General Question about power usage monitoring by provider- Pennsylvania

G

Gr8green

Member
Does anyone know if Power Company’s in Pennsylvania report high usage to any authorities? I just got a (home energy report) sent the other day that says that I use 52% more electric than 100 other homes in my neighborhood. I only started my operation in May of this year and expected it to go up somewhat but don’t quite know what to make of this. The way it looks, I’m already off the charts even as of last year before things got started in may. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or not. If anyone has any input or knowledge on this subject please feel free to send it my way. ……… From a non politically correct high energy user in PA. …….LOL……

scan0003.jpgscan0004.jpg
 
khm916

khm916

Active Member
Idk about state specific but it looks like your bill very s greatly so its not that bad. I think that most electric companies do everything automated so unless you don't pay your bill on time they shouldn't care if your using more power.
 
J

Jakenbake

Active Member
I think you'll be fine. Top-end computers these days pull upwards of 1000W when under high-load, and with the possibility of other juice sucking electronics like an A/C, 2,000 KWH I don't think is too much to worry about.
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
I'd be a bit concerned if I were you. You don't use 52% more than your neighbors use, you use 92% more than they do. Look in the upper right hand corner again, it says 92%. Looking at the charts, you spiked horribly in Sept while your neighbors trended down. I'm no expert, but I'm sure they have the computers pull up unusual usage, especially when they run audits. You are using nearly double the power of all your neighbors.

Suggestion: Find ways to conserve on electricity. Cell phone chargers, DC power converters, night lights, entertainment equipment, all of that stuff, unplug it when not in use as it still uses power. I would be looking for ways to get my chart line closer to my neighbors.

I doubt that they voluntarily hand over information to law enforcement, however those records can be requested via a warrant and used to further probable cause, especially if they have a known grow house in the past in your neighborhood that they can compare usage to.

That chart is the primary reason I went with LED lights.
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
Jakenbake said:
I think you'll be fine. Top-end computers these days pull upwards of 1000W when under high-load, and with the possibility of other juice sucking electronics like an A/C, 2,000 KWH I don't think is too much to worry about.
Click to expand...
When you run comparisons, you are basically saying that no one else in his neighborhood are using computers or entertainment equipment. When comparing to his neighbors, his usage stands out like a sore thumb.
 
G

gobbly

Well-Known Member
There are a lot of benign things that can cause high power usage. Perhaps you got a hot tub, or a tanning machine. Perhaps you jumped on board early with an electric car. Perhaps you are starting a part time online business and setup a few powerful servers. Perhaps you built a home theater, or a recording studio. Perhaps you're into fish and run over 5kw worth of halides over your various reef tanks (like a friend of mine has for the past 10 years) . Thing is there are many reasons your electricity might be high, and it's going to be less common to see it associated with a grow op. In my mind the key is to reduce other signs so that if for some reason you got flagged and someone did some looking around in your garbage, or watched your house for a bit, or walked around the outside sniffing, nothing else would give you away and it will be assumed you are doing any number of the other things that can cause a jump in electricity usage.

Hell, if you're really worried about it, pick one of the above excuses and call your power company. Say you started an internet business and have a few servers running from your house, and that they sent you this message about your usage, and that you were concerned it was a problem or something. Play like a total idiot. Good chance they'd note your account as having some server equipment and you'd never have to worry about getting flagged again.
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
gobbly said:
There are a lot of benign things that can cause high power usage. Perhaps you got a hot tub, or a tanning machine. Perhaps you jumped on board early with an electric car. Perhaps you are starting a part time online business and setup a few powerful servers. Perhaps you built a home theater, or a recording studio. Perhaps you're into fish and run over 5kw worth of halides over your various reef tanks (like a friend of mine has for the past 10 years) . Thing is there are many reasons your electricity might be high, and it's going to be less common to see it associated with a grow op. In my mind the key is to reduce other signs so that if for some reason you got flagged and someone did some looking around in your garbage, or watched your house for a bit, or walked around the outside sniffing, nothing else would give you away and it will be assumed you are doing any number of the other things that can cause a jump in electricity usage.

Hell, if you're really worried about it, pick one of the above excuses and call your power company. Say you started an internet business and have a few servers running from your house, and that they sent you this message about your usage, and that you were concerned it was a problem or something. Play like a total idiot. Good chance they'd note your account as having some server equipment and you'd never have to worry about getting flagged again.
Click to expand...
That is not a bad idea. When I replied, I was thinking of medical equipment for an in home patient.

As for trash searches, good point. Never, ever toss grow related trash in your household garbage. The Supreme Court has already ruled it can be used against you, as you disposed of it when you took it to curb for pick up and gave up your ownership or privacy rights to it. A lot of drive through windows at hamburger joints have trash receptacles for use by drivers in the car, simply drive through, order a iced tea and dispose of your trash into the receptacle. If you are super paranoid, spread your deposits around town. :)
 
Spanishfly

Spanishfly

Well-Known Member
They may not actually REPORT it to any authorities, but it is recorded in their data, which is probably public information accessible by LEO.

I should attempt to make my consumption approach the local average - cook and heat with gas as much as possible - take cold showers - don´t watch TV (rubbish anyway) - read by candlelight and go to bed early.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top