Call from the Electric Co. about power usage!!!

Oh shit, I'm trippin'

I just got a "courtesy call" from the power company. I haven't called the number back yet, but I'm certain they're going to tell me that I'm using a shitload of power more than I have been! I've heard of this happening and supposedly it's not a big deal, but I must say I'm a little alarmed. They have to be able to tell what's going on!! I've heard others say not to worry... that they won't turn you in since they're making money off of you.

What do you guys think? I was just going to say I got some space heaters and a new PC power supply, but only if they asked.

I've only been using the 1000W for like 13 days... didn't think they'd call that fast (or at all).

Never had a call, but when I was 18 at my moms house she got a letter. She had a flat rate plan based on previous years' usages, & since it changed so much one month they just sent out the courtesy letter. She told them the A/C condenser was blown for a little while ;) As long as you have a believable story I really doubt anything will happen.

tell 'em you got a 110-volt 3hp air compressor, and a 110-volt small welder ... don't forget the surround-sound 1000-watt amplifier ... they'll understand :D

I got the same call a couple of months ago. My electricity had doubled. They were more concerned there was something wrong with the meter so they sent someone out to check it. I just told them I'd been using the electric furnace when usually I don't use it all because I have wood heat.

Yeah, if they ask I'll just say we stopped using the fireplace and got a space heater... those are 1000W from what I can tell and it's probably not unreasonable to run it for 18 hours a day. I'm also going to say I got a new PC since it's XMAS time!
Bout to give them a call. This is a legal grow anyway, but I have a few more plants than I should just to make sure that I come out with enough healthy ones at the end!

I think the problem was that I used so little before!!! I should've started amping it up leaving shit on all night awhile back!

I always keep track of my usage of kilowatts and this bill, i saw that last year i used more then this year. I didn't grow last year. But this months bill was about 40 bucks cheaper, but we use small space heaters in the bedrooms and keep the furnace at about 70, which keeps the house at 65. I think my thermostat is sort of a cheaper one. But im not pushing 1000w, only 278, but i still think im doing good.

If i were you i might just say, '' yeah im growing my meds now, so you guys will be making tons of cash off me now'', then tell em your legal. I think the truth go's farther most of the time.

Good luck man:rasta:

We use 2 space heaters and our bill jumped $50.00 this month.

Wait till I start growing. :D

This will be a concern though.

I'm anxiously waiting to hear what they tell you. ;)

Before I started growing, I got my electric bill down to $20 a month. Since then, (I'm about to harvest) my bill has jumped to almost $150 a month. I haven't gotten a call from Xcel or anything yet. I think they know what is going on and are just happy to be making money.

Ok, you gotta look at the numbers to see this. It costs me $40-50 a month to run a 1000W for 12 hours/day and 400W for18 hours/day. Wattage is wattage. The space heater is a great way, they are usually around 1000-1200W.

The watts add up per hour, so if you run 1000 for 12 hours, that is 12 KW. A 400 for 18 hours is 7.2 KW. Total of 19.2 KW. If you pay $0.10 (a high number I think) per KW, that is like 1.92 per day or so.....That sounds high. My electricity is around $0.075 per KW. Also you have to consider fans, heating pads. heaters if you are using them.

So if you want a good story, fabricate one that uses KW hours correctly.

I have a pair of audio tube amplifiers that burn through a crazy amount of juice (and can heat my house in the winter), if anyone gets curious about my surge in usage.

Say you got a new aquarium. They use 1000 watters and all kinds of pumps and such. I guarantee you if you say you got a new 200 gallon aquarium they wont ask anymore. They need at least 8-12 hours of light so that will cover the long lengths of time of the light being on. Make sure you tell them it is MH though. I know you said you have HPS, but HPS isn't used for aquariums.


-C

I responded to this because I just had lunch with my attorney today and we discussed several issues regarding "hobby gardening" and so forth. This just happened to be one of the issues we chatted about.

I wouldn't tell them anything; how much power you use and what for are YOUR business, not their's. That would be like Exxon calling up and wondering why you filled up twice last month instead of once.

I would simply say I appreciate you calling but unless there is an emergancy, do NOT call me again. If they use or release that information against you in any way, they have violated your right to privacy and several other rights UNLESS law enforcement has secured a search warrant that does not violate the 4th amendment.

LE cannot secure one based upon electricity usage alone and certainly not because the electrical company thinks you are using too much power. Using power or even too much power is not unlawful.

On the other side of the arguement, the power company does have the right to investigate abnormal power usage as far as the possibility of electricity theft, a potential malfunction of equipment (meters, connections to the home), and so forth.

If they believe that there is something unlawful occurring while investigating that could pose a danger to the public or their electrical service, they have the right to call the police who can then secure a search warrant based upon that information.

There is a both sides are correct theory here but personally, I would tell them to pound sand and suck hot asphalt.

For those of you who voted for socialism and communism last year, here's a nice example of how big government will conveniently wedge itself into your life.

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Originally Posted by Phunnyman

For those of you who voted for socialism and communism last year, here's a nice example of how big government will conveniently wedge itself into your life.

