Homeowners Surprise? How to Save on Your Electric Bill

Quote

We were called out to determine why a customers meter was running backwards. The homeowner told us that the only work that was done was a light was installed in their upstairs bedroom, before that there were no problems.

A quick background on this development - all underground feed, 100A from POCO transformer. I didn't take a picture of the inside but, there was a relatively new 150A SQ D Homeline MCB panel installed (<1 yr) with no inspection.

Notice the meter socket (100A overhead)
Notice the lugs that they landed the line side on
Notice the size of the service cable going into the panel (4/0 AL SEU)
Notice the neutral
Notice that we gave the homeowner a price to do this correctly and have not heard from her.

It was ugly. And whoever put it in, did it live. The POCO never shut the power off.

- mahlere

Does she get a credit or a bill each month? [Linked Image]

i don't know, but she's got a POCO that is threatening to fine her for stealing electric. [Linked Image]

[This message has been edited by mahlere (edited 04-06-2006).]

Hey... She got all the wires hooked up, and the lights work OK. What more more do you want? It's just that dumb meter thingee--it doesn't really do anything important, does it?

I'm still confused as to why the meter was running backwards, nad it'd be interesting to see how they got that 4/0 aluminum into those lugs... bad job all around
-Will

elvis cat, they have the feed from the xfrmr on the load lugs and the load to the panel on the line lugs. They are actually running power through the meter backwards, similar to if you were to flip the meter upside down in a correctly wired setup.

Well I guess she can flip the meter.lol

Not to be bashing the trade, but why is the POCO threatening her? The problem was whoever wired the meter socket totally got it wrong. It is unreasonable of the POCO to expect any homeowner to be able to KNOW how a meter socket is supposed to be wired!!

And if the POCO noticed that the meter was running backwards even though it is installed upright, then that's thier responsibility too.

If the POCO doesn't lighten up, I hope she seeks legal assistance.

However, if she chooses to leave it as is,

Quote

Notice that we gave the homeowner a price to do this correctly and have not heard from her.

then the POCO would have a strong case for disconnection until it's corrected.

job was never filed or inspected. she claims she doesn't know who did it.

we are in the NYC area, BS is way of life. You come to expect it and learn to smell it.

This lady was slingin it.

Honestly, I think her husband did the work.

I'd say you're looking at how a DIYer homeowner follows Internet instructions to save on his power bill.

I would wear tall boots when conversing with the homeowners: the ground will be slippery.

hip waders at the least [Linked Image]

In Indiana it is a class C felony. Maximum six months jail and $10,000. Property owner is responsible unless they can point the finger at someone else, like a jack leg electrician. Even then they have to make restitution for estimated useage.
The owners is between a rock and a hard place. Best to get it redone right and fast and then negotiate with the POCO.
Alam--

These pics are a good "counter" to some questions raised recently in other threads. Questions like:
- Why bother with permits and inspectins?
- Why have tamper-resistant seals?
- Why can't I get a key for those seals? and,
- Why you should avoid "trunk-slamming side-working" sparkies!

Whether by accident or design, this boot-leg "upgrade" will cause the homeowner more than enough grief to offset any dollars they saved performing it.

I'm just surprised that powere hasn't been cut, and a tamper-resistant ring hasn't been installed already!

our local POCO uses irreversable seals to keep the cover closed. They need to be cut to open. When we cut them, we need to contact the POCO and give them the information, so they can come out and reseal them.

This meter was sealed closed, but the meter-reader that sealed it, also realized something was wrong and called it in.

If the meter is running backwards, and say she used 200 KWh a month, the meter would read to look like she used 10000 KWh - 200 KWh = 9800 KWh from month to month. At 10 cents a KWh, that's an electric bill of $980! The POCO might insist that she pay it.....

If the homeowner did this intentionally, they are morons in two ways.

1) Knowing that it is illegal and doing it anyway. And,

2) Tampering with it in a manner that is SURE to garner the attention of the POCO.

I mean, really, did they think that nobody would notice?

Ed

i honestly don't think that they meant to run the meter backwards, i think whoever did this didn't even realize that could happen.

I do think that they meant to upgrade the service without all the proper permits and inspections. And without paying too much money.

I am not sure how the power company is there but if you cut the seal on the meter here and they can prove it you will be facing 10 years and 25000 dollar fine. The power would be turned off as soon as it was spotted and then things would get ugly.