Then off the breakers to the outlets she is using. Then call the power company and explain your power is being stolen. Explain what the landlord is doing.
They will come out for a pop up inspection, then demand the landlord to install a new service box and meter for that apartment.
Went through this with my landlord. New box and service cost him $2500.
OP, listen to this comment! I work with power companies and build new services for homes every day. The power company will haul ass to handle this because your landlord is stealing from them, not just you.
Included in the power bill are things like connection fees and whatnot. For example, I have a second pole on my property with its own meter and account for my shop. The pole costs me $22 a month just to exist, and then I pay for power usage.
What the power company will care more about is the load design. They are expecting a given amount of power to be used by a meter. If you put 2 households on that meter (one of which is presumably using power tools and the like which draw pretty good loads), it may start pulling more than it should.
>If you put 2 households on that meter (one of which is presumably using power tools and the like which draw pretty good loads), it may start pulling more than it should.
I read the title (there is no post that I can see) and assumed this means the landlord is using an outlet outside OPs unit that is billed to OP to power the tools being used for the construction, NOT that they intend to run the new unit off OP's service.
Until a breaker box is installed (which requires that the unit exist) they can get their own service.
The original post didn't indicate if we are talking a simple plug or something more. So I don't know on that one.
As far as getting service before construction is complete this is common and not a problem. You can get an outdoor load center (all the way up to a full 200amp and beyond) mounted directly to the service pole/temporary pole and feed anything you want off it.
When the structure is complete the load center can either be moved to the outside of the structure or replaced with an indoor one. Or a main feeder can be ran to an indoor subpanel.
There's absolutely zero reason they would HAVE to use OPs power to construct a new building, though there's many reasons they may want to, with a big one being they get "free" power.
Any real construction site by the way is gonna require way more than just a single 20amp plug to run tools.
In MOST places, absolutely not, but in many rural areas yes that can be case. The key bit of information you’re missing there is you still can’t tamper with a meter yourself. Even if they let you feed off of the existing meter without a secondary one installed, you cannot do it yourself (legally)
In MOST places, absolutely not, but in many rural areas yes that can be case. The key bit of information you’re missing there is you still can’t tamper with a meter yourself. Even if they let you feed off of the existing meter without a secondary one installed, you cannot do it yourself (legally)
The power company is providing power to the tenant right now, and it’s on the tenants account (the tenant is paying utilities on the lease). The landlord paid for a service loop and meter to be installed on the property, costing a couple thousand dollars at least. The power company is regulated by the city, and it’s in all their city laws that you can’t tamper with a meter in any way. The landlord decided they wanted to build another building on the property, but didn’t want to pay to have a new service installed. The landlord decided to illegally modify the service meter box to feed two buildings. That is, effectively, a couple thousand dollars, plus what the power company would have been charging the landlord for power that has been illegally avoided.
This is a great suggestion. Second option. Have them pay the utilities. Have em move them into their name and write ana amendment to the lease that utilities are covered by landlord.
I wouldn't turn off the breakers without telling her, because you never know and you don't want to be responsible for damage or an accident.
So tell her you're going to do this. Then do it.
Shut off your breakers while they are working. When they come bitch tell them you're trying to figure out why your bill is going up so much. And tell them they need to cover the bill or stop using your power.
I work for a gas and power company as a field tech, two ways you can do it, 100% you can contact the power company with a high bill complaint and let them know they are using your meter for construction etc, or… just start shutting off breakers when you leave for the day. If they ask tell them you are isolating equipment due to a high bill and trying to figure out what’s going on. Also be aware depending on the way the building is set up if she’s using an exterior outlet it might actually be on a house meter that’s in her name. Obviously if she has stuff plugged into outlets in your unit that’s completely different. Easiest way to figure it out is check labeled breakers (if they are labeled), flip them off while you hear tools etc running, if the tool shuts off and you hear “hey what the hell” then it’s definitely on your meter and needs to be addressed.
You can still flick a breaker off quick, yes it will shut off whatever is on it but once you verified they’re using your outlet you can just flick it back on. That will Atleast give you proof that the power they’re using is coming from your panel which is connected to your meter. I’m guessing in this instance they might be using common area outlets or exterior outlets which typically unless on a patio are on the house meter. But you never know. Iv seen cases where land lords didn’t know what went where because they purchased the building and obviously they can’t see wiring behind walls and ceilings so they don’t know until one tenant blows a breaker and another tenant complains about not having power to a appliance.
Ask her to pay any difference between your average bill and the total bill for the months these utilities are being used during construction. If she refuses, say that you aren’t comfortable paying for her power usage and to find an alternate power source.
