Electric on our meter..what to do?

[Tenant4toolong]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
In trying to figure out why our electric bill is so high we found that the dryer in the basement (that all 4 units use..it's a shared laundry) is on our meter. When we first moved here we were told the owner lived in this apartment and had the dryer on her line but it would be moved to the "owner" meter. Apparently this was never done so for all this time we have been paying the electric for everyone to use the dryer. We are now on a limited income and can not afford to pay these high electric bills. What are our options? Do we call the electric company and have them move it now or does the LL have to do it? I called our LL but he isn't the best when it comes to calling back. I know for a fact the girl below us does the laundry of other people for extra cash and is actually doing several loads now! Urg!

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
In trying to figure out why our electric bill is so high we found that the dryer in the basement (that all 4 units use..it's a shared laundry) is on our meter. When we first moved here we were told the owner lived in this apartment and had the dryer on her line but it would be moved to the "owner" meter. Apparently this was never done so for all this time we have been paying the electric for everyone to use the dryer. We are now on a limited income and can not afford to pay these high electric bills. What are our options? Do we call the electric company and have them move it now or does the LL have to do it? I called our LL but he isn't the best when it comes to calling back. I know for a fact the girl below us does the laundry of other people for extra cash and is actually doing several loads now! Urg!

You need to address this with the landlord, not with the electric company.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Board of Public Utilities | Consumer Rights

12. You have the right to have a "diversion of service" investigation if you suspect that the level of consumption reflected in your utility bill is unexplainably high.

Contact the NJ Board of Public Utilities and ask them how to proceed.

 

[You Are Guilty]

In the meantime, if the dryer and any other shared appliances are on "your" electrical line, then you can shut off "your" power whenever you like, (unless your lease says otherwise). Remind any complaining neighbors that a clothesline is only around $2.

Good luck.

 

[justalayman]

the dryer should be (at least it is supposed to be) on it's own breaker or fuse. It is likely a 2 pole 30 amp breaker. Find somebody that knows a bit about electrical panels and look for a 2 pole 30 amp breaker. Turn it off and then test the dryer to see if it still runs/


then, leave it off until somebody either pays you some money or they remove it from your panel.

In most houses, the only other appliance that might typically be on a 2 pole 30 amp breaker is an electric water heater. If you turn off such a breaker and no longer have hot water, you probably turned off the water heater.