Con Edison
Was trying to shut circuit breaker off due to high bills in rental. 700 sq ft, no washer, dryer, dishwasher, coffee maker, not even an iron – yet the bill runs around 140-170 a month in winter. So I wanted to shut down everything but the kitchen (fridge) and the outlets click off but the…
Was trying to shut circuit breaker off due to high bills in rental. 700 sq ft, no washer, dryer, dishwasher, coffee maker, not even an iron – yet the bill runs around 140-170 a month in winter. So I wanted to shut down everything but the kitchen (fridge) and the outlets click off but the overhead lights do not. Does this mean I’m on a shared meter, paying for someone else’s electric or am I on someone else’s meter (hard to believe my bills would be so high if that is the case). Illegal basement apartment, landlord’s apt then i’m on top floor. H E L P!!
Had a problem like this once in a new apartment. The woman I spoke to at ConEd was SO helpful, in that she told me to check on my refrigerator, if it was old, as it could be using that much electricity if on its last legs.
Well, the previous tenants had told me that water collected in the bottom of the frige and that they just sponged it out. Turns out, this meant the thing was dying and using about as much electricity as you’ve got.
When I told my landlords I wasn’t about to continue paying the price of a new refrigerator every two months in electricity usage, they got a new one. Electric bills went back down to $30 range, which was normal for my usage. Don’t know how I would have figured it out if it wasn’t for that woman at ConEd.
Are you sure that all the breakers for your unit are in your apartment? It is quite possible that there there is a breaker or two in the cellar that is/are dedicated to your apartment only.
If you don’t open the fridge door it’ll keep food cold for long enough to do some testing. Overhead lights could be on the same circuit as the fridge. Do as IMBY suggests and turn everything off & see if your meter still moves and/or shut off all the breakers to your apt and see if it moves.
If the landlord has created an illegal basement apartment, it wouldn’t be surprising if the electrical distribution wasn’t done properly. Forced air heat uses a lot of electricity to run the fan motor. If that is connected to your meter it could explain.
I would talk to the landlord and get his help to test if your meter is only for your apartment. He may know it’s not kosher but not want to spend the money to make it right, in which case he might agree to negotiate a rent reduction corresponding to the excess charges in your bill.
If you have access to your meter you can check it for usage. You will need to turn off all appliances including fridge, and especially unplug computers, chargers, modems, tv, things that still draw power when they are “off”. Then see if the wheel is still spinning on the meter.
Lights may be on kitchen circuit, or on other apt’s circuit (not uncommon with subdivided houses). Lights don’t use much anyway.
Do you have electric heat? Would explain everything.
No easy way to tell if parts of another apt are wired into your circuits (unless you have access to everything in the house) since you might think that breaker was exclusively for your apt, but could be shared