Electricity meter readings are 20x higher than average and I don't know why

Qyburn

Nothing installed in the house can change the supply frequency, or phase for the matter. Trying to do so would effectively be shorting out the grid. This is why getting a generator synchronised is such a big deal. 

You can screw up the power factor, but domestic meters aren't affected by that, they record kWh. (Possibly they may also record kVAh and kVArh, but these aren't used for billing)

brianposter

Qyburn said:

Nothing installed in the house can change the supply frequency, or phase for the matter. Trying to do so would effectively be shorting out the grid. This is why getting a generator synchronised is such a big deal. 

You can screw up the power factor, but domestic meters aren't affected by that, they record kWh. (Possibly they may also record kVAh and kVArh, but these aren't used for billing)

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/chpt-11/power-resistive-reactive-ac-circuits/

Apologies for being unable to find anything more comprehensible.

I think you mean that domestic meters are not supposed to be affected.

Qyburn

brianposter said:

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/chpt-11/power-resistive-reactive-ac-circuits/

No problem, that's perfectly readable. But it's talking about power factor which everyone knows is affected by what's running locally.