Meter reader came out to house today (27 October). Not noteworthy, except that they'd been out on 22 October, as scheduled, and I already have the bill. I keep a close eye on the meter because I'm still learning how the new house operates. We're in a nice shoulder season at the moment, not much heating or cooling, so it is a good opportunity to separate the hvac from the balance of the house as well as learn how much hot water I'm now NOT getting from the dormant desuper.

My meter reading on 22 October must have been nearly simultaneous with the utility guy since my reading was just 1 kwh off what shows on the bill. Apparently both of us know how to read a meter (pretty easy, it being one of the new Elster LCD models - no little pointers and dials to work through) Cool.

At  any rate, back to the guy in the little yellow truck. I flagged him down and asked what was up? (I had an inkling what was going on...)

Sure enough he'd been sent to reread the meter. Seems that 20 kwh / day on a house with a 400 Amp service has them scratching their heads a bit down at utility HQ. I told him our consumption should pick up a bit once I get the grow house going...just kidding.

Figuring that the utility will now conclude either: A) I'm stealing power, or B) their new-fangled LCD meter is fouled up, I emailed them an explanation.

I also asked, "Oh by the way, could you reconfigure the Elster so it includes instantaneous kw as one of its indications"? That would be helpful.

I got a $300 bill one month and a $23 bill the next month and I wasn't even on vacation. I think where they get behind of there meter reading some months and they estimate what you used that month, and they always seem to over estimate.

  

Two years ago when we had gone from natural gas to heat pump. They called one day to make sure I didn't leave some large heating running unknowingly. Then a day or so later the gas division called and was wondering why my gas consumption went way down, you would have thought they would look at the entire energy consumption... :)

I had a similar experience. Replaced my old 80% nat gas furnace with a 95% dual fuel unit. The electric company didn't complain, but the gas company was obviously concerned.

As far as I know, the system ran on heat pump clear up into early December, then still ran mostly on heat pump up to Christmas. I really wasn't using any gas except for DHW.

Anyway, the gas company came out in mid-November and replaced my meter. They didn't say anything to me, I just noticed a new meter in the back yard. Then they came in mid-December and replaced the new one. After the second meter, I sent them a letter and explained.

Paul

I wonder how many more meters they'd have brought out...

FYI Check out the TED 1001 from The Energy Detective. You can monitor kw usage for the whole house or individual 230 volt circuits.

I have looked at it. I'd need the twin engine model since I have two panels - a bit pricey.

Speaking of meters, I just notice that I have a New Meter on my house today. I don't keep as a close an eye on my meter as Engineer does, so I don't know exactly when it was changed, but i know it was some time within the last 6 months. Reading the new meter is some what confusing as well. There are 5 dials and the first dial is numbered 0,1,2,3,4 etc clock wise and the next dial is numbered 0,9,8,7 counter clock wise, then clock wise and counter clock wise and finally clock wise numbering on the last dial. Anyone know why that is? I know the last meter had a digital read out as well as the dials on it, I didn't pay close attention to the dials before, cause I could just read the digital readout. 

 
 

I just found this document so that I can start reading my meter, if you go to this link: http://www.nyseg.com/YourAccount/readingyourmeter/default.html

Then click on the "reading your meter" icon in the middle.  It's pretty good... but don't get confused between reading the natural gas and electric section of the document.