# Can someone steal your electricity? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-steal-your-electricity/489572 "2009-03-16T00:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-steal-your-electricity/489572/21 "2009-03-17T04:04:54Z")
Check the seal around your 'fridge door. Also, make sure the light winks out just before the door closes…if the light stays on, you not only pay for the power to light the bulb, but also the power to pump the heat from the bulbs out of the 'fridge. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-steal-your-electricity/489572/22 "2009-03-17T04:17:29Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Check the seal around your 'fridge door. Also, make sure the light winks out just before the door closes…if the light stays on, you not only pay for the power to light the bulb, but also the power to pump the heat from the bulbs out of the 'fridge. I actually thought about the fridge too. It’s old enough that you still have to defrost the freezer. But the seal’s so tight you have to give it a good bit of effort to open the door. I can check the light thing though. I’m also going to look around for any cold air leaks. I’m also going to see about getting the heater serviced. Thanks so much for all the help everyone. Although I kinda wish it had been someone stealing the power. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![NicorGasMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@NicorGasMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicorGasMan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-steal-your-electricity/489572/23 "2009-03-17T17:56:43Z")
[http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-03-16-electricity-thefts\_N.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-03-16-electricity-thefts_N.htm) ---
**Author:** ![czarcaztic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@czarcaztic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/czarcaztic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-steal-your-electricity/489572/24 "2009-03-18T12:24:03Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > I do not know about your house, but an electric of 10,000 KW will consume 3600 KW in a month with a 50% duty cycle. So if your house is uninsulated it is possable. Huh? Fhat the wuck? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-steal-your-electricity/489572/25 "2009-03-18T13:27:02Z")
Is the hot water tank electric too? Those things can consume a lot of energy. I am in an area with no natural gas, therefore I too am on electricity for heat and water. Two suggestions: Buy an insulated blanket for your water tank and turn the water temperature down as low as you possibly can. Mine’s at 135 F although I’m sure I could get by with a lower temp, but the dishwasher needs hot water to function properly. Secondly, use the wood stove! I put one in a few years back and my furnace run-time is one third of what is was before I installed the stove. Wood isn’t free, but it is more cost effective than electricity if you can buy a number of face chords at a time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-steal-your-electricity/489572.md?page=1)