Q: A colleague owns half a duplex, and her electric breaker box is on her neighbor’s property. She discovered he was tapped into some circuits from her power box, and Xcel Energy says it can’t help. Is this possible? What can she do? — Tia Nelson
A: This isn’t as odd a question as it seems. I once lived in a triplex townhouse, and one of its occupants was tapped into my electric box.
The main difference, though, was that electricity was included in my rent. Your friend’s case is clearly different in that she owns her half of the duplex and, more than likely, has her own electric bill.
What Xcel told you is correct. The utility’s liability and work actually stops at the meter, much like the telephone company’s stops at the box attached to the house.
I’m not sure how your colleague could tell the neighbor is tapped into her breaker box, but she needs a qualified licensed electrician to take a look.
The box should be located in a place accessible to her, not her neighbor.
Unfortunately, the fix is not likely to be inexpensive as the wires will have to be rerouted to her side of the duplex. Box locations are determined by the builder — or remodeler if it was a single-family home converted into two.
Either way, her neighbor should not be tapped into her breaker box. First thing’s first: She needs a lock to ensure he’s disconnected and can’t reconnect into her circuit panel.
Next, she needs to contact authorities if she wants to press theft charges. The electrician should write down everything found.
David Migoya wants to get the answers to your consumer questions. E-mail consumertips@ denverpost.com or write to Consumer Shopping Bag, The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202.
