I was living in Atlanta and moving to Richmond. I couldn't afford to take a trip out here to find a place to live, so I used to internet. I found a place that offers everything I am looking for. I only had phone converstions and some email conversations with the property managers. I sent them $100 to hold a 1br 1bth apartment with washer and dryer hook ups. When I arrived, they didn't have a 1br 1bth apartment with a washer dryer hook up so I was stuck with one without it. Since the day I have moved in it has been one problem after another. The sink was leaking, the freezer was leaking into the fridge, the wood under the kitchen sink was rotted, one of the cabnit drawers was coming off, there are cable wires that run along the wall all through the apartment, the wall behind the front door is completely separated from the trim, I don't have ANY power outlets in my bathroom, my ac unit doesn't run properly(if I set it lower than 78 it runs without turning off), and the ac unit has a drain hose that comes out of my apartment right in front of my door, causing water to puddle up in front of my door, and recently causing misquitos. But to top it off the powerbills have been crazy. There are two people (myself and husband) who live here, and it is only 700 sq ft. The first powerbill was $193 my second was $245 and my last was $188!! I am struggling big time. My neighbors powerbills is never over $60!! I have had the power company do a meter exchange, and the apartment complex had someone come out to look at my ac, who said that there was nothing wrong with it. I need help. I feel taken advantage of, and I don't know what to do to have this resolved. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to what could be causing the high powerbills? Also, with all the problems with the apartment is there some way to break the lease or to get another apartment?

SUMMER electric bills that high?

That can't be right, my entire single family HOUSE doesn't use that much electric with central A/C running 24 X 7 and I NEVER open my windows, and that is during the HOTTEST months of summer. I also have sever computers running all the time.

I wonder if someone isn't tapped into your power after the meter. Or the meter is defective.

Breaking the lease isn't easy unless the lessor promised something that he hasn't delivered. Condition of the apartment is something that isn't part of the lease, it was up to you to do the due dilligence to see what you were getting. As far as the power bills go... call the electric company and have then do a bit of snooping. They would prefer happy customers.

Do you have your circuit breakers in your unit? Maybe someone else has stuff connected to the circuits that feed your meter. This is a common problem in spaces that have been renovated several times possibly moving around where apartments are.

One way to check is to turn every individual breaker in your box off (leave the main one on). Plug something into every outlet in your apartment (radio, lamp, etc) and turn it on. You should have no power in your apartment. Turn on one breaker at a time. It should turn on what it's labeled for. If not labeled, you should write down what each one does and tape it to the box cover.

If you have breakers that don't turn on anything in your apartment, leave them off. Some breakers you might not be able to test (electric water heater comes to mind). This isn't a 100% test because you could have circuits that have outlets in two apartments, but it will make sure that the neighbor's central air isn't wired into your box since it needs its own breakers. You likely have one breaker for your indoor unit and one for your outdoor unit if you have central air. If your neighbor's a/c is wired into your box, you could be paying for your neighbor's cooling. Are these central a/c or window/wall units?

One time, I rented an unused building for a church that they were going to renovate for offices/band practice space. The power bill was $800 with all the breakers off and just over $800 with all the breakers on. It became the electric company's problem at that point.

I don't know. That may be the problem but when I cut the breakers off the dic doesn't spiin on the meter

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Originally Posted by jumpjump

idk. that may be the problem but when i cut the breakers off the dic doesnt spiin on the meter

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If you cut everything off and it doesn't spin that means your meter is reading your panel so that much is correct but you could still have someone else's stuff hooked up to your panel. I think some of the breakers you have could be for another apartment. Did you find any that didn't control anything in your apartment?

Not that I know of that is something that my husband will have to look at when he gets home. I will let you know. Thank you for your help so far.

Bolt in Blue had some good ideas to try and determine if someone else has circuits connected to your meter. Keep in mind, that I am sure if any other apartment or common area is found using your meter, that they are surely unaware.

Seems that if you shut off all your circuits, and no other areas were affected, then no one else is using your power. A poorly running AC unit can hog power, more than normal if not running properly, plus of course not getting the benefit of cool air.

