An American man paid his neighbor’s power bill for at least 15 years without realizing it. Can you picture yourself in that situation? That cash is very valuable.
Ken Wilson, who lived in Vacaville in Solano County, which is between Sacramento and San Francisco, had been working hard to cut down on his energy use in order to save money. A report from local news station KGO says that no matter what he did, his price stayed much higher than others in the area of the same size.
What happened to this man in California
I didn’t understand where Wilson’s high power bill was coming from since he lives alone in his apartment. To try to figure out what was going on, he even bought a device that would measure how much electricity his machines were using.
Wilson finally complained to his local power company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), because he couldn’t find a way to lower his monthly electricity bills.
Wilson had been paying his neighbor for their power use for more than ten years without realizing it. This news shocked everyone, but it also made people feel better because the puzzle was finally solved.
- Location: Vacaville, Solano County
- Time Span: At least 15 years
- Electricity Provider: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
- Key Issue: Unusually high electricity bills
This story is meant to teach you a lesson: check your energy bills often to make sure everything is correct. You never know what you may find!
The company sent an inspector to look into why Wilson’s electricity price was so high. Wilson thought that the problem might be a broken meter or an electricity leak that wasn’t being found.
Wilson’s Unexpected Discovery in California
“I went outside to check on the meter often, even after I turned off the switches, and it was still running.” Wilson told KGO, “I couldn’t believe it.”
A Shocking Revelation
Wilson was shocked when the PG&E inspector told him that the meter that was billing him was actually linked to one of his neighbors’ flats and not his own.
Nearly Two Decades of Paying for His Neighbor’s Energy Usage
PG&E records show that the problem with the meter link has been going on for at least 15 years.
“The customer’s apartment’s meter number was being billed to another apartment, possibly since 2009,” PG&E said in a statement sent to Wilson on Monday. They said they were sorry for the confusion.
- Faulty Meter: Wilson suspected a defective meter was the cause.
- Electrical Leak: Another potential issue Wilson considered.
- PG&E Inspector: The inspector’s investigation revealed the true problem.
- Neighbor’s Apartment: The meter was connected to a different apartment.
- 15 Years: The error had persisted for nearly a decade and a half.
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