kelsey hudson wrote:
Rick Carlson wrote:
Oddly enough, no, I am not sure my neighbor isn't running up the bill.
Start digging. :)
I will wait 2 months.
<snip>
Have your service upgraded. Replace your entire breaker box and make
SDG&E replace your meter.
Did that in December while I was in the hospital with quadruple coronary
bypass surgery. I figure my wife thought it was time before she lost me
and was stuck paying all the bills herself. The electricians left the
pool pump breaker on. It is off now. I believe the wiring for the pool
installation is not up to code. I do not know if it was back before 1980
but it isn't today.
It's funny when frogs get in the pool. Just beware of running the pump
-- you'll get froglets in the skimmer basket!
Between the frogs and the mockingbirds you'd think it was spring...
well, the electric stove is a big power draw, but that won't make up
for any $300 electric bill, even if the damned thing is drawing 40A
the entire time you have it on (unlikely -- you'd need all four
burners plus the broiler going). A 1000W microwave draws 8 amps for
all of what? 5-10 minutes a night?
Have you replaced the refrigerator? Those eat serious power.
Several times over the years. Each time with a SDG&E energy efficient
model complete with rebate worth a pittance.
I'm surprised that board is still running. Those had loads of
problems. But I digress. It's not exactly a juice-hungry system. I'd
bet under 200W total draw.
I am a VERY GOOD electronics technician from the old school. Not quite
as good as Carl but I can hold my own. I am also cross trained as an
industrial electrician.
Call SDG&E, make them dictate the number on the meter to you. Make
sure the meter number they have on file matches the one that's
actually on your meter. If not, raise hell. Demand they give you your
money back. If they don't, take them to court. They'll likely settle
rather than make an effort to show up.
It is an electronic TOU meter. The number is on the bill.
I looked into having solar electric installed but at the rate they
say I am using electricity it would cost me $40K just to put in a
system that would cover what I am supposedly using even after all the
rebates and discounts.
Well, solar power has its pitfalls too. It's expensive. The batteries
have to be replaced every three years. The list goes on
You might want to take another look. The system I would put in would
generate electricity during the day when no one is at home and feed it
directly into the grid using the grid as the 'battery' and draw it back
out of the grid at night. At the end of the month any electricity I use
over the amount I put in I would pay for. Any amount over what I put
into the grid that I did not use by the end of the month SDG&E gets to
keep for free. If I had the capital I would start a business leasing
South facing home rooftops in San Diego and create a solar-power company
cooperative. I am sure the big boys have already made sure that is not
allowed.
The X10 dimmers don't really cut down too terribly much on current
draw. They utilize an SCR to rapidly shut the supply on and off, which
achieves the dimming effect.
I don't use them as dimmers. I use the switches and infra-red sensors to
turn them on and off. My server which is on 24/7 controls all the
units. I am also using Insteon controllers and switches.
http://www.smarthome.com/prodindex.asp?catid=74
> If you'd like, I can cruise over next time I'm in San Diego with an
amp clamp and see where the > culprit circuits are. We can find out what
equipment lies on those circuits and eliminate it, or, if
> there is no culprit equipment, decide on what to do about those circuits.
That is a very kind offer. I have Amp Clamps and trackers and just about
any other electrical and electronic gear that might be used. What I
don't have is the funds to hire a licensed electrician or a lawyer to
fight with SDG&E and/or the PUC. I am at the 'wait and see what today's
efforts bring' stage. If things do not improve then I will look to see
where to go next. Worst case scenario I will shut down my main and camp
in my home. I have plenty of propane powered appliances and running
water for cooking and bathing. The scenery isn't as nice as a national
forest but the camping fees are reasonable.
Seriously though, consider replacing the panel, all the breakers, and
the meter. The panel replacement on a 30+ year old house shouldn't be
too terribly expensive. You're looking at $200 for the panel itself,
then between $8 and $30 for each of the breakers, (more of the $8 than
the $30 will be used), and a good $20 for a new grounding rod (as your
system is undoubtedly a bonded neutral/ground). Probably well under
$500 in parts, all said and done. SDG&E ownz0rs the meter, so it's up
to them to replace it. Oh, replace the meter mount while you're at it,
too.
Did all that in December. New load panel, new circuit breakers, new
grounding rod, separated all circuits so it is one circuit per breaker,
New main, new meter, new meter panel, upgraded service from the street.
Cost about $4k. No increase in usage in the home but the bills are going up.
Good luck. Let me know what you find out!
Thanks! I will keep you posted.
Rick
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