# Electric meter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750 "2023-05-08T13:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/1 "2023-05-08T13:58:01Z")
For several years I have been complaing about my electric meter. My bill was a bout double everyone else in my neighborhood with similar requirements. Edison would come out and check it and assure me everything was fine. About 4 months ago they replaced my meter and my bill has been cut in half approx every month since. Is there anything about a meter that could double the readings?? I intend to ask for an audit of my amp hour usage because I know prices have changed many times. My bill is lower than it has been in 15 years. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/2 "2023-05-08T14:19:10Z")
Contact the public service commission would be my suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/3 "2023-05-08T14:54:37Z")
There can be any number of ways a meter can read high. These would fall mostly under the category of faulty meter or faulty installation. You need an audit of your account and usage to clear this up. Was it a remote reading meter previously? Did you ever have a second meter there for off-hour usage rates? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/4 "2023-05-08T14:56:31Z")
I had the meter replaced about 40 years ago when I did an addition. Nothing I can remember since then. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/5 "2023-05-08T15:07:05Z")
Do they have actual meter readers go on your property to get the numbers? If they don’t use remote reading than it’s possible they’ve been estimating your usage for who knows how long and you are due a huge credit. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/6 "2023-05-08T15:10:19Z")
They take actual reading yes. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/7 "2023-05-08T15:15:11Z")
Depending on the state, the utility company may have to credit you going back a period of time. Start with your public utilities committee and ask what you can do about your bill. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/8 "2023-05-08T18:25:00Z")
I would hire an electrician to i stall a temporary power minitor on your mains. Then compare it to the utilities’ readings. Plus, you get the benefit of having an electrician check your panel for loose connections or faulty wiring and other issues that could cause false or high readings. Do you have electric heat? ---
**Author:** ![Snipe70e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Snipe70e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snipe70e)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-meter/983750/9 "2023-05-10T14:53:57Z")
There are many things that can go wrong that will cause a meter to read wrong. Before the meter was replaced a temporary meter could have been added to your electrical system and then the two meters could have been compared. But with the meter replaced that is no longer an option for comparison. The old meter will be the only source of your earlier energy consumption. The only thing an audit can now show it that you are using less KWHs. Possibly the utility will examine the old meter and determine it’s error rate. They they can estimate how much you were being over charged. If the old meter was just returned to the shop and recalibrated or thrown away then there will be no to estimate the true amount of overcharge.