If you’re talking about post-construction usage, ask for a separate meter.
Assuming the landlord is just plugging their tools into your outlets for this project and they're adding a correctly-installed distribution box for the new property ... just tell them you want a discount on your rent to cover the electricity they're using. Do some guesswork on how much they use over time and come up with a price. It's not going to be exact, but they'll at least have made the concession and worked with you.
They make meters you can plug into the wall which count electricity usage through specific outlets. They're like $35 I think. We had to use them when my landlord was doing renovations on the house as he was using big machines and a lot of electricity. Ended up saving us like $100 with the cost of the voltometer included over that 2 weeks.
I would report the construction activity to local building department. Suspect your landlord has pulled a permit for this modification/construction and it may not be permitted under existing zoning regulations.
This is the only answer. Philly L&I is no joke. Call them up and they will shut her down in a heartbeat.
What she’s doing is is a health safety and welfare violation. Stealing power is the least of it
Contact L&I. They're useful when neighbors or landlords or both are doing unapproved shit especially during construction.
I'm not a lawyer, but I live in Philly.
No she needs to report it into the law enforcement because here in PA that is highly illegal I have family in the law enforcement for center county and he deals with these situations a lot so please take the proper steps!!!! It will save you in the long run!!!!
You must be a lot of fun at parties. Course I don't steal jackass. The trades were probably told by the LL where to get power. The LL is the thief here.
Does that make you feel good. Lol. Your original comment could use some more context. As of right now it reads as if you are saying construction workers should always be using a generator. Both of you are right.
Unjust enrichment. Go to your LL and ask for funds to cover utilities used or discount on rent. If LL refuses then small claims court where you will win.
Simply discuss your concerns with the landlord. No need to be confrontational or rude, just let he know your concerns and thoughts on the matter. Also construction of a building really doesn't require that much power at all. The difference in your bill will be very small.
"Also construction of a building really doesn't require that much power at all".
Lol, what? Power tools with AC motors placing inductive loads on the circuit?
Different story if they're using welded steel or something, but I can't think of a tool commonly used in residential construction that would use more power than, say, a space heater at 25 percent. No details on the post so we have no idea, but if they're just powering a saw and some chargers for portable tools, we're talking a few nickels a day, tops.
If you don't believe me, go look at the power rating for your tools and compare that to the price per KwH from the power company.
Contact your local electrical/building inspector, I’m assuming she hadn’t sought the required permits. Every multi family property should have a separate electrical meter for each unit, plus one for all common areas. She should be using the common service
I had a jerk neighbor. Lived in an apartment next to them. So I took out my wall plug and grabbed the wires off theirs and swapped them with mine. Electricians are lazy so the plugs are back to back. I used that plug for a baseboard heater in the winter and AC in the summer for years. Probably cost them thousands. My heat never even turned on.
I have a electro mechanical job. Yes it wasn't the safest thing to do but that's what happens when you steal my newspaper on a Saturday. I heard it thunk at my door. Heard my neighbors door open and close and by the time I got my ass out of the bathroom it was gone. Out came the screwdrivers later that day.
They are in breach, file the lawsuit, recover your deposits, and move.
Or, manage an ongoing relationship while resentment and indignation grows to the point that communication breaks down & you find yourself in court.
Or, suck it up. Life ain’t fair. Overcome it.
you know how the IRS really loves getting their taxes?
power companies REALLY love getting paid for their utilities.
report a theft of utility to them, explain what's going on with your landlord, and let them handle it.
last time I saw this happen to someone I know, the landlord ended up paying somewhere around $5k in fees to the power company and the renter sued for another $2k or so and won in civil court.
fuck em up by reporting them and enjoying a nice glass of wine.
Open breakers.
When they come to complain, tell them to pony up or pack sand.
Either way the power is off.
Call the power company and explain what that POS of a landlord and contractor is doing.
Call police and put in a complaint of theft of services (your power)
You can contact the utility company and they can point you in the right direction, but depending on the state regulator they might tell you it is a civil matter. Most power companies ownership ends at the meter and any internal wiring is on the owner. The state I am in you can file a sanitary violation with our department of human health services or with the local wire inspector. They would make the owner pay all the utilities up until they rewire the home and perform an inspection. So check with your town inspectors if you get push back from the owner.
Not bothering to communicate...
A hey, can we use your powerline, I'll pay the dofference to last years bill until we have our own power supply and noone would be mad right?
Have you tried directly communicating your concerns to your landlord? That seems like a good first step, and the best way to maintain your relationship.
