[clcizme]

I am a missionary in Jamaica. We have a house that was recently remodeled and rewired. However, when we moved back in... the electrical bill went up triple what it had been previously. We turned off all the power to check and make sure that no one was stealing power from us (they weren't) and tried all sorts of ways to cut back. No help! So, we called in an electrician who told us that the breaker box needed new breakers (we just had a completely new breaker box installed when we remodeled) because they had put in the wrong size breakers and it was pulling too much. However, we have never had a circuit pop off, even when running everything. When I asked about this, the electrician said it was because the breakers were "new so they are still too tight to trip easily". I am looking for help now. I don't know anything about electric, but the bills are huge and we have to do something. Please let me know if this information is correct or if I am being taken for a ride. Thanks to all who respond. Blessings,
CLC

[bolt in blue]

The size of the breakers doesn't determine the amount of use. If you previously had smaller breakers and they kept tripping, it's possible that your use was lower because of the time the power was off.

Did you add any big appliances? New electric stove? Refrigerator? Air conditioning? Electric heat? SOMETHING electric had to change between then and now. Maybe your electric rate went up? Did they replace your electric meter?

[donf]

One test you can try is to start turning off circuit breakers. Check the speed of the meter dials or wheel and see if it slows down dramatically.

If it does, then examine the last circuit you turned off and the loads attached to that branch circuit breaker.

If you get all breakers off and the meter is still spinning, then either the power company has a problem, something is wrong internal to your home or there a connection that you do not know about.

Do you have an electric water heater? If so, if that is the villain, you can set the water temp lower.

[hkstroud]

First get a new electriction. Never again talk the one that told you that B.S. pray for him but don't talk to him.

I don't know what the circumstance is that would make you consider that someone was stealing power but, verify that there is no electrical cables in the meter base other than the one going to your breaker box. If some one is stealing power it seems more likely that it would be after the main breaker. Turning off the breakers would not confirm nor eliminate the possibility, only interrupt their theft. Leave the breakers on and turn off or unplug all electrical appliances. Some TV's pull a small amount of current even when turned off. So do cordless telephone base sets. Unplug everything that you can. About the only thing I can think of that you could not easily unplug would be a door bell transformer. It will cause a barely perceptible meter movement.

See what the meter is doing.

Keep in mind that if some one is stealing power they might not be doing it at the moment. You may have to read the meter and live with out power for a day to make any real determination.