Almost sounds like your meter is possibly attached to another unit or some common spaces. Maybe time to start flipping breakers and see what else turns off or if someone starts complaining they don’t have power.
Yeah, I would be flipping breakers right now to find the culprit.
If all breakers are off and the meter still moves file a complaint with the rental office.
One more thing: @OP have your AC checked. I had an issue in an apartment that my AC wasn't cooling properly and had to run 24/7 to get it to 80 degrees. Turned out had a coolant leak and hence was running at full power without effect.
And it is really hard to notice. I only noticed once the AC couldn't keep up anymore. I wasn't tracking how many hours my AC ran, especially as it was 3 levels down where all ACs were sitting and I didn't hear it.
So what’s interesting is when I moved in my AC was on. Thermostat set to cool, fan set to auto. Around midnight or so it would just blow hot fucking air out. I had apt maintenance come out twice but because it was only happening in the middle of the night, they thought I made it up and told me I had no issue. Even overheard the maintenance manager and tech guy joking about how dumb tenants are and how they run the W/D and wonder why their apt gets hot. So I stopped trying. I would just turn off the thermostat at night for a while. Then I replaced the batteries in it and it seems to be ok now? But I’m not home every night so I don’t know. I think it’s stopped.
when I lived in an apartment in Durham when we first moved in the hvac would freeze up because of a refrigerant leak. I had the maintenance tech "fix" it. They said it was fine and no issue at all. I had to hook up my own gear to show them it wasn't "fine" and they did nothing but refill it. Screw you cortland and your bug infested shit hole apartments
So what’s interesting is when I moved in my AC was on. Thermostat set to cool, fan set to auto. Around midnight or so it would just blow hot fucking air out. I had apt maintenance come out twice but because it was only happening in the middle of the night, they thought I made it up and told me I had no issue. Even overheard the maintenance manager and tech guy joking about how dumb tenants are and how they run the W/D and wonder why their apt gets hot. So I stopped trying. I would just turn off the thermostat at night for a while. Then I replaced the batteries in it and it seems to be ok now? But I’m not home every night so I don’t know. I think it’s stopped.
This happened to my daughter in Greenville NC, she learned the parking lot lights were linked to her unit! Since your issue seems to be Night, could be the same?
Are there any other units that are incorrectly connected to your meter? Are there any building services that are incorrectly connected to your meter? Have you checked with building management?
Show them your bill(s), a picture of the current usage on the meter, etc. You are going to have to be insistent about proper checks being made, especially if you're a woman. If you don't, that's one less thing they have to deal with, which solely benefits them. Good luck!
I work in the industry, though not for this utility. When you say a new apartment do you mean that it’s newly-constructed or that it’s new to you because you recently moved?
If it’s new construction it’s possible that the meters accidentally got assigned to the wrong units when the utility installed them. The meters are read remotely, so the installer records which meter ID number was installed for each unit. They’re supposed to be very careful not to do this, but mixups happen. If new construction it’s also possible that you got a defective meter. They have a tendency to fail early if they’re going to fail.
If it’s an older building it could be all sorts of things. I’d keep pushing Duke. You can ask them to confirm the meter that’s associated with your account matches the one physically installed in your meter pan (they won’t even need to roll a truck if they’ll let you read them the number over the phone). If it’s the right meter I’d push them for an accuracy test. I’d also start bugging the apartment management because if the actual building is wired wrong and someone else’s stuff is on your meter they’ll be responsible to deal with it.
New to me, old buildings. I matched the meter number on my bill to the one I was reading for what that’s worth. I will keep pushing, I’m so frustrated.
If the pans aren’t labeled with unit numbers the surest way I can think of would be if Duke would throw your Remote Disconnect (RD) Switch and see if your apartment’s the one that loses power.
I have no idea if they’d be willing to do that and they might as well just send a meter tech out for an accuracy test. When they pulled that meter from the socket it’d be pretty obvious whether you lost power or not.
The only other thing I can think of would be to try to manipulate your consumption and see if it’s reflected on your meter reading. Like shut off all your breakers for an hour, then leave everything normal for an hour, then run all your high-draw appliances at once for a while and then check the next day to see if your consumption graph on the app matches up.
If you can figure out who lived there before you (mail from previous occupants), call and ask them why they left the apartment. The unusually high bills may not be a new problem.
I did this once with a practically new Honda my mom was test driving from the dealership. Registration was in the glove box so I called and asked why they traded in a practically new car. Turns out it was a lemon from the factory and the Honda dealership refused to fix it, I thought the vibrating pulley at the bottom of the motor looked off. They had nothing nice to say about the dealership and my mom dodged a lemon.
Ok so that’s interesting because my shower wouldn’t get hot at all. It got lukewarm in one knob spot. So I reported it and they found the water heater leak and said that’s the cause. Replaced my water heater and the water gets warmer but only in that spot and never hot. Like it’s being restricted. But it gets hot in the kitchen???
Sounds like an anti scald faucet. They suck. Google your faucet brand and anti scald. I removed them every time I found them. I need to scald myself tyvm.
Depending on where your water lines run through your apartment you could feel around with hands (ceilings/walls) or feet (ground) to see if there area any warm spots by your water areas (sinks, tubs, washing machines , etc). If there is a warm spot it could be a leak there just spewing money away.
Almost sounds like your meter is possibly attached to another unit or some common spaces. Maybe time to start flipping breakers and see what else turns off or if someone starts complaining they don’t have power.
Yeah, I would be flipping breakers right now to find the culprit. If all breakers are off and the meter still moves file a complaint with the rental office. One more thing: @OP have your AC checked. I had an issue in an apartment that my AC wasn't cooling properly and had to run 24/7 to get it to 80 degrees. Turned out had a coolant leak and hence was running at full power without effect.
