South Carolina widow has relied on a $25/day generator for a year — her power was cut off over disputed $10,000 bill

Jones says she was paying around $76 a month when her husband was alive. But after receiving a bill for nearly $10,000 more than a year ago, she had to switch to relying on an expensive generator.

She adds that she’s been falsely accused of connecting jumper cables to her power box. She denies the claims and says she hasn’t received proof.

What to do if you think your electricity bill is wrong

Receiving a higher-than-expected utility bill can be surprising and frustrating, especially when it exceeds more than your planned budget.

If you receive an unusually high bill, start by reviewing the details of the bill. Compare it to bills from previous months.

In some cases, energy costs in your area may have gone up for reasons unrelated to your own electricity usage. For example, many people have reported significantly higher electricity bills after new data centers were constructed in their communities.

But if the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour hasn’t gone up enough to explain the rising cost, consider how you use your electricity.

If you suspect a device in your home is using up more power than it should be — whether it’s something new you just plugged in, or an older device that might be faulty — you can use a wattage meter to measure how much electricity the device uses over time.

This device plugs into an electrical outlet, with the appliance or other device plugged into the meter. It measures how much electricity the device uses over time.

If you decide to file a complaint, start by researching the relevant consumer protection laws in your area. Knowing your rights as a consumer can help you avoid any surprises, such as having your electricity shut off while you’re disputing a bill.