Thousand dollar one month power bill?

[mickeyleighe]

My daughter has a 2005 Montana and has been living in it over a year. The park manager came over this morning and told her that her electric bill is a thousand dollars this month. He said her rig to shore power cable was not plugged in all the way and caused the meter to spin faster and use up electricity. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Her power bill averages $50 - $60 dollars a month. Could the meter be faulty? I've been living in my rig 12 years and have never heard of such a thing?

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by mickeyleighe

My daughter has a 2005 Montana and has been living in it over a year. The park manager came over this morning and told her that her electric bill is a thousand dollars this month. He said her rig to shore power cable was not plugged in all the way and caused the meter to spin faster and use up electricity. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Her power bill averages $50 - $60 dollars a month. Could the meter be faulty? I've been living in my rig 12 years and have never heard of such a thing?

No! the only thing here is his electric meter

[Skip426]

I'd say a faulty meter ; and the park manager should know that; a poor connection will use some extra power, but with that kind of power used and her history of low power use, any connection that would consume that much power would melt connections, in a day.

[halfwright]

Maybe she had a light bulb out and the switch turned on and all the electricity ran out.

Seriously, there is not enough lights and appliances in a fifth wheel to use that kind of electricity. Sounds like she is being ripped off to the tune of $950.

[Doggy Daddy]

I would challenge the bill and want to see meter entries from 3 prior months. Also a letter to the power company for an explanation as to possible causes would be appropriate. Someone tapping and stealing the power is not uncommon.

[loisjop]

Originally Posted by mickeyleighe

My daughter has a 2005 Montana and has been living in it over a year. The park manager came over this morning and told her that her electric bill is a thousand dollars this month. He said her rig to shore power cable was not plugged in all the way and caused the meter to spin faster and use up electricity. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Her power bill averages $50 - $60 dollars a month. Could the meter be faulty? I've been living in my rig 12 years and have never heard of such a thing?

Most ridiculous statement I've ever heard. Meters usually don't read high, but anything is possible. I'd be looking at someone stealing power like someone else said. One other thing do they actually read the meter each month or have they just estimated the bill for a few months and now read the meter.

[wa8yxm]

Frankly I would think if the plug was not fully in power use would be reduced. I think she needs a professional to help here, and most of those, alas, work for the power company. (A good meter technician), Something smells of fish left on land without refrigeration.

[wb7auk]

Loose connection or not one is still limited to the current limit of the breaker.
Either the meter was misread or it is bad as it is impossible unless the cost of
power is very very high to have that kind of power bill.

[Mike and Cha]

Hopefully she didn't pay it. First of all how did he come up with that conclusion or even know the plug was not properly connected. Even if it was that wouldn't cause the meter to run wild. She has a clear record of $50-$60 a month, hopefully for several months, she should give them $60 and tell them to fix their meter. A call to the utility supplier should clear this up quick. Even if someone was stealing her electricity that is roughly the equivalent of 16 other RV's of her size hooking up to her electricty for the entire month. That would be almost impossible.

[davidki]

Call the electric company direcly and have them review her past bills over the year period.. if it's been in the range of $40/50 I'd just tell them they made a mistake and come back and read the meter again... ...

[Elf111]

Sounds like the meter was misread, she needs to get a copy of the bill so she can compare meter numbers or call the power co and ask them to read it again.

[wva3185]

I have no idea about the physical arrangement at her park but most that I have stayed in have a meter at each site and you record the meter reading when you first park and then you take the monthly reading to the office when you pay the electric bill/rent the next month. I have never seen a meter reader at any of the individual sites where I have stayed. I have stayed a couple of places the electric was included in the monthly rate but most it is not. I suspect that most parks just get one bill from the local electric company and they divvy it up based on the individual meter readings.

[YC1]

Slipped a digit and it is $100 most likely.


In our sticks and bricks in Kalifornia with a pool, Jacuzzi, Air conditioner running full tilt in 100 degree weather, landscape lights, pool lights, multiple computers and televisions and my bill ran about 4-500 a month.

[TQ60]

Who owns the meter?

Call the utility and request an audit.

They can clamp on a meter and verify everything.

Suspect a neighbor borrowing power or they did not read meter.

Request copies of all bills including meter readings if you do not have them and check meter yourself.

We have machine shop with large loads and ac in summer and worst bill less than $400.00 in summer.

You may have a stuck electric water heater or something silly so utility company may be good idea as they usually do this for free.