Complain about a product or service

Massachusetts Electric

Joanna of Melrose MA writes (1/25/02):
My electric KWH use tripled in the month of January of 2001. I purchased the house on October 31, 2000. The first bill seemed high when compared to the apartment I moved from, but nothing compared to the following months (December and January). My house has gas heat, gas stove, gas water heaters, not sure what else to say.

Mass Electric sent me a grid which the highest usage with everything running for a full month was less than my bill. Which included air conditioning and other items which are rarely used and definetly not in the winter.

I received the runaround for the last year, which I have been disputing the bill, first I needed an energy audit, they came to do the audit and said you have gas heat, can't audit we are the electic company. Then I was told they needed to run a test, they came into the house put a voltage meter on the panel in my basement. Then I was told a voltage meter doesn't tell anything to do with whether the meter is running fast or slow (All from the company's personnel).

I requested a test on the actual meter, they finally agreed since they had to replace the meter for the automated one. The funny thing about this is they sent me a letter saying the meter tested fine, but they also stated that the meter was tested at my house on 10/26/01. They actually removed the meter on 10/01/01 so I think it's odd they came and performed a test on a meter which no longer existed at the address.

I've been in constant contact with them, I've had the previous owner's bills pulled and the useage was significantly less than the bills I received for December and January. Since the new meter has been installed my useage is at normal amounts. Comparing November 2000 to November 2001 the amounts are nearly the same, when comparing December 2000 to December 2001, there is a significant difference, 2000's bill is over 326 KHW more, which is almost a summer's month of electricity.

Also please note that in 2001 I had holiday lights strung around my house for over half of the month of December, in 2000 I did not. I was told various stories and reasons which never offered any solutions. I contacted the Public Utilities Consumer Division today and they said there wasn't anything I could do since it has been almost a year. Unfortunately I was trying to work with Mass Electric and now I lost all other options.

My loss is in excess of $400, I've had extreme stress dealing with them for almost a year. My elderly mother lives with me and this has take a severe toll on her. I have no options, since it is a utility company I'm not allowed to pick another as if it were a phone service. I can not afford $300 and $400 electric bills.

Joanna should sue the company in Small Claims Court.

Back to the top | Utilities