A Florida family was hit with a $12,000 electric bill and left without power in 90-degree heat after alleged meter tampering

By admin On Sep 19, 2024 0

A Melbourne, Florida, family was left without power after Florida Power & Light said someone tampered with their electric meter, causing their electricity usage to go unreported. Michelle White, who lives at the home, told News 6 reporters that a Florida Power & Light worker came to their home last Wednesday and shut off the power.

A letter taped to the door informed the family that “there has been illegal tampering with FPL equipment at your location and the tampering has caused the meter to incorrectly record the electricity your home has been using.”

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“We saw the bill for $12,245.92,” White said. explained“I thought: this has to be a system failure.”

White says she has no idea who tampered with her meter. The family has been without power, including air conditioning, for a week and a half in 90-degree heat. They are using a power generator to run her son’s nebulizer and a single air conditioning unit.

“I have a son who is on a nebulizer every four hours and he’s on an oxygen machine,” White said. “I’ve even provided them with a document from the vendor saying they would need an extension. They don’t care. They don’t care about my kids,” White told reporters.

“The electric company says the family is responsible for the bills”

White’s boyfriend and homeowner, Alvin Knight, said the family called FPL for maintenance after one of the electrical wires leading to their home caught fire. Knight said that’s when the company realized the box had been tampered with. FPL replaced the box and never mentioned that the family would be responsible for the charges.

“I would have never called you if I knew someone had broken into the house,” he said. “It would make me look as guilty as… I don’t know what,” Knight told News 6.

When News 6 Reporters reached out to FPL, spokesperson Kamrel J. Eppinger provided the outlet with a statement that read:

“Customers are responsible for ensuring that their meters are not tampered with. If tampering is detected, we may bill a customer or account for unpaid and unauthorized electricity usage and charge investigation fees as permitted by the Florida Public Service Commission.”

White says when he called FPL, he was told they could restore power within 24 hours, but only if he shelled out $7,500.

“I said, ‘Who has this amount of money to spend on a bill that they are not even responsible for or guilty of? Ma’am, this figure is just not realistic,’” White said. wrote on an online fundraising page.

How to know if your electric meter is tampered with

Electricity theft is a common problem. Special stamps, like the one the White family says was on their meter, are often used to determine if meters have been tampered with.

The first step in determining if your meter has been tampered with is to inspect it thoroughly. If you see a broken seal or wires you don’t recognize, call the power company immediately.

You can also turn off all the breakers in your breaker box. This should stop all electricity being used in your home. Next, check your electric meter. If it’s still running, that would indicate something is wrong. It could mean that some part of your home doesn’t have a circuit breaker, which is dangerous, or that someone is stealing your electricity. Contact a certified electrician to check your breaker box, then call the power company.

If you believe the electric company is not acting in good faith, contact your local Public Service Commission. This is a state agency responsible for ensuring that residents receive essential services, such as gas and electricity, safely and reliably.

While Florida statutes allow power companies to shut off your power for nonpayment, your state may have restrictions. Illinois, for example, prohibits power companies from shutting off your power during extreme weather conditions, if you are on a payment plan, or if someone living in your home is on active duty. Depending on your state, you may have additional rights.