aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2007
- Messages
- 20,112
A gun shop? (I'm sorry. That was in very poor taste.)
Schools, banks, libraries, malls...is there a type of place that hasn't been shot up in the US?
Thanks.Well you need to know the reading at two points in time to work out if the bill is correct.
Note it down today to see if it is in line with what the utility have said, then look at it in a few days or a week to see how it has changed. Converting that into a cost comes after.
I rarely even play games. My electricity usage would be:A real gamer can play a game for 36 hours in one day!
I disputed my last bill, but ended up having to pay it because they cut off my electricity during the dispute, which is technically illegal. They alleged they gave me warning of this, yet I received nothing. Amazing how I never had any of these issues until I moved home in February, and how my notifications switched from "via e-mail" to "via post" after I complained about an issue. I also know for a fact that my previous bill said it was estimated, but changed on the system to say it was "actual" after I complained. God I wish I had screenshotted the bill before they altered it, because that has to be fraud.
My usual bill is under $200. Previous one, which I challenged, was $500. This one is $1200. That is the average for a family of 12. I am single and live alone.
I need to wait until my real estate agent opens to request meter access. It's a flat, so the meters are locked up. But I already know what the electricity provider says my usage is: the aforementioned 40kWh every hour for 3 straight months.
What made it illegal was the fact that they did not provide me with the required warning before cutting off my power. Legally I'm supposed to get two weeks' warning, and I was also supposed to have my bill on hold because of the dispute. Neither of these requirements were met by Origin Energy.In many countries the law is that if you pay zero during a conflict that you break the agreement (money for service).
BUT if you pay what you consider, and/or what could be considered (by a judge) a fair compensation for that service, you do NOT break the agreement (money for service), because you acknowledge/honor the agreement by paying the fair amount.
I used this a lot as advice in Amsterdam in my volunteer community time to people renting a house where the landlord did not do adequate maintenance. When it came to court cases we always did win (whereby most landlords knowing that law as well started to do their maintenance).
I have no experience in conflicts with too high invoiced utilities and ofc law in your country, but you could check that with a local lawyer
The problem is I can only do this when I have someone from my real estate here with me. I plan on switching off everything before he comes back tomorrow, then actually switching off the fuses one by one after he gets here.Switch everything off at the socket.
Fridge, lights, modem, water heater, air con whatever.
Make sure meter isn't moving.
If it is still moving there is either a fault somewhere or something is still drawing power.
When everything is off switch it all back on bit by bit to see what is causing the power consumption.
Are you mining bitcoin? Is someone else connected to your meter through an extension cord or wire? Do you use grow lights for your marijuana plants?I disputed my last bill, but ended up having to pay it because they cut off my electricity during the dispute, which is technically illegal. They alleged they gave me warning of this, yet I received nothing. Amazing how I never had any of these issues until I moved home in February, and how my notifications switched from "via e-mail" to "via post" after I complained about an issue. I also know for a fact that my previous bill said it was estimated, but changed on the system to say it was "actual" after I complained. God I wish I had screenshotted the bill before they altered it, because that has to be fraud.
My usual bill is under $200. Previous one, which I challenged, was $500. This one is $1200. That is the average for a family of 12. I am single and live alone.
I need to wait until my real estate agent opens to request meter access. It's a flat, so the meters are locked up. But I already know what the electricity provider says my usage is: the aforementioned 40kWh every hour for 3 straight months.
I am doing none of those things, although I don't know if someone has somehow tapped my meter. It wasn't visible in the meter room. I have already downloaded my meter readings for nine months; only lived here since February.Are you mining bitcoin? Is someone else connected to your meter through an extension cord or wire? Do you use grow lights for your marijuana plants?
Go back and ask for the past 12 months of meter readings so you can compare.
Flat. Poor man's apartment.Are you in an apartment or house?
Do you share a wall with another household?Flat. Poor man's apartment.