With all the other problems you have listed, sounds like your landlord is not concerned with the standard of housing he is providing.

First off , you accepted a unit that was not the same as agreed to via phone and email.

However, that should not matter, the unit you did move into should have properly operating appliances and systems.

You really need to get the landlord to repair the defects.

You can start here:

Housing Code Guide for Atlanta

The only reason I accepted this apartment was because I wouldn't of had any where else to go.

Don't mean to be sarcastic but I guess you could not afford NOT TO GO THERE FIRST to find a place.

Even living out of a UHAUL for a couple of days, till you inspected a couple places.

But the time to do the right thing is past. The mistakes made can not be redid at this point.

If they are not properly fixing the air ( and leaving it at 80 is not a bad thing to save power) give them notice that if not done you will have it done and charge them for it.

Coming up here wasn't as easy as you made it sound. My husband was in Iraq so I had to mail him the papers (which could take up to 3 weeks) he had to fill them out and mail them back (another 3 weeks) So living out of a uhal was not an option. LIke I said I couldn't aford it.

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Originally Posted by jumpjump

Coming up here wasnt as easy as you made it sound. My husband was in Iraq so I had to mail him the papers (which could take up to 3 weeks) he had to fill them out and mail them back (another 3 weeks) So living out of a uhal was not an option. LIke I said I couldnt aford it.

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Wait... both you and your separated husband are on AMHD?

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/family...gn-503504.html

Fantastic :)

No Im not separated. If you are talking about MRmalibu I just showed him this site he is my neighbor. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by jumpjump

No Im not seperated. If you are talking about MRmalibu i just showed him this site he is my neighbor. Thanks.

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Oh good word, I hope you are joking.

You do realize that the moderators of this site can SEE your e-mail address and I.P. number that you use to sign up on the site, correct?

Yup. And it doesn't matter this8384. What does any of this have to do with my high powerbills? Nothing. So what's your problem?

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Originally Posted by jumpjump

Yup. and it doesnt matter this8384. What does any of this have to do with my high powerbills? Nothing. So whats your problem?

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My problem is people who waste our time by creating two usernames and posting conflicting information. We'd like to volunteer our time to people who need help, not people who are bored.

How did I give you conflicting info? I smiply said that he lives in Richmond. What's wrong with that? He is my neighbor. I just showed him this website earlier today. I have been on here since last week when I was showed it. I was just showing him the site thought he would like it. So for you to just come off like that makes you really look like an idiot because you have no clue as to what you are talking about. I would appreciate it if you didn't post on my questions anymore. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by jumpjump

How did I give you conflicting info? I smiply said that he lives in Richmond. Whats wrong with that? He is my neighbor. I just showed him this website earlier today. I have been on here since last week when I was showed it. I was just showing him the site thought he would like it. So for you to just come off like that makes you really look like an idiot becuase you have no clue as to what you are talking about. I would appreciate it if you didnt post on my questions anymore. thank you.

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You and your "neighbor" are using one computer at the same time to answer different questions. Once you're a woman, next you're a man.

No, I look like someone trying to offer advice. You signed up for one website using two names. Who looks like the idiot?

And please don't start with the "don't answer my questions" foolishness. This is an public forum - I can answer what I please. And this, my dear, pleases me.

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Originally Posted by jumpjump

How did I give you conflicting info? I smiply said that he lives in Richmond. Whats wrong with that? He is my neighbor. I just showed him this website earlier today. I have been on here since last week when I was showed it. I was just showing him the site thought he would like it. So for you to just come off like that makes you really look like an idiot becuase you have no clue as to what you are talking about. I would appreciate it if you didnt post on my questions anymore. thank you.

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Don't even TRY to dictate who will answer your posts and in what manner. Your "screw the system" attitude is loud and clear in both user names.

"This8384" looks like an idiot? Well, at least she didn't post a question about high utility bills - looks like she can figure that answer out for herself.

Moderator !

Closed