California Man Discovers Decades-Long Utility Billing Error

A California man, Ken Wilson, learned he had been paying his neighbor’s power bill for as long as 18 years, abc7 reported. Wilson, who has resided in his apartment since 2006, reported that he noticed a sudden increase in his Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) bill, prompting him to take measures to reduce his energy usage. Despite his efforts, the bill continued to climb, leading him to contact PG&E to investigate the issue.

Wilson initially suspected a leak, theft, or a faulty meter. Upon examining his meter, a utility company employee discovered that Wilson had been billed for the electricity usage of the next-door unit instead of his own. This error potentially spanned the entirety of the 18 years Wilson had lived in the apartment.

"Even after I turned off my breakers, I kept going outside to check my meter to see if it was still running, and it was still running. And I couldn't believe it," Wilson explained to CBS Sacramento.

PG&E issued a statement acknowledging the mistake and pledged to rectify the situation entirely to Wilson's satisfaction. They did not specify exactly how they planned to do this. Notably, while this might be a rare occurrence, it is recommended that consumers double-check the meter ID number on their monthly bill to ensure accuracy.

Earlier, SSP wrote that mum was disturbed by babysitter's irresponsible behavior.