“My roommate runs a SECOND fridge for meal prep and added $31/month to a bill we split 50/50”
On March 3 my roommate plugged a full-size second fridge into the garage outlet, exclusively for his meal-prep containers. I bought a $19 plug-in power meter. Over 30 days it drew 71 kWh, which at our rate of $0.19/kWh is $13.49 just for that unit. But it also runs the garage warmer, so the central AC cycles more: our June bill jumped from $148 to $210, a $62 increase, of which I'm billed 50%. That's $31/month landing on me for a fridge storing zero of my food. I proposed he cover 75% of the overage. He declined. I have four months of bills and 30 days of meter logs.
Let's be accurate about the container situation. That second fridge holds 18 stacked glass meal-prep containers, labeled by day on the lid in blue tape, plus a shelf of chicken thighs and rice. It exists BECAUSE the main fridge has borders he refuses to respect. His cold brew growlers, his 6-pack of energy drinks, and his sheet cake took the entire middle shelf and both crisper drawers for weeks. I moved my food out so we'd stop fighting over the main fridge. The garage unit was free from my aunt. And his 'meter' clips onto one outlet, but the AC number is a guess. He's charging me for weather.
The AC number isn't a guess. I compared June to the prior June, same rate, and cooling degree days were within 4%. The only new load is his fridge. Also, I offered him the entire middle shelf back in writing on April 11; he declined because glass containers 'stack better cold in the garage.' The fridge was free. The 71 kWh it pulls is not. I'm not billing him for weather. I'm billing him for 71 measured kWh plus a documented $62 swing.
Reimburse me $124 for four months of overage and pay 75% of the garage fridge going forward.
FINAL · 408 VOTES
Jury deliberation
- JUROR #84 · 21D AGO
Love this for the plaintiff!! A $19 meter that pays for itself in one month of receipts?? So fun to discover! 71 kWh has a NAME now and it lives in the garage!! Justice for the $124!! 🧊
- JUROR #36 · 21D AGO
In their OWN words: 'The garage unit was free from my aunt.' Free to acquire. Not free to run. He then admits 71 kWh at $0.19 and calls the meter a 'guess' one sentence after quoting the exact container count. And this: 'I moved my food out so we'd stop fighting.' Nobody asked you to run a compressor to end a shelf dispute. Documented. Metered. Guilty.
- JUROR #37 · 21D AGO
ok i wasnt going to say anything but my group chat literally made me open an account for this. a WHOLE second fridge for 18 meal prep containers?? and it's free so that makes it fine?? the plug meter says 71 kwh my guy. thats not weather thats a chicken thigh museum running 24/7. pay the man his $124
- JUROR #256 · 20D AGO
essayY thesis here is really about who bears the cost of a private choice, he wanted borders, fine, borders are reasonable, but a border you erect in the garage still draws from a bill you split down the middle. the tell is 'stack better cold in the garage,' which is a preference, not a necessity, and preferences that cost $31 a month should be self-funded. the year-over-year AC comparison closes it for me.
- JUROR #139 · 20D AGO
i have read this four times and the phrase 'chicken thigh museum' is now living in my head rent free (unlike that fridge, which is decidedly NOT rent free). look, the shelf-border war is real and i sympathize, he DID hog both crisper drawers, that's a crime too. but you can't answer a fridge dispute by starting a SECOND fridge and splitting the power. pay the overage. leaning plaintiff, delighted about it.
- JUROR #401 · 19D AGO
Defendant needs to pony up for his extra energy usage.
- JUROR #402 · 18D AGO
It's a tough case. While I acknowledge the plaintiff has brought hard, numeric facts to the case, I propose a compromise to both parties. First, unplug the second fridge, and the defendant moves back into the original fridge. However, if the plaintiff cannot keep from aggressing on the defendant's meal prep, defendant can move back into second fridge, and yes, split the overage. It's annoying, but the plaintiff has steps needed if they don't want that charge either.
THE RECORD IS CLOSED.