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lancedal · 05-24-2022, 09:42 PM

RV: 04 Holliday Rambler Endeavor
Am plugged into a normal 50 amp shore power unit at my brothers house. He Has a seperate power meter so he can charge me for the electric power i use. My bill has been 0ver 700 bucks a month for the last 5 months. This is extreme to say the least. Have not used the furnace or heat pump all winter. What could cause this?

Tugboat · 05-24-2022, 10:15 PM

I know RVs are not well insulated I have lived in two different ones during the winter and they do use a lot of electricity but $700 dose seam very high my highest two winters ago up on the mountain in TN while building the house was $328 and some nights the temperature went down to 7 degrees.

twogypsies · 05-24-2022, 10:26 PM

$700/m? It's your brother's fault. He charges you for the electric!

If you haven't used the furnace your charge shouldn't be over $100, if that.

Can you compare costs when you stay in a RV park?

Ray,IN · 05-24-2022, 10:38 PM

First, unplug your RV and observe the meter, if the numbers are changing the meter is defective or something else is wired into that circuit.

US1 · 05-25-2022, 04:34 AM

Is water, sewage, cable and ‘lot’ fees included?

txcpl · 05-25-2022, 04:46 AM

AS you look for all of the sources which are using power on that circuit, be sure to take a look at the KWH cost of electricity. That too is a factor is electricity costs. $700 does seem way too much.

thegats1 · 05-25-2022, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txcpl

AS you look for all of the sources which are using power on that circuit, be sure to take a look at the KWH cost of electricity. That too is a factor is electricity costs. $700 does seem way too much.

That is where I would look also. It may be a variable rate, or a high fixed rate locked in more recently. Natural gas prices are at $9/mmbtu these days. Wasn't that long ago we were in the $2's and $3's.

hohenwald48 · 05-25-2022, 05:08 AM

First off, how many KWH is that for?

Second, if you're not using the furnace, what are you doing for heat?

Third, where are you?

LETMGROW · 05-25-2022, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

First, unplug your RV and observe the meter, if the numbers are changing the meter is defective or something else is wired into that circuit.

Or, there is a short to ground between the meter and the outlet.

dizcom · 05-25-2022, 05:29 AM

Nothing. Nothing could cause that much energy use. We have our RV plugged into our house and even when we leave it plugged in and running the house and the RV together don't come up to $700. Something is wrong. You can get a power monitor that can tell you how much electricity your rig is using. Some of the newer surge protectors have this built in also. Good way to double check the meter. Check around your rig and make sure that it's actually your rig using the electricity.

TandW · 05-25-2022, 05:35 AM

Maybe Bro is throwing you a hint.

Boogie_ · 05-25-2022, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Am plugged into a normal 50 amp shore power unit at my brothers house. He Has a seperate power meter so he can charge me for the electric power i use. My bill has been 0ver 700 bucks a month for the last 5 months. This is extreme to say the least. Have not used the furnace or heat pump all winter. What could cause this?

Before you check for shorts, the meter, kw hrs used, price of natural gas; ask your brother to show you an electric bill from 6,7,8 months ago.

Compare those bills to the bills from the past 5 months and then get back to us.

IndyJim · 05-25-2022, 05:58 AM

LOL

Bigceasar · 05-25-2022, 07:58 AM

Is the meter read and billed by the power company? Or is the meter on a sub panel and you or your brother take the reading and then calculate to cost? If it is the latter, I think you have a reading or math error. If it is a direct billing from the power company it is likely one of three things.
One, bad meter
Two, the meter feeds more than just the RV.
Three, something is missing in your post.
Even at $.25 per kilowatt hour (a high rate) a seven hundred dollar bill would mean you are drawing nearly 100 kilowatts a day. That would take three 1500 watt space heaters running continuously. There really isn’t anything else that would run continuously drawing a lot of power that wouldn’t also be very obvious. (Such as multiple hair dryers or vacuum cleaners just left on all day , the hot water left running or the microwave cooking 24/7).
Easiest quick test is make sure the meter is spinning and unplug the rig. If the meter stops there likely isn’t anything else connected. If it keeps running you are paying for your brother’s heated barn or the guest house his favorite relatives are living in.