Lloyd P. here from Independence MO. Had a new 480V service installed for a client in July and something seemed off from the first bill. Usage was showing double what we expected based on connected load. Utility installed 400:1 CTs but programmed meter for 200:1 multiplier. Anyone else seen this on new installs? Client is on Evergy Schedule LGS-TOU and we're looking at $3,200 overbilling just in the first month.
CT Ratio Wrong From Day One - 400:1 vs 200:1
Sandra P. Richmond VA. Yes we see this frequently with Dominion Energy new commercial installs. The field crew installs one CT ratio but the programming department uses a different multiplier in their AMI system. Always verify the nameplate on the CTs against what shows on your first bill. Did you get photos of the CT installation?
Randy Dawson here. This is exactly why we always recommend documenting CT ratios with photos during installation and requesting the first bill calculation worksheet from the utility. Lloyd, you'll want to file a formal meter test request with Evergy and document everything. The utility should provide historical billing adjustment back to service start date. Make sure to get the CT nameplates photographed and compare against the meter programming. What's the actual connected load on this service?
Randy, connected load is about 285 kW. Bills are showing peak demand around 580 kW which made no sense. I did get photos of the CTs and they clearly show 400:1 on the nameplate. Evergy is being difficult about admitting the error. They want to charge for the meter test even though it's obviously their programming mistake.
Jan K. Spokane WA. Avista pulled the same thing on us last year. New service, wrong multiplier from day one. Took three months and a formal complaint to the utilities commission to get them to waive the meter test fee and provide the refund. Document everything and don't back down. The math doesn't lie.
Tom B. Rochester NY. Lloyd, are you seeing the CT ratio error on all three phases? Sometimes they install mixed ratios by mistake. Also check if the meter is reading primary or secondary voltage. RG&E did that to us once - had the voltage multiplier wrong too. Turned a 2x billing error into a 4x error.
Tom, all three CTs are 400:1 and voltage looks correct at 480V. This is purely a multiplier programming error in their AMI system. Finally got Evergy to send a tech out next week to verify the installation. Hoping they'll admit the mistake and fix the billing retroactively. Will update after the test.
Gary T. Knoxville TN. Had KUB do the exact same thing on a new restaurant. 300:1 CTs programmed as 150:1 multiplier. Took two months to get it corrected. The key is getting them to put the error in writing. Once they admit the mistake the historical adjustment follows pretty quick. Good luck Lloyd.