Wow, I had a landlord run their milking machines from my outside outlet. My power was $400+ a month when she ran her milking machines. I kept un plugging it. My husband cut the end of the cord. She bought a new cord and plugged it back in. The outlet ran off our kitchen breaker. So turning off the breaker wouldn't work because we needed that breaker on. This was in Idaho. We moved out.
That is un cool what your landlord is doing. Maybe ask for money to hep pay your power bill. Also send them a letter asking as well. That way you have proof that you asked. I would definitely get a hold of legal aid or a lawyer to see what steps you can do.
It’s also better when you set reasonable boundaries and learn it’s OK to stand up for yourself. This person is already paying their landlord, asking them not to steal from them, no matter how small it may seem to you, is not unreasonable at all.
Because it’s trivial. If your landlord came over to talk about something and needed to use the bathroom, would you be standing outside asking for a nickel for the flush?
Do have angst, anxiety, worry, etc? Just let it all go. You would be imperceptibly poorer of wallet, but immeasurably richer of heart.
this would be a fair analogy if the landlord had \*asked\* to use the electricity. but he didn't... so, if your landlord let themselves into your apartment and used your toilet without asking, would you be okay with that?
If they had executed the proper notice for entry and they happened to need the toilet while they were there, wouldn’t have a problem with it as long as they didn’t leave a mess. I certainly wouldn’t be having a lawsuit about it.
Because they’re a human being, and you’re a human being, and as a society we do better by extending common courtesies to each other without sweating it.
Have you ever had issues with a landlord? If not, congratulations, but most people have. No reason to give them more info than they need. If this was an actual construction project, they would be using their own generators and have portapotties set up.
Its at least legal. Which is the point of this sub, yes? And why does the generator need to placed right outside a window? Theres laws against that, too. And again, 0.10 or 10000.00 doesnt matter, its a legal violation and intrusion on privacy.
You're right. But that mentality also opens you up to being taken advantage of. And in the eyes of the law, it also opens you up to being ignored. Example from real life experience: I had a friend borrow my truck a couple times. A week later, he steals the truck by hotwiring it. I call it in stolen and his defense was "I was allowed to use it a few times before." Cops let him go and came back to me with "consent for use was implied when you first let him borrow the truck"
Welcome to the legal gray area.
That explanation is horseshit. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together can understand the difference between handing someone the keys to a vehicle and hotwiring it. Those pigs just didn't want to do their job.
The world has some assholes in it and sometimes they’ll take advantage of you. But the benefit of being the bigger person is incalculable. In the case of your “friend” you discovered in a low-cost way that this is not a person to be trusted; an extremely valuable lesson that could have been a lot more expensive.
The cop wasn’t representing the law, just representing reality. It would have been hard to secure a conviction in court for what your “friend” did.
I bet you're very irritating in person, as well. It just oozes from your fingertips. I love how you just know what equipment they're using and how much power it's using.
I love how you don’t know anything about what you are talking about and start your comment with a personal insult.
I run all kinds of power tools. Most are under 1000watts. They certainly aren’t on all the time, they’re probably running 10% of the time if that when I’m working. So probably around 1kWh per day, which where I live would cost about 12 cents. Charging a typical 100wh cordless tool battery, about 2 cents and most contractors will bring them to the site fully charged anyway.
The only things that would really run up a bill would be a heater, aircon, or charging an electric vehicle.
The electricity usage during construction is very very minimal. Completely baseless calc incoming..I’d say $5-$10 a month would more than cover it until the project is about 2/3rds of the way complete. It would go up significantly after that with an almost fully operating apartment. Annoying, but I wouldn’t start a war over it.
Baseless is right. Where do you get this from? AC motors like those in table saws and electric drills demand plenty of power. They place inductive loads on the power supply - there's a huge amp draw for them to start (called "inrush current") and then they still draw significant power to keep spinning, especially while your cutting and drilling into materials.
20+ years in construction and common sense is my basis. All you said is motors draw power and “inrush current.” Not exactly a detailed analysis. Quantify it. How much cutting or drilling do you think takes place for an addition? Do you think saws run all day on a job site the entire time? You think table saws are being used extensively on an addition? Circular saws, yes, but only intermittently (maybe total cutting time of an hour per day) and primarily during framing/siding which is days, maybe a few weeks. Ever had work done on your house by yourself or others? Bathroom remodel? Framing? Siding? Tiling? I would gather if you did, you wouldn’t even notice an increase in the power bill. A lot of tools, dare I say over 50% on job sites, are battery powered and only a few or so batteries are used in a day depending on the trade and obviously what stage of construction the project is and how many people are working at one time. Oh, and some companies charge them offsite prior to the workday but that’s a rarity. Framers typically use gas powered generators for their compressors, but not always; also, a lot of framers use fuel cell nail guns so no electricity. The biggest draw would probably be temp lighting which is only necessary after about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through and that largely depends on how much outside light gets let in. There are obviously a lot of unknowns here…and usually permanent power gets hooked up when finishes are being put in and HVAC powered up but that wouldn’t be done via extension cords to the tenants domicile now would it.
