If the results of the meter monitoring chart show that your daily electrical use has doubled for no apparent reason and you have ruled out lifestyle considerations and other unusual uses, you can use the following procedure to locate sources of trouble with the aid of your electric meter.

STEP ONE • Stop your electric meter

Turn off the main disconnect. The disk in the electric meter only turns if electricity is being used. Therefore, the meter should have stopped. If the disk is still turning, check to see that the water pump is turned off at its own fuse box. Sometimes the water pump is wired ahead of the main disconnect for fire protection.

Now that the meter has stopped, you can proceed with trouble-shooting. The idea is to energize as much of your electrical wiring system as possible, one circuit at a time, and still have a stopped meter disk.

STEP TWO • Check the wiring to each building

Turn off the main fuse or breaker in all buildings. Then turn on the main disconnect. If the meter disk is still stopped, this tells you all wiring from the main disconnect to each building main fuse or breaker is OK.

STEP THREE • Pinpoint the problem

Proceed with each individual building by unplugging or turning off everything that could use electricity. Then turn on that building's electrical box or breaker. To further pinpoint possible trouble, turn on each main fuse or circuit breaker in each building, one at a time.

Continue this process until one of two things happens – if the meter disk is stopped, you're OK. But if the disk is turning and the appliances are off, you've discovered a source of trouble.

Common sources of trouble include electrical faults in wiring systems that are usually due to physical damage, moisture and dirt, or improper connections.

Sometimes you'll find equipment using electricity that you thought was turned off. It could be a stock waterer, thermostat, or basement and attic lights.

If you don't find any problems, your utility company has test meters available to record the electrical consumption of whatever is plugged into them. By comparing your recorded use with that of our list for farm and home appliances and equipment, you can determine whether that equipment is using an unusually high amount of electricity.

However, if all methods fail, contact your electrician or seek proper advice from your utility company.