe) I got another large credit back (around $300). I called Con Edison because I wanted to make sure this was accurate and they assured me it was. Happily, I have paid $0 since then because my cheap bills were coming off my credit.

Last week my neighbor received a letter stating that the meter for apartment 3FT didn’t have an account and would be turned off. They called Con Ed and determined they were 3BT and figured it was my account. After talking to Con Ed for more than an hour, we figured out that I was paying the minimum service charge as Con Ed switched my meters but didn’t upgrade their computers.

Now they want to charge me for all the back electricity since 2006. I haven’t yet received the bill but I’m assuming it will be a few thousand dollars. I have no problem paying future bills based on my actual meter readings, but I don’t understand why I would have to pay back electricity charges due to Con Ed messing up. I didn’t budget for this and have no idea how I would pay it.

Has anyone else heard of similar circumstances? I’d love to fight this, but have no idea how realistic it is. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt