High Usage

There are many factors that can cause your bill to go up and down including misread meter readings, estimated readings, actual readings not taken at the same time of every month, or maybe an appliance going bad.

Check the Meter

Turn you main breaker off
Check your electric meter for movement
The circular disk in the meter should stop
If the meter disk is still turning call the office at (814) 766-3221 or (800) 270-3177

Check the Circuits

Leave the main breaker on
Turn off all individual breakers
The electric meter disk should stop. If not there could be short in breaker box or an appliance without fuse/breaker protection.
Turn on one circuit breaker
Watch to see if the electric meter disk is turning
Turn that circuit breaker off and turn on another
Watch to see if the electric meter disk is turning
Continue repeating steps until all individual circuit breakers have been checked
You are looking for a circuit that causes the disk to turn very fast compared to the other circuits. There could be a problem with an appliance or a connection on that circuit.

Other Common Found Problems:

Electric hot water tank: Heating element in the process of burning out causes excessive electric usage. Usually common in older hot water tanks.
Water pumps: Bare wire shorting out against the well pipe casing or shorting out when the water in the well rises to the bare wire.
Underground wiring problems: Sometimes improperly installed underground wiring to their barn, pump or garage. Due to our climate, rocks will move and puncture underground wiring and causes it to short out.
Appliances with heating elements: Such as frost free refrigerators and freezers that have heating elements to defrost ice will occasionally go bad and cause excess usage.