![]() Your vacuum cleaner or dishwasher might only give other numbers, because their draw is variable during usage. Some appliances require a little multiplication. Line-drying clothes is one easy way to shave off a chunk of your electric bill. Electric clothes dryers and air conditioners are two big energy-hogs. Cut down your use of high-draw appliances. For example, your blowdryer (a big draw) might say “1600W” on the side, your crock-pot (a low draw) might say “150W” on the bottom. The no-tech way to do it: read the tag or sticker on appliances to find out what the electrical usage draw is. Saving energy is not a difficult thing to learn, and certainly doesn’t require a ‘smart’ meter, special software, or hourly data! It does need some awareness and willingness to change. If you’ve addressed the above possibility that it is your “smart” meter itself that is to blame, you can think about ways to cut your usage. ![]() Q: What can I do to bring down my utility bill? Call local media that deal with consumer issues, such as consumer hotlines of local TV stations. Make them demonstrate that your meter is not to blame. It’s clear that some meters are defective, and they seem in no rush to ferret out which ones. A recent poll revealed that about one third of people who had “smart” meters installed had experienced bill increases and one quarter of those had had bills doubled, tripled, or more.ĭocument your historical usage, and then call, email and write letters to your utility. So, we don’t know why it happens, but clearly higher bills are one of the things some customers suffer after installation. The utilities have little reason to care about you getting overbilled with lax oversight like that and no threat of fines or punishment for them. Two scientists in California worked hard for a long time, and got $1400 for their trouble-no damages were awarded to them by the CPUC. We have only heard of a very few cases of a utility refunding money due to overbilling. Utilities will tell you that you are using more, or that it’s been an unusually hot (or cold) month-whatever it is, according to them, the problem is NOT with their brand new, untested, strange RF-emitting device (which itself uses electricity- that you pay for!). Overbilling that occurs after “smart” meter installation is an unsolved mystery. Q: Why is my bill higher now with a “smart” meter? ![]() They have devices to measure usages, so that you have another source of data to counter the utility’s assertion that there is nothing wrong with their meter. Consider enlisting the help of an electrician to help you trace the source of the higher bills to the meter. Ask for an energy audit from your utility to help demonstrate how the new meter is not reflecting your actual usage. What can I do?ĭocument your usage from the past to show how unusual the bills are after installation of the “smart” meter. But we’ve lived in the same house for many years, and our usage is very stable. My utility tells me it’s because I am using more electricity. Q: My bills have shot up since the installation of the “smart” meter. Here’s another account of the overbilling issues. A recent survey published on documented how many people have received higher bills-over one third of those surveyed. Many people have experienced hikes in their utility bill after a “smart” meter was installed. Q: Is it true that your bill goes up after getting a “smart” meter?
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