i used to work for the local utility company, and we know every trick in the book, do not fuck with the meters, every meter reader has very good training in knowing what too look for, only way around your meter is stealing the power, and thats worse, the power companies love the customers with higher bills who pay on time, also with the consumption they may put you into a wholesale usage type with a demand meter, which is not good when your residential, the thought process is they know what a house that size uses per month and you are either doing some kind of commercial veture from home (where they come in and give a new meter) or you have an illegal apartment, inwhich they would want you to add another service....9k in a garage is not cool, im not trying to hate on you brother, but way too suspect $1000/mo...get your usage to $500/mo and you will be able to sleep at night