A Texas apartment renter said they tried nearly every electricity-saving trick they could think of, only to watch their monthly bill climb to $300.
After a call to the electric company didn’t yield any answers, the renter turned to Reddit for ideas.
Here’s what to know
In a Reddit thread on r/Austin, the original poster said they had already tried a range of cutbacks, including unplugging unused electronics, hanging blackout curtains, switching to lower-wattage bulbs, and using the AC less during the hottest part of the day.
Even so, they wrote: “After everything I can think of to cut back on my electric usage, the bill still comes in at $300!”
The renter said that the total was nearly $200 higher than it had been previously. They also said the electric company’s staff “weren’t any help” in finding the cause of the three-fold increase in their bill.
Given that the OP had already taken significant steps to reduce their energy consumption, commenters suggested the possibility of a meter or equipment problem.
One person recommended a simple test: “Shut off all your appliances and turn off all switches. Go and look at your meter. Is it still moving?”
“If it is, that would indicate there is something else connected to your meter that is being billed to you — something in the common areas or another unit,” they added.
As a comparison point, one commenter said the electric bill for their 1,800-square-foot home in south Austin was only $187 despite keeping the house at 73 degrees during the hot Texas summer.
“A 3x electricity bill over one year indicates that something is waaay different in your home,” chimed in another.
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More background
Several replies pointed out that the dollar amount of the bill alone does not reveal much information. The amount owed varies depending on electricity use and rate plan. Without usage details, one commenter noted, everyone was just guessing at the cause of the OP’s higher bills.
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Another recurring topic was the rental unit’s cooling system.
One commenter asked whether the air conditioner might be “on the fritz.”
Another shared this sentiment, adding that a faulty AC kept pushing their bills higher until a replacement unit was installed. After that, they said their electric bill dropped significantly.
Meter access may also be an obstacle for apartment residents. After one user questioned whether tenants can even get to their own meters, another replied that theirs was “locked behind a gated door.”
What can be done?
For renters, a practical next step is to compare their current bill with previous ones to see if their electricity use has increased, their rates have gone up, or both. Next, renters can ask the property manager about the HVAC system, and, if possible, check the meter, which might require asking a landlord, maintenance team, or utility representative for access.
If the meter keeps moving after everything in the unit has been shut off, that could point to something outside the rental unit being connected to the apartment’s meter.
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