A residential customer who has not added a new electric-powered appliance at home may be surprised if his or her power consumption reads higher than before. The customer’s first impulse is to think that the meter reader made a mistake. Errors in meter reading can happen, but very rarely. Usually, higher energy consumption is traceable to other causes, which the customer is not aware of or has overlooked. The culprit behind a high-consumption meter-reading is often any or a combination of the following:

1. An increase in the number of users and/or frequency of use of some types of appliances, particularly electric irons, electric stoves or ovens, air conditioners and refrigerators. As the household gets bigger, hosts more guests or celebrates more occasions, the use of these appliances tends to increase.


2. Longer usage of air conditioning units, electric fans and dehumidifiers during summer or “hot” periods caused by high humidity. During these periods, people also use their refrigerator more heavily.


3. Increase in the number of days covered by the bill. While Cotabato Light endeavors to read customers’ meters every thirty (30) days, this may be disrupted by supervening developments.


4. Seasonal factors, other than climate-related, that enable or induce more people to stay at home and make heavier or extended use of electric appliances. These periods include school breaks and vacations, the Christmas season, the fasting month of Ramadhan, holidays, and other festivities. And occasions such as family reunions.


5. Additional appliances acquired. The customer himself or herself may not have purchased an additional appliance, but another member of the household may have acquired one or more.


6. Replacement of light bulbs or lamps with others of higher wattage.


7. Defective magnetic rubber gasket of refrigerator. If this gasket is no longer airtight, it allows cold air to escape from the refrigerator, forcing the compressor (the refrigerator’s motor) to work harder to maintain temperature at the desired setting.


8. Reduced efficiency of appliances. Old-model appliances are often less energy-efficient than newer models. But even late-model appliances suffer from wear and tear over time, making them less energy-efficient, too. Regular cleaning and maintenance of appliances will extend their lifetime as well as energy efficiency.


9. Defective automatic control for electric water pumps and similar gadgets.