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High power bill? This may be why
If you are ever surprised to receive a higher-than-usual power bill, don’t be too quick to blame your electric meter—or your electric power association. The problem may be faulty household appliances or equipment causing electrical use to soar.
Electric power association employees work with consumers who suddenly find themselves in this situation. They work together to find the source of unexplained, excessive energy use so the homeowner can fix the problem. You might be surprised at some of the things they have found, and how common these problems are.
One homeowner called his electric power association when he received a bill reflecting a dramatic increase in power consumption. With the help of an electric power association employee, he discovered he was the victim of an electricity “thief”: a leaking hot water faucet. The leak was forcing his water heater to operate (and consume electricity) around the clock for weeks before it was pinpointed and repaired.
Since the water heater is one of the home’s largest users of electricity, it pays to make sure it is working properly and that all water leaks are quickly repaired.
In another incident, a consumer’s high bill was traced to leaky ductwork underneath his manufactured home. The main duct, through which heated air is forced into the home, had come loose at a joint, allowing heated air to rush out. The homeowner was unknowingly paying to heat his home’s crawlspace! As a result, the heating system ran continuously and power consumption soared.
These problems may have been resolved sooner if the homeowners had been in the habit of reading their electric meter. Being aware of a sudden spike in power use as soon as it happens will alert you to an equipment problem before it runs up power costs.
Of course, other factors affect the amount of electricity you use, including the weather. Remember the freezing, drizzly weather in early February that caused your heating system to run more hours? Because you pay for electricity after you use it, you may forget how much you used during the past month.
Also, check the number of days your power bill spans. A bill naturally will be higher if it records 35 days of use rather than 30, for example.
Another influence on power bills is the cost of generating electricity. Various fuels are used to generate electricity, including coal and natural gas. The prices of these fuels affect the cost of producing electricity. When they fluctuate, adjustments must be made.
Whatever the cause of a higher-than-normal power bill, it’s not likely to be the electric meter. An electric meter is a highly accurate and dependable machine that rarely malfunctions. But if it does, engineers tell me it will run slow, metering less electricity than actually used.
Your electric power association wants you to understand and use energy wisely. Our knowledgeable employees can show you how. It’s just one of the many benefits of cooperative membership.
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