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Rolly / Moderator

Jan 10, 2007, 12:38 PM

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A question about power

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The problem: As many of you know, I live in a casita behind the house of my friend Enrique. Since CFE caught him stealing power with a shunt across the meter (I had nothing to do with that; it predates me), the power bill has shot through the roof. One meter serving two houses with 6 people. Our thought is to add a second meter for my little house so each house could pay its own bill. BUT a new city rule says a casita behind the main house must have its own tax number if it has its own meter. Enrique doesn't what to do that. (Why not is unimportant for the question.) The CFE jefe suggested we change to a 240V service with each house taking one leg, but that would not yield separate bills.

The question: Would X number of kWhs cost less on a 240v meter than on a 120V meter? At first glance, the answer would appear to be No, but the tariffs may support the idea. Does anyone know?

Rolly Pirate

Ron Pickering W3FJW

Jan 10, 2007, 1:15 PM

Post #2 of 10 (3346 views)

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Re: [Rolly] A question about power

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Power wise Rolly, the consumption would be the same. Don't know about the tariffs. There will be unbalanced neutral currents but that should have no practical effect as far as you're concerned.
Getting older and still not down here.

shoe

Jan 11, 2007, 4:18 AM

Post #3 of 10 (3311 views)

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Re: [Rolly] A question about power

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Just put in a meter in for the casita after the main meter. Some rewiring might have to be done. Then you will know how much electricity the casita used and do a little math to figure out what portion of the bill is connected with the casita's use. Not a big problem to do this.

shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Rolly / Moderator

Jan 11, 2007, 5:57 AM

Post #4 of 10 (3304 views)

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Re: [shoe] A question about power

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1. Where would I get a meter? Anyway, dividing the bill is not the issue.

2. One of the main reasons for a second meter is the hope of avoiding the DAC charges that come with a high usage.

Rolly Pirate

sparks

Jan 11, 2007, 7:09 AM

Post #5 of 10 (3298 views)

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Re: [Rolly] A question about power

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Our old landlord installed 2 more meters on his property because 2 of us had agreed to long term stays and we were using AIR over the summer.

When we got our first 3 bills mine was $1000mx more than the other 2 and I was the much more judicious user of AIR and other appliances. I suspect my reading was from the old meter that had a history of high usage. Landlord didn't see it that way even tho his meter covered the pool, grounds and 2 apartments. That was the end of the relation.

Both of us moved out a month later and he had no year round tenants

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

bournemouth

Jan 11, 2007, 7:16 AM

Post #6 of 10 (3295 views)

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Re: [Rolly] A question about power

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We have been waiting for 2 new meters to be installed by CFE for around 6 months now. The basic work has been done by our builder and the contracts are signed. Our neighbors have been waiting for more than a year for a replacement meter - the local CFE says they have no meters! It's really hard to believe that story.

So Rolly - finding another meter might be really difficult.

thriftqueen

Jan 11, 2007, 9:14 AM

Post #7 of 10 (3281 views)

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Re: [Rolly] A question about power

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BUT a new city rule says a casita behind the main house must have its own tax number if it has its own meter.

Rules are made to be broken. As we all know the city has this rule to avoid homeowners renting out casitas without a tax number to avoid paying taxes on the rental money. I would hie myself down to the CFE and throw myself on their mercy - Poor me, poor me, explaining that a friend of mine allowed me to build a small casita behind his home and that I am responsible for my own bills. Not having lots of pesos to throw around frivolously, please, oh please won't they consider setting me a separate meter? One never knows it might get you your own meter, as we know the Mexican usually has more kindness toward the "elderly". Don't take your friend who has already sc@ed CFE with you.

Rolly / Moderator

Jan 11, 2007, 9:30 AM

Post #8 of 10 (3275 views)

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Re: [thriftqueen] A question about power

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We tried that. Even appealed to the CFE Jefe, who is a sort of friend, but no go.

Rolly Pirate

sfmacaws

Jan 11, 2007, 9:55 AM

Post #9 of 10 (3271 views)

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Re: [Rolly] A question about power

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Here's a far fetched thought, if you could get a meter (?) and install it and have the line to the pole ready and waiting, could you "convince" a CFE worker to perhaps just add the line to the pole. Then, I don't know quite how but maybe you could pretend it had always been that way (or at least present that as an option to a CFE jefe) and they would register the meter and bill it.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

patricio_lintz

Jan 13, 2007, 10:09 AM

Post #10 of 10 (3222 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] A question about power

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We speeded up installation by contacting a Mexican friend.

Most of the CFE electricians in Chapala live in the same area. She put us in contact with one. A $400 peso propina worked wonders.