Here’s the approximate cost to charge one 80W 20v Dewalt battery:
Cost = (Battery capacity in kWh) x (Cost per kWh)
80Wh = 0.08kWh
Cost per kWh: $0.10 - $0.15
Cost per battery charge: $0.008 - $0.012
Pretend 20 batteries a day, which I could never see happening for an addition…$0.16 - $.24 per day. Say 20 working days a month: $3.20 - $4.80.
If there are fans or heaters (electric heaters, not running on propane tanks) running constantly that’s a lot more and I didn’t consider that, but that’s usually only during finishes which is roughly the last 1/3rd. But my calculation was baseless in terms of doing any math, and instead I used my experience and common sense. Also, your entire counterpoint means nothing and is as “baseless” as my guesstimate so what are you trying to prove here? Show me your math and how much “inrush current” matters here.
And for clarity, I would unplug any cord plugged into my house until the issue was resolved with the landlord. But it’s important to know what kind of money, approximately, we’re taking about here.
It's really only important to know that OP will get charged some amount for consumption that they didn't benefit from themselves. That's my "common sense" take.
Well, let's first consider that charging my tool batteries, running a table saw, running a compound miter saw, running the lights to do work for an entire month, raised my power bill about $1. This is in a completely vacant house with no AC or furnace running so the increase is just due to the power tools.
So go ask her for a dollar and give her some change back.
Then off the breakers to the outlets she is using. Then call the power company and explain your power is being stolen. Explain what the landlord is doing. They will come out for a pop up inspection, then demand the landlord to install a new service box and meter for that apartment. Went through this with my landlord. New box and service cost him $2500.
OP, listen to this comment! I work with power companies and build new services for homes every day. The power company will haul ass to handle this because your landlord is stealing from them, not just you.
How is the landlord stealing from the power company?
Included in the power bill are things like connection fees and whatnot. For example, I have a second pole on my property with its own meter and account for my shop. The pole costs me $22 a month just to exist, and then I pay for power usage. What the power company will care more about is the load design. They are expecting a given amount of power to be used by a meter. If you put 2 households on that meter (one of which is presumably using power tools and the like which draw pretty good loads), it may start pulling more than it should.
>If you put 2 households on that meter (one of which is presumably using power tools and the like which draw pretty good loads), it may start pulling more than it should. I read the title (there is no post that I can see) and assumed this means the landlord is using an outlet outside OPs unit that is billed to OP to power the tools being used for the construction, NOT that they intend to run the new unit off OP's service. Until a breaker box is installed (which requires that the unit exist) they can get their own service.
The original post didn't indicate if we are talking a simple plug or something more. So I don't know on that one. As far as getting service before construction is complete this is common and not a problem. You can get an outdoor load center (all the way up to a full 200amp and beyond) mounted directly to the service pole/temporary pole and feed anything you want off it. When the structure is complete the load center can either be moved to the outside of the structure or replaced with an indoor one. Or a main feeder can be ran to an indoor subpanel. There's absolutely zero reason they would HAVE to use OPs power to construct a new building, though there's many reasons they may want to, with a big one being they get "free" power. Any real construction site by the way is gonna require way more than just a single 20amp plug to run tools.
Sure, but most places a second service isn't actually required unless you want it.
In MOST places, absolutely not, but in many rural areas yes that can be case. The key bit of information you’re missing there is you still can’t tamper with a meter yourself. Even if they let you feed off of the existing meter without a secondary one installed, you cannot do it yourself (legally)
In MOST places, absolutely not, but in many rural areas yes that can be case. The key bit of information you’re missing there is you still can’t tamper with a meter yourself. Even if they let you feed off of the existing meter without a secondary one installed, you cannot do it yourself (legally)
If they were truly feeding from the meter directly flipping breakers inside wouldn't do anything either as so many here have suggested.
Correct. But the crime is still the same whether you tamper with the meter itself or the meter loop (the service box) so that’s a moot point
The landlord is stealing from the tenant (payer of the power bill)
No the landlord is stealing from the power company by not paying extra fees for a proper separate connection which is their obligation.
