California Man Discovers 18-Year Billing Error

Ken Wilson, a resident of Vacaville, California, discovered he had been mistakenly paying his neighbor's electricity bill for nearly 18 years, a charge linked to the wrong meter since 2009. Concerned about his rising utility costs, Wilson attempted to monitor his own usage and sought assistance from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), which confirmed the billing error after he reported the issue. PG&E acknowledged the mistake, apologizing for the oversight and credited Wilson $600 for the overcharges. The utility company has since fixed the billing issue, ensuring Wilson will only pay for his own usage moving forward. PG&E also urged other customers to verify their meter IDs to prevent similar situations. Wilson hopes his experience will raise awareness among others who may be in a similar predicament.