Faulty Wiring, Mixed Wires? My Bill Is Too High!

I knew someone who became a house flipper and he came across a house that had one outlet wired to another house behind the property.
He was working on the house and was sure he had ALL the power turned off but that one outlet still had power.
He called in an electrician who followed the wire - and at some point the guy said "Ok, this is off the clock. I just want to find where this thing is going" and it went across the back yard to another house.
The properties were 30+ years old.
The only thing they could think of was someone at some point had family living in the 2 houses and one was helping the other with the bills.
After properties were sold everyone forgot about it.
At any rate they cut and capped that wire and rewired that outlet properly.

I don't know how old your rented duplex is but sometimes strange things can happen with wiring.
I don't know how motivated your landlord is to finding/fixing the problem.
He should have an electrician go over all the wiring - and he might not want to spend the money to do that.
You might have to move.

Do you have separate meters?

That doesn't make a lot of sense. We lived in a townhouse and that never happened.

We've lived in flats and that never happened.

Very odd.

ETA:

I just talked talked to my husband - and he said if something the other family is doing is affecting you, then yes, there is a problem. That shouldn't be happening - you are correct.

Here is a simple test he said. Go and turn off everything - every fan, your fridge, everything that could use power - in your unit. Go and look at the meter outside. If it is spinning - then something is drawing power. There's your answer.

Either way - talk to your landlord (if you are renting). That should not be happening (what you describe in your question).

I’m with Margie G. If meter is spinning when everything off, call electric company to come look at box etc.

Electric companies provide a lot of free services to help reduce waste. Call and see what you are entitled to, and show the sudden surge in your kilowatt hours. There may also be independent companies who will come out and do a free survey, replace thermostats, put in low wattage bulbs, etc. Our electric company recommended someone (and then they call and check up on the work too).

Do you own the home? Do the other people? Or do you have a separate landlord? Someone should pay for an electrician. If there's a sudden change in the electric usage, you either have a problem which the homeowner should pay for (it's not only not fair, it might not be safe), or the other people have figured out a way to use your meter to reduce their own bills (which is not only wrong, it could be dangerous if circuits are overloaded or if an amateur messed with the wiring.

Start with the electric company, and go from there.

I have a 2 flat. We live on the first floor and relatives live upstairs. We have separate breaker boxes and separate electric meters. BUT the kitchen outlets on the second floor are wired to the first floor. As is the back porch outlet, though the second floor porch lights are wired to the second floor box. The older the building the greater the chance this is the case. You should have a main breaker on your box. It is bigger than the others (may like a double switch). this will cut the power to your box. Then you can check the meter to see if it is still increasing. If it is, then something on the 2nd floor is connected. Just because they did not complain, doesn't mean it isn't on your circuit. It may take 20 minutes to really see if it a change in the meter, especially if you have a smart meter.

have you bothered to ask the electric company to come out and do an inspection and find ways to help you save money?

That's the first place I'd go to if I didn't want to hire an electrician to come out and look to see if things are being switched.

if you share a basement, it's possible things could be happening when you aren't home. I don't know. Maybe find a nanny-cam and put it some where discretely in the basement to see if they are doing something with the electricity.