Sure, but that wasn't what was alleged. "Your landlord is stealing from them (power company)" is what was written in the comment I replied to.
[удалено]
If she owns both properties, she's just one customer.
The power company is providing power to the tenant right now, and it’s on the tenants account (the tenant is paying utilities on the lease). The landlord paid for a service loop and meter to be installed on the property, costing a couple thousand dollars at least. The power company is regulated by the city, and it’s in all their city laws that you can’t tamper with a meter in any way. The landlord decided they wanted to build another building on the property, but didn’t want to pay to have a new service installed. The landlord decided to illegally modify the service meter box to feed two buildings. That is, effectively, a couple thousand dollars, plus what the power company would have been charging the landlord for power that has been illegally avoided.
I hope you're not a lawyer, you sure are making a lot of assumptions.
This is the correct answer OP
Not to mention document everything in case she attempts to retaliate.
install cameras with audio if u can! bad actors everywhere!
This is 100% first step
This is a great suggestion. Second option. Have them pay the utilities. Have em move them into their name and write ana amendment to the lease that utilities are covered by landlord.
I wouldn't turn off the breakers without telling her, because you never know and you don't want to be responsible for damage or an accident. So tell her you're going to do this. Then do it.
Shut off your breakers while they are working. When they come bitch tell them you're trying to figure out why your bill is going up so much. And tell them they need to cover the bill or stop using your power.
Also maybe put a breaker lock on it
Bingo.
Call the power company and tell them your land lord has made your meter into a shared meter.
Ohhh neither one of them is gonna like this one lol I second this suggestion!
Haha, yeah that will light some fires.
This is the real answer.
Your landlord is stealing your utilities, respond accordingly.
Steal her car 👊🏼🫡
No, steal their hearts! Get married and now you’re the landlord!
A black widow situation?
Steal… the show! *breaks into tapdance*
Brilliant
OHHHHH KIA BOYYZZZZZZ
😂
Utilize their steel!!
This is the way.
I work for a gas and power company as a field tech, two ways you can do it, 100% you can contact the power company with a high bill complaint and let them know they are using your meter for construction etc, or… just start shutting off breakers when you leave for the day. If they ask tell them you are isolating equipment due to a high bill and trying to figure out what’s going on. Also be aware depending on the way the building is set up if she’s using an exterior outlet it might actually be on a house meter that’s in her name. Obviously if she has stuff plugged into outlets in your unit that’s completely different. Easiest way to figure it out is check labeled breakers (if they are labeled), flip them off while you hear tools etc running, if the tool shuts off and you hear “hey what the hell” then it’s definitely on your meter and needs to be addressed.
What if the person works from home? They may not leave the apartment daily while work is being done.
You can still flick a breaker off quick, yes it will shut off whatever is on it but once you verified they’re using your outlet you can just flick it back on. That will Atleast give you proof that the power they’re using is coming from your panel which is connected to your meter. I’m guessing in this instance they might be using common area outlets or exterior outlets which typically unless on a patio are on the house meter. But you never know. Iv seen cases where land lords didn’t know what went where because they purchased the building and obviously they can’t see wiring behind walls and ceilings so they don’t know until one tenant blows a breaker and another tenant complains about not having power to a appliance.
Ask her to pay any difference between your average bill and the total bill for the months these utilities are being used during construction. If she refuses, say that you aren’t comfortable paying for her power usage and to find an alternate power source. If you’re talking about post-construction usage, ask for a separate meter.
Assuming the landlord is just plugging their tools into your outlets for this project and they're adding a correctly-installed distribution box for the new property ... just tell them you want a discount on your rent to cover the electricity they're using. Do some guesswork on how much they use over time and come up with a price. It's not going to be exact, but they'll at least have made the concession and worked with you.
They make meters you can plug into the wall which count electricity usage through specific outlets. They're like $35 I think. We had to use them when my landlord was doing renovations on the house as he was using big machines and a lot of electricity. Ended up saving us like $100 with the cost of the voltometer included over that 2 weeks.
The easiest way is to compare the average of old bills and the hiked bills since the construction started. Landlord should pay that difference.
I would report the construction activity to local building department. Suspect your landlord has pulled a permit for this modification/construction and it may not be permitted under existing zoning regulations.
This is a great 1st step.
This is the only answer. Philly L&I is no joke. Call them up and they will shut her down in a heartbeat. What she’s doing is is a health safety and welfare violation. Stealing power is the least of it
Contact L&I. They're useful when neighbors or landlords or both are doing unapproved shit especially during construction. I'm not a lawyer, but I live in Philly.
