Power consumption and suspicion from the electric company/law

[KifThief]

How much power use will raise eyebrows? I plan on running 2600w in a 5x10x7 tent, in the basement of a house with 2 storys and an attic above it. Will I need to worry about investigation on my power use?

 

[myiqis55]

2600w shouldnt draw any suspicion. but it is all based on your consumption compared to your neighbors. if your house is similar in sized as those in your neighborhood you should be good, just watch your power use elsewhere in the house

 

[KifThief]

Awesome thanks!

 

[WelderDan]

The power company doesn't care, as long as you pay the bill.

That said, it really depends on where you live. Around here there are a lot of older homes with little insulation and no central A/C, lots of folks have pools etc., so high power bills are the norm, so high power usage isn't a good indicator.

Smell is probably a bigger concern for most.

 

[im me]

Welder dans got it right and 2600 watts wont draw unwanted attention id say clear for.take off have fun

 

[myiqis55]

The power company doesn't care, as long as you pay the bill.

not always true

 

[Desert Hydro]

here in the desert we have some shitty bill whether we grow or not. bad insulation in older homes, pools, AC on all the time, heaters in the winter since we're used to it being 115 in the summer lol. i wouldnt expect 2600w to raise too much suspicion. thats about what i run but i dont use my central heater in the winter. my water heater is from the late 80's and im pretty sure the majority of my bill comes from it lol.

 

[Desert Hydro]

oh and im switching over to LED slowly i think. ive been impressed with some of the results ive seen thus far. im starting a 2x4 tent to test out some nice units and if they do well i will slowly transition over and cut my usage even more and my heat output will drastically go down

 

[tenthirty]

Right now in our part of the world, I need the HID for heat.

 

[Rotti By Nature]

You should be good to go usuing a 2600w. As long as you pay your power bill no eyebrows should be raised.

 

[mojave green]

power company sent me email sayin i was using 300% more electricty than last year at this time.
no shit!
lol

 

[fatigues]

Power bills can raise suspicion and can be flagged for grow op activity.

You are probably okay but you have raised a flag. To pretend you have not is being reckless. You have. That's not enough in and of itself, but it's a flag.

New electric baseboards, perhaps a great one is an electric heated water tank for a Jacuzzi, etc.. Have your story straight so you can be glib about it if asked over the phone or at your door.

Whatever the case, don't be caught stammering.

 

[mitygrows]

it all depends if you're in California and on care PG&E have sent out letters to all care customers stating their over their baseline use trust me I know I was one of those customers at the time I was running six thousand plus a 3600 BTU mini split I cut down to only four lights and the AC and am now in there percentile range be safe don't go overboard