[tmslaug2]

I'm hoping someone can help with my situation. In mid July our power company (City of Laurinburg, NC) changed our meter to an Itron Centron Watt-Hour Meter and also changed the multiplier from 40 to 80. Since then our usage has doubled. For the month of August we supposedly used 6080 kwh. Our home is approximately 30 years old, we have owned it for 17 years and have always had a multiplier of 40. I was told by the City that we had been incorrectly billed all these years. That the multiplier factor should have been based on the 400/5 CT which is located inside the Meter Box. An electrician has looked at our circuit panel and told us our load does not require a 400 CT. I have also been informed by the city that the only way to correct this is to purchase a new meter box at a cost of approximately $1800.00. I cannot believe this is correct. Any help in understanding is much appreciated. Here is a link to a graph of KWH for past 4 years.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...at=interactive

[hfcarson]

In my opinion the best and likely only way to effectively argue that the utility meter is recording incorrect information is to meter your service independently and compare with the utility. Suggesting their equipment is installed wrong won't do it... you need to prove it is inaccurate.

Fluke makes digital demand meters that may be appropriate.
You will need a knowledgeable electrician to assist you with this and if you also have any solar this will also need to be addressed.

First, the accuracy of their metering needs to be carefully documented. If you are then convinced their meter is wrong, then a formal letter is a start. As you may be dealing with a sizable sum of money over the long run, consider contacting a professional engineer. They carry some legal clout that could be helpful.
Good luck.

[Missouri Bound]

Have the electric company explain why they changed the multiplier. I worked for a company that had a similar issue when the building was first built... the meter was wrong, and for 14 years we paid twice what the bill should have been. One day we say a credit on our bill... of $50,000. What we did was meet with them and show us what each bill should have been, every month for 14 years. Then we compounded the interest, month by month, year by year since they effectively borrowed our money for 14 years. When it was over, they owed us $125,000... not $50,000
And we collected it. Be careful when researching this... if it turns out that you were paying less for those 17 years you may have to cough up the rest.
hfcarson is exactly right... prove what you are using either with a meter or an outside source before you make any move.
TED is also available for just this application. It monitors your usage and you can use your pc to track it.

[tmslaug2]

Thank you for your responses. Here is a picture of the CT. Is there anyway to tell if there are additional turns to reduce the ratio? There are 2 of these CT's in my meter box.


Attachment 47798Attachment 47799

[hfcarson]

The equipment you have is not relevant.
Are you being accurately billed is the question.

So if you knew everything there was to know about the metering, the turns ratio...etc,
what would it mean? You need to consider how to productively argue with the utility company. In my humble opinion, you should retain a competent electrician or engineer.

[talaniman]

What is your actual rate increase in dollars over the last 3 months? Your bill should also give you a rate in dollars per KWH,

http://www.laurinburg.org/Data/Sites...tes-012015.pdf

Unless you are in a program that locks you into a rate (typically 2 years), then you are subject to a rate hike approved by your own city council effective in March 2015. No doubt your usage went up with the heat wave of this summer, and like the rest of us with these new meters, you cannot just blame the meters until you take stock in your own pattern of usage and your equipment. You are lucky indeed not to have had a rate hike in 17 years(?).

Residents - City of Laurinburg

Equal Payment Plan (EPP) - The Equal Payment Plan averages the last 12 months of your utility bills so that you pay the same amount each month and it make budgeting so much easier. Contact our Customer Services Department at 276-1521.
Energy Audit - The City offers an Energy Audit program for your home to help you find any problems that could be causing your electric bill to run high. Brian Morrison will come into your home to suggest ways to decrease your electric bill. Please contact Brian at 291-1709 to schedule your energy audit.

I bet your other utilities (water, sewage, trash) have also increased this past year as well, as have most of the countries. Talk to a few neighbors and I think you will find you are not alone, before you hire a very expensive electrician to investigate your individual meter.

There are far more factors here to consider than just a new meter.

http://www.griffmonster.com/miscella...r_reading.html

[ballengerb1]

My bill was about $18 before ComEd switch to a wireless digital meter. I now pay about $125. However, I suspected the old meter ran slow if I was not pulling 240