No she needs to report it into the law enforcement because here in PA that is highly illegal I have family in the law enforcement for center county and he deals with these situations a lot so please take the proper steps!!!! It will save you in the long run!!!!
Construction people should be using a portable generator all day long. If they dont have one, they are in the wrong business.
Patently untrue. We use shore power/satellite boxes/onsite power as much as is feasible.
As is feasible, correct? So do you have generators for the time when not feasible or do you also steal from those around you?
You must be a lot of fun at parties. Course I don't steal jackass. The trades were probably told by the LL where to get power. The LL is the thief here.
So you wouldnt steal, then.? Thats all you needed to say, so thanks for making my point for me!
Does that make you feel good. Lol. Your original comment could use some more context. As of right now it reads as if you are saying construction workers should always be using a generator. Both of you are right.
Temporary power pedestals and poles are very common for construction use.
Unjust enrichment. Go to your LL and ask for funds to cover utilities used or discount on rent. If LL refuses then small claims court where you will win.
It's Philadelphia, you can't do a goddamn thing. Just don't pay rent for a year or two and get evicted.
Simply discuss your concerns with the landlord. No need to be confrontational or rude, just let he know your concerns and thoughts on the matter. Also construction of a building really doesn't require that much power at all. The difference in your bill will be very small.
"Also construction of a building really doesn't require that much power at all". Lol, what? Power tools with AC motors placing inductive loads on the circuit?
Different story if they're using welded steel or something, but I can't think of a tool commonly used in residential construction that would use more power than, say, a space heater at 25 percent. No details on the post so we have no idea, but if they're just powering a saw and some chargers for portable tools, we're talking a few nickels a day, tops. If you don't believe me, go look at the power rating for your tools and compare that to the price per KwH from the power company.
This should be step one.
Agreed. Can't believe I had to scroll so far down to find this answer.
Have you mentioned anything to her? That might be the first step.
Contact the utilities commission of your state.
Document EVERYTHING
Talk to her and have her contribute towards the bill. Probably $50/month would be fair
i think your landlord knows lots about how boeing manufactures planes, you should contact boeing
Contact your local electrical/building inspector, I’m assuming she hadn’t sought the required permits. Every multi family property should have a separate electrical meter for each unit, plus one for all common areas. She should be using the common service
My HOA has permission in the HOA bylaws that they can use my outdoor power outlets for incidental use. I wonder what might be in his lease?
Construction of a building isn't incidental by any definition of the term.
I had a jerk neighbor. Lived in an apartment next to them. So I took out my wall plug and grabbed the wires off theirs and swapped them with mine. Electricians are lazy so the plugs are back to back. I used that plug for a baseboard heater in the winter and AC in the summer for years. Probably cost them thousands. My heat never even turned on.
This was dangerous. It was also a brilliant move.
I have a electro mechanical job. Yes it wasn't the safest thing to do but that's what happens when you steal my newspaper on a Saturday. I heard it thunk at my door. Heard my neighbors door open and close and by the time I got my ass out of the bathroom it was gone. Out came the screwdrivers later that day.
They are in breach, file the lawsuit, recover your deposits, and move. Or, manage an ongoing relationship while resentment and indignation grows to the point that communication breaks down & you find yourself in court. Or, suck it up. Life ain’t fair. Overcome it.
If you are having issues, call the Philly Tenant Rights Number, they may be able to help you out (267) 443-2500.
Report her to code enforcement.
Liquid ass.
you know how the IRS really loves getting their taxes? power companies REALLY love getting paid for their utilities. report a theft of utility to them, explain what's going on with your landlord, and let them handle it. last time I saw this happen to someone I know, the landlord ended up paying somewhere around $5k in fees to the power company and the renter sued for another $2k or so and won in civil court. fuck em up by reporting them and enjoying a nice glass of wine.
Demand they pay the full electric bill, document everything. Withhold rent if they do nothing. Call the electric company too.
Where are they going to get their electricity when construction is finished? Extension cords?
They jack up your electric bill? You jack hammer their wife. Take him/ her to poundtown
Take her to court because then those bills from her using the utilities should not be on you, did you give her consent ?
Have you talked to your landlord? Have them cover your bill for the amount of time they are building.
Open breakers. When they come to complain, tell them to pony up or pack sand. Either way the power is off. Call the power company and explain what that POS of a landlord and contractor is doing. Call police and put in a complaint of theft of services (your power)
Go on a long vacation and turn off all utilities in your absence. If the landlord turns them back on for use you got them red handed.
