Is it possible for someone to use my electricity if I live in an apartment?

I live in an apartment where they are currently remodeling other units in our building. The workers are using high voltage power tools, and the power went off in our unit, so an electrician had to come over and turn it on (and said they blew our fuse). Does this mean the workers are hooking their tools up to our power and we're paying for the electricity? I don't know anything about electric wiring, but this seems a little suspicious.

Based on kokopelli's response, how would I prove this to the electric company? Can they come out and look at my wiring? The workers here don't seem very skilled and I'm worried this will happen again. I don't know if my landlord will tell them to stop. thanks!

Yes, if they blew your fuse then they are using electricty that is on your meter, no other possibility. The next time they are working, try turning off your electricty and see if anyone comes back over to turn it on again. That will be proof that they are using your electricity and that is theft.

I know of someone who lived in a penthouse apartment in New York City and discovered that the hall light outside his unit was running off his meter. He complained and got something like a $10,000 refund from Con Edison because he had been living there for decades.

It could be your electricty has been used by someone else for a long time, and it took this incident to reveal it.

There were a lot of good answers, but none of them included this: ask the construction workers where they plugged their tools in?! If the outlet is in another apartment, or in a common area, serious problem! Time to organize the tenants in other units, to find out if other cross-wiring exists. Report Abuse

yep, if the power hasn,t been split,
how many Elect meters are on the unit?
if only 1 then there useing your elect,
or they may have triped the main breaker,

I am A paint contractor and many times have I had to borrow electricity from other peoples outside outlets..usually on apartments there will be one outside by each door...But within respect..I always ask the person living in the unit to use it first and offer 5 dollars a day to do so...People really appreciate this and usually let you use it anyway just for asking..that is unless your running mukltiple tools and constantly all day...I do the same when I have to use others water etc...You can find the name of thier company and call the office..and request some sort of payment if they continue using it...If not simply take a picture of thier cords in your outlets..better yet..I would request they dont use it no more if they are throwing breakers..especially iof your one to go away a couple days at a time...inform thier office that it has thrown breakers and an electrician was called..if you had to pay for that service call make them reimburse the cost and instruct them they could be paying for food and all if it throws breakers again

Kokopelli's answer is right on. In regards to your extra question about the electric company, they likely won't come out and check anything. As long as SOMEONE is paying for the electricity they don't give a damn. Your landlord will likely blow sunshine up your nose and tell you all is well.....bullcrap !! The way to deal with this is to find the breaker in your panel that they are tripping and shut if OFF ! When they come to reset it say 'No Thank You ! " If it runs anything important use an extension cord to plug into a different live plug. If it runs your entire unit then let it trip off, when they come to reset it tell them to show you which breaker they are switching ON. When they leave go back and turn it OFF. Your freezer and refrigerator are good for about 4 or 5 hours but no construction company can afford to wait 4 hours so they will either be pounding on your door OR find a different place to tie in for their power. If they come to your door tell them you want them to pay for the electricity they are using before you will turn it back on, and make the amount high !! $ 500 a week or get lost !!
Your landlord must be a crook....imho.

Since they said they blew a fuse in your panel then they most defiantly are using your power. If you are metered independently then this is considered "theft of service" either the a using a receptacle outside or have tapped into a wire some were. I would recommend asking them or speaking to the landlord about it. I wouldn't just go turning breakers on and off this could result in someone getting seriously hurt or killed. Again this is Oniy going to cost you if you pay for electric separately.

sure sounds like it !
Next time you see them,shut off your power for a few minutes and see what they do ;)

Yes, and if they blow your fuse while you are away, you will have a nasty fridge and deep freeze when you get home. Cut them off.

sure,they just either go through the wall or an attic and tye into your juice

So many good answers. Here is another approach. When you turn the breaker (that had to be switched back on) what else in your home went off? If nothing did you are in a good position to leave it off so they can't use it. Construction workers will likely use an outlet that is on the outside. And this can be on an upper deck. If you can leave it off that solves the problem. If they come back insist on compensation to let them use it. If not let them use someone elses.

Apt buildings do this all the time and it is wrong. They will tap off the closest panel for power for hallway outlets that are required or lights. They should have a seperate panel that is metered that the landlord pays.

They are trying to cut costs and corners. You can call the local housing authority to resolve this. Or call the city lighting/ electrical office. But I would first say something to the landlord and contractor, esp. an electrician. They put in temporary panels for this.

I have also seen where the landlord lives in the same building and wired it so other people pay for their heating , cooling, hot water and various other dirty tricks.

It is theft and should be reported.

I agree with kokopell 100%