Could Electric pump in Spring be Cause of High Bill?

Question

Just moved two months ago. Electric bill 4 X higher than last house. No air conditioners, new hot water tank, we have no extras. We just have the bare necessities as we are poor. Light bill was $304 for 32 days. AT this house there is a pump in the spring. Last house was gravity fed. The wire to the pump was never properly installed. The wire is not enclosed in anything, no conduit, nothing. It just goes right from the house to the spring. Most places it is buried just beneath the surface. Owner says he didn't bury it at all, it just ran atop the ground. Over the yrs it has worked its way into the ground a couple of inches itself. I would not have even known had it not been for the horses wearing the dirt away from it and finding it exposed. So my questian is this: Can I be using extra electricity because of this wire not being properly installed? Shouldn't it be enclosed in a pipe or something?

Answer 1

If the wiring is damaged in parts it could be...but as far as a well pump running up the bill... Mine costs about 20.00 a month to run and I water a large garden and yard, on top of our bath and drinking water... Before I hooked up my pump and cut off the city water..my water and sewage bill was around 150.00 a month due to so much water I need..I tallied up my electricity bill after adding this well pump..and it is normally only 15.00 to 20.00 a month more than my regular electricity bill...a savings of 130 a month on the prior water and sewage

Answer 2

Yes if not UF rated it should be in conduit.If UF then should be 24" in ground.And you could have a high resistance gnd if the insulation is broken(not to mention safety issue) which could raise your bill.However a full time pump will cost at least an extra $100 a month over not having one

Answer 3

The wire not being properly installed is a shock hazard or fire hazard, but is not causing the bill to be higher.

All the things that run cause the bill to be higher.  Well pumps, whole house fans and high wattage lights are the big things to turn off if you can.