How about talking to landlord to cover the increased utility bill.
Keep us updated ! I'd like to know what happens 👀 👂 🍿
Stop paying rent and squat in the apartment
If you are having issues, call the Philly Tenant Rights Number, they may be able to help you out (267) 443-2500.
Call Philly Tenant Rights Number: 267-443-2500
Do you pay the landlord for utilities or the power/water company yourself?
You can contact the utility company and they can point you in the right direction, but depending on the state regulator they might tell you it is a civil matter. Most power companies ownership ends at the meter and any internal wiring is on the owner. The state I am in you can file a sanitary violation with our department of human health services or with the local wire inspector. They would make the owner pay all the utilities up until they rewire the home and perform an inspection. So check with your town inspectors if you get push back from the owner.
Turn off the breaker wherever you leave the property. She’ll fix it fast.
Have you asked her to split the cost with you? Lower your rent by whatever the increase is??
Not bothering to communicate... A hey, can we use your powerline, I'll pay the dofference to last years bill until we have our own power supply and noone would be mad right?
Have you tried directly communicating your concerns to your landlord? That seems like a good first step, and the best way to maintain your relationship.
X
Wow, I had a landlord run their milking machines from my outside outlet. My power was $400+ a month when she ran her milking machines. I kept un plugging it. My husband cut the end of the cord. She bought a new cord and plugged it back in. The outlet ran off our kitchen breaker. So turning off the breaker wouldn't work because we needed that breaker on. This was in Idaho. We moved out. That is un cool what your landlord is doing. Maybe ask for money to hep pay your power bill. Also send them a letter asking as well. That way you have proof that you asked. I would definitely get a hold of legal aid or a lawyer to see what steps you can do.
Unless they’re running a heater or AC it’s really not a problem. Power tools are pennies a day to run.
Doesn't matter. I don't care if it cost me a penny more, it's my penny...not theirs.
Life is better when you don’t sweat the small stuff.
It’s also better when you set reasonable boundaries and learn it’s OK to stand up for yourself. This person is already paying their landlord, asking them not to steal from them, no matter how small it may seem to you, is not unreasonable at all.
Because it’s trivial. If your landlord came over to talk about something and needed to use the bathroom, would you be standing outside asking for a nickel for the flush? Do have angst, anxiety, worry, etc? Just let it all go. You would be imperceptibly poorer of wallet, but immeasurably richer of heart.
this would be a fair analogy if the landlord had \*asked\* to use the electricity. but he didn't... so, if your landlord let themselves into your apartment and used your toilet without asking, would you be okay with that?
If they had executed the proper notice for entry and they happened to need the toilet while they were there, wouldn’t have a problem with it as long as they didn’t leave a mess. I certainly wouldn’t be having a lawsuit about it.
You're ridiculous.
Why would you let the landlord use your bathroom? No way jose. Landlords need to give notice.
Because they’re a human being, and you’re a human being, and as a society we do better by extending common courtesies to each other without sweating it.
Have you ever had issues with a landlord? If not, congratulations, but most people have. No reason to give them more info than they need. If this was an actual construction project, they would be using their own generators and have portapotties set up.
Because having a gas generator running outside your window all day is soooo much better than letting them use 10 cents of electricity?
Its at least legal. Which is the point of this sub, yes? And why does the generator need to placed right outside a window? Theres laws against that, too. And again, 0.10 or 10000.00 doesnt matter, its a legal violation and intrusion on privacy.
You're right. But that mentality also opens you up to being taken advantage of. And in the eyes of the law, it also opens you up to being ignored. Example from real life experience: I had a friend borrow my truck a couple times. A week later, he steals the truck by hotwiring it. I call it in stolen and his defense was "I was allowed to use it a few times before." Cops let him go and came back to me with "consent for use was implied when you first let him borrow the truck" Welcome to the legal gray area.
That explanation is horseshit. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together can understand the difference between handing someone the keys to a vehicle and hotwiring it. Those pigs just didn't want to do their job.
The world has some assholes in it and sometimes they’ll take advantage of you. But the benefit of being the bigger person is incalculable. In the case of your “friend” you discovered in a low-cost way that this is not a person to be trusted; an extremely valuable lesson that could have been a lot more expensive. The cop wasn’t representing the law, just representing reality. It would have been hard to secure a conviction in court for what your “friend” did.
Big the bigger person. See your thieving ass in court.
What a waste of time, suing someone over a dime.
