Inspectional

Is someone stealing electricity from me?

Is there a way to tell if someone has tapped into our electricity? Or if the landlord has rigged it somehow so that we are paying for something else? I live in a 3 bedroom apartment in Boston. We don't pay for heat and have gas heat anyway, but our electric bill mysteriously goes up from $30 in the summer to $190 in the winter. I suspect that someone has tapped into our electricity. I've already had the City Inspectional Service come and he couldn't find anything wrong and said we needed to hire an electrician. The landlord is refusing to send one, because he claims that there is nothing wrong with the wiring. The inspector already tried turning the power off and observing the meter and supposedly it stopped running. And he claims it's not connected to our furnace.

Public Comments

1. Shut off ALL breakers then go see if your meter is moving is one way. other way if they tapped into a wire is turn off and unplug EVERYTHING and leave breakers on and check meter once more.
2. Years ago I lived in a converted house that had three floors and was turned into three apartments. Had the same experience you have. One day I disconnected every single appliance and lamp, everything, in my apartment, then went down to meter, and sure enough it was revolving. During the conversion, they didn't pull new wires everywhere--a daunting task in a conversion. So, some wiring was still connected through my panel and thus my meter. Complained bitterly and got a reduction in rent, but no fix. Moved after a couple of months. Your situation sounds similar, but how does your furnace run if it has no power? Would not account for the difference in costs, but somewhere in your building you have someone's wiring connected to your system. I would get an electrician myself, and if he found something you have due cause for redress from landlord. Either he has committed deliberate theft of services via you, or he knows nothing about it but should make things right for you by fixing. If it can be traced to a different apartment, they should be held accountable, via the landlord. Otherwise, I would talk to public service commission and just about any codes people I could find, and possibly the city attorney.
3. What meter? Do you have your own meter? Do you get a bill from the real local power company? I had a situation once where I had rented that involved the water usage. The apartments did not have their own meters, so the management made up a bullsh!t water company and sent a separate bill to each apartment. They were dividing up the total usage from all the apartments and sending us a bill for it. Needless to say...they were sued in class action. I fear that you could be paying for your neighbor's electricity also! Check your water bill too!
4. Had it happen to me. The utility company may be able to help They take theft of service seriously even if it is not from them. An illegal apartment in the basement "for a relative" was in part on my circuit. Got to be a surprise visit If they know a city or utility co inspector is coming it is a simple matter to turn the furnace" or something else "off while they are there. If you can prove tampering , you have legal recourse, but be prepared to move out Best regards