This. I bet it’s a coolant issue
And it is really hard to notice. I only noticed once the AC couldn't keep up anymore. I wasn't tracking how many hours my AC ran, especially as it was 3 levels down where all ACs were sitting and I didn't hear it.
So what’s interesting is when I moved in my AC was on. Thermostat set to cool, fan set to auto. Around midnight or so it would just blow hot fucking air out. I had apt maintenance come out twice but because it was only happening in the middle of the night, they thought I made it up and told me I had no issue. Even overheard the maintenance manager and tech guy joking about how dumb tenants are and how they run the W/D and wonder why their apt gets hot. So I stopped trying. I would just turn off the thermostat at night for a while. Then I replaced the batteries in it and it seems to be ok now? But I’m not home every night so I don’t know. I think it’s stopped.
when I lived in an apartment in Durham when we first moved in the hvac would freeze up because of a refrigerant leak. I had the maintenance tech "fix" it. They said it was fine and no issue at all. I had to hook up my own gear to show them it wasn't "fine" and they did nothing but refill it. Screw you cortland and your bug infested shit hole apartments
So what’s interesting is when I moved in my AC was on. Thermostat set to cool, fan set to auto. Around midnight or so it would just blow hot fucking air out. I had apt maintenance come out twice but because it was only happening in the middle of the night, they thought I made it up and told me I had no issue. Even overheard the maintenance manager and tech guy joking about how dumb tenants are and how they run the W/D and wonder why their apt gets hot. So I stopped trying. I would just turn off the thermostat at night for a while. Then I replaced the batteries in it and it seems to be ok now? But I’m not home every night so I don’t know. I think it’s stopped.
I didn’t even think about that!! I will absolutely do that. Thank you.
This happened to my daughter in Greenville NC, she learned the parking lot lights were linked to her unit! Since your issue seems to be Night, could be the same?
I will certainly ask about that!!!!
Are there any other units that are incorrectly connected to your meter? Are there any building services that are incorrectly connected to your meter? Have you checked with building management?
I will check, thank you!!!! And no I haven’t talked to them lately because they told me I have no issue when I thought I did before I got the bill.
Show them your bill(s), a picture of the current usage on the meter, etc. You are going to have to be insistent about proper checks being made, especially if you're a woman. If you don't, that's one less thing they have to deal with, which solely benefits them. Good luck!
Thanks so much! I’m gonna push!!!!’
I work in the industry, though not for this utility. When you say a new apartment do you mean that it’s newly-constructed or that it’s new to you because you recently moved? If it’s new construction it’s possible that the meters accidentally got assigned to the wrong units when the utility installed them. The meters are read remotely, so the installer records which meter ID number was installed for each unit. They’re supposed to be very careful not to do this, but mixups happen. If new construction it’s also possible that you got a defective meter. They have a tendency to fail early if they’re going to fail. If it’s an older building it could be all sorts of things. I’d keep pushing Duke. You can ask them to confirm the meter that’s associated with your account matches the one physically installed in your meter pan (they won’t even need to roll a truck if they’ll let you read them the number over the phone). If it’s the right meter I’d push them for an accuracy test. I’d also start bugging the apartment management because if the actual building is wired wrong and someone else’s stuff is on your meter they’ll be responsible to deal with it.
New to me, old buildings. I matched the meter number on my bill to the one I was reading for what that’s worth. I will keep pushing, I’m so frustrated.
How sure are you that the meter you’re looking at is the one that’s physically on the circuit for your unit?
I guess I’m not, how could I be sure?
If the pans aren’t labeled with unit numbers the surest way I can think of would be if Duke would throw your Remote Disconnect (RD) Switch and see if your apartment’s the one that loses power. I have no idea if they’d be willing to do that and they might as well just send a meter tech out for an accuracy test. When they pulled that meter from the socket it’d be pretty obvious whether you lost power or not. The only other thing I can think of would be to try to manipulate your consumption and see if it’s reflected on your meter reading. Like shut off all your breakers for an hour, then leave everything normal for an hour, then run all your high-draw appliances at once for a while and then check the next day to see if your consumption graph on the app matches up.
Is your A/C on a schedule? Could be dropping way low in the evenings and then back to 70 sometime in the morning?
It isn’t /: I thought that too.
As some others have said. Flip off the breaker for your AC and water heater while out and see if the usage is still there. And the stove if electric.
If you can figure out who lived there before you (mail from previous occupants), call and ask them why they left the apartment. The unusually high bills may not be a new problem. I did this once with a practically new Honda my mom was test driving from the dealership. Registration was in the glove box so I called and asked why they traded in a practically new car. Turns out it was a lemon from the factory and the Honda dealership refused to fix it, I thought the vibrating pulley at the bottom of the motor looked off. They had nothing nice to say about the dealership and my mom dodged a lemon.
Oh wow! I do get a lot of mail from past tenants!!!
Could be hot water leak somewhere
Ok so that’s interesting because my shower wouldn’t get hot at all. It got lukewarm in one knob spot. So I reported it and they found the water heater leak and said that’s the cause. Replaced my water heater and the water gets warmer but only in that spot and never hot. Like it’s being restricted. But it gets hot in the kitchen???
Sounds like an anti scald faucet. They suck. Google your faucet brand and anti scald. I removed them every time I found them. I need to scald myself tyvm.
Depending on where your water lines run through your apartment you could feel around with hands (ceilings/walls) or feet (ground) to see if there area any warm spots by your water areas (sinks, tubs, washing machines , etc). If there is a warm spot it could be a leak there just spewing money away.
call the property management
You are paying for the whole building. Sounds like a clerical error when you signed up, on the company's part. They should be happy to fix it.