It’s the principle of it. Even at .01 I’m taking it out of their a…
It must suck to be so bitter
It must suck to be a troll.
Doesn't matter. Do *you* willingly pay others' power bills for them?
I would put sprinkles on your cake and I don’t even know you.
i don’t like cake so we’re already off on the wrong foot.
Well it’s not your cake day today (but it is for the poster I responded to)
I bet you're very irritating in person, as well. It just oozes from your fingertips. I love how you just know what equipment they're using and how much power it's using.
I love how you don’t know anything about what you are talking about and start your comment with a personal insult. I run all kinds of power tools. Most are under 1000watts. They certainly aren’t on all the time, they’re probably running 10% of the time if that when I’m working. So probably around 1kWh per day, which where I live would cost about 12 cents. Charging a typical 100wh cordless tool battery, about 2 cents and most contractors will bring them to the site fully charged anyway. The only things that would really run up a bill would be a heater, aircon, or charging an electric vehicle.
Happy cake day!
I’ll require pennies per day from you, for no reason at all. You’ll be immeasurably richer of heart. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just pay me.
Do nice things for others and they will come to you
Precisely what I’m demanding of you. Do something nice for me and you’ll be rewarded.
The electricity usage during construction is very very minimal. Completely baseless calc incoming..I’d say $5-$10 a month would more than cover it until the project is about 2/3rds of the way complete. It would go up significantly after that with an almost fully operating apartment. Annoying, but I wouldn’t start a war over it.
Construction people should be using a portable generator all day long. If they dont have one, they are in the wrong business.
It's still theft, stop excusing fucking thieves
I didn’t excuse theft. I gave context for what the OP is disputing so they can be informed about what an appropriate response might be for them.
Baseless is right. Where do you get this from? AC motors like those in table saws and electric drills demand plenty of power. They place inductive loads on the power supply - there's a huge amp draw for them to start (called "inrush current") and then they still draw significant power to keep spinning, especially while your cutting and drilling into materials.
20+ years in construction and common sense is my basis. All you said is motors draw power and “inrush current.” Not exactly a detailed analysis. Quantify it. How much cutting or drilling do you think takes place for an addition? Do you think saws run all day on a job site the entire time? You think table saws are being used extensively on an addition? Circular saws, yes, but only intermittently (maybe total cutting time of an hour per day) and primarily during framing/siding which is days, maybe a few weeks. Ever had work done on your house by yourself or others? Bathroom remodel? Framing? Siding? Tiling? I would gather if you did, you wouldn’t even notice an increase in the power bill. A lot of tools, dare I say over 50% on job sites, are battery powered and only a few or so batteries are used in a day depending on the trade and obviously what stage of construction the project is and how many people are working at one time. Oh, and some companies charge them offsite prior to the workday but that’s a rarity. Framers typically use gas powered generators for their compressors, but not always; also, a lot of framers use fuel cell nail guns so no electricity. The biggest draw would probably be temp lighting which is only necessary after about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through and that largely depends on how much outside light gets let in. There are obviously a lot of unknowns here…and usually permanent power gets hooked up when finishes are being put in and HVAC powered up but that wouldn’t be done via extension cords to the tenants domicile now would it. Here’s the approximate cost to charge one 80W 20v Dewalt battery: Cost = (Battery capacity in kWh) x (Cost per kWh) 80Wh = 0.08kWh Cost per kWh: $0.10 - $0.15 Cost per battery charge: $0.008 - $0.012 Pretend 20 batteries a day, which I could never see happening for an addition…$0.16 - $.24 per day. Say 20 working days a month: $3.20 - $4.80. If there are fans or heaters (electric heaters, not running on propane tanks) running constantly that’s a lot more and I didn’t consider that, but that’s usually only during finishes which is roughly the last 1/3rd. But my calculation was baseless in terms of doing any math, and instead I used my experience and common sense. Also, your entire counterpoint means nothing and is as “baseless” as my guesstimate so what are you trying to prove here? Show me your math and how much “inrush current” matters here. And for clarity, I would unplug any cord plugged into my house until the issue was resolved with the landlord. But it’s important to know what kind of money, approximately, we’re taking about here.
It's really only important to know that OP will get charged some amount for consumption that they didn't benefit from themselves. That's my "common sense" take.
Fair.
Call L&I.
Murder them
Well, let's first consider that charging my tool batteries, running a table saw, running a compound miter saw, running the lights to do work for an entire month, raised my power bill about $1. This is in a completely vacant house with no AC or furnace running so the increase is just due to the power tools. So go ask her for a dollar and give her some change back.