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RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by lampost

Oh shit, I'm trippin'

I just got a "courtesy call" from the power company. I haven't called the number back yet, but I'm certain they're going to tell me that I'm using a shitload of power more than I have been! I've heard of this happening and supposedly it's not a big deal, but I must say I'm a little alarmed. They have to be able to tell what's going on!! I've heard others say not to worry... that they won't turn you in since they're making money off of you.

What do you guys think? I was just going to say I got some space heaters and a new PC power supply, but only if they asked.

I've only been using the 1000W for like 13 days... didn't think they'd call that fast (or at all).

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I've never received such a call, and I'm periodically running 4000 W of lighting. I think it is highly unlikely that the call is about what you think it is, especially if you've only been running for 13 days. I just wouldn't call them back. And contrary to what was said elsewhere in this thread, leo needs no warrant to get your power usage info. A phone call to Xcel would suffice. You have no reasonable expectation of privacy in that info, as it is by definition in the hands of a third party all the time.

Yeah, it wasn't about the usage. I forgot to pay my bill:stoned:

Sorry for the false alarm! But thanks for the info in case this does happen... sounds like it won't thank god.

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Originally Posted by Phunnyman

For those of you who voted for socialism and communism last year, here's a nice example of how big government will conveniently wedge itself into your life.

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Sorry, but they have been scanning people's electric use for a number of years. And, they were alerting LEOs about it. As a matter of fact, on the graph they provide on the bill, will show when you are vegging or flowering unless you balance the usage to stay somewhat static. This comment is based on personal experience with a power company and what it puts on the bill showing usage. Its not due to the so-called election of socialist and communists recently. :thumbsup:

Well I must say this is a pretense for LEO intrusion. The prosecuting authority of each county represents all the electric co. legal interests( if ya doubt me, call and ask them who their lawyer is.)

I myself last year got a phone call plus a letter in the mail plus a note on my gate and LEO snooping around. It just so happens too be I do have 4 space heaters, which they thought was grow lights for a marijuana grow. Needless to say the asshole legal minded dork I am, I went in blazing legal mumbo jumbo and caught them totally with their pants down.

They now walk very lightly when it comes to my electric bill and accusations or thoughts in their minds about calling any LEO again.

Just so I am clear here, the reason for sending ya any notice is for marijuana grow reasons. LEO has made some interesting research in this area, they can read almost anything sucking juice.

Goodluck and piss on them.

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Originally Posted by jamessr

Well I must say this is a pretense for LEO intrusion. The prosecuting authority of each county represents all the electric co. legal interests( if ya doubt me, call and ask them who their lawyer is.)

I myself last year got a phone call plus a letter in the mail plus a note on my gate and LEO snooping around. It just so happens too be I do have 4 space heaters, which they thought was grow lights for a marijuana grow. Needless to say the asshole legal minded dork I am, I went in blazing legal mumbo jumbo and caught them totally with their pants down.

They now walk very lightly when it comes to my electric bill and accusations or thoughts in their minds about calling any LEO again.

Just so I am clear here, the reason for sending ya any notice is for marijuana grow reasons. LEO has made some interesting research in this area, they can read almost anything sucking juice.

Goodluck and piss on them.

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Eh. I ain't gonna sweat it one bit! I'm only running 1000W more than usual... yeah that's a lot, but definitely within the realm of reasonable power increase due to update in appliances/computers/heaters.

With what's going on in this state right now... if they were going to follow-up on every 1000W increase then I think there'd be a lot of people gettin' hit before me.

I also changed all my most frequently used light bulbs (about 10 total) to CFLs. Turning the computer off at night (used to leave it on). Also going to start turning power strips off at night (for PC and entertainment center)... all that standby wattage can reduce usage considerably from what I've seen.

Now I just gotta figure out this fucked up air intake system in my basement. I've got a duct along the ceiling leading straight outside, and a second duct comes into along the floor. I think it's for some kind of fresh air circulation for the furnace... but it's gonna be a dead give away for odors once it gets a little warmer and people are outside.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jamessr

Well I must say this is a pretense for LEO intrusion. The prosecuting authority of each county represents all the electric co. legal interests( if ya doubt me, call and ask them who their lawyer is.)

I myself last year got a phone call plus a letter in the mail plus a note on my gate and LEO snooping around. It just so happens too be I do have 4 space heaters, which they thought was grow lights for a marijuana grow. Needless to say the asshole legal minded dork I am, I went in blazing legal mumbo jumbo and caught them totally with their pants down.

They now walk very lightly when it comes to my electric bill and accusations or thoughts in their minds about calling any LEO again.

Just so I am clear here, the reason for sending ya any notice is for marijuana grow reasons. LEO has made some interesting research in this area, they can read almost anything sucking juice.

Goodluck and piss on them.

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In our state at least, xcel energy is represented by private counsel and/or in-house counsel employed by xcel , and no county attorney, city attorney, or any other public official represents them.

Just tell them that you have more people living with you.

Problem is they might sic INS on ya!

I agree, the power companies and LEO work hand in hand.