In what could be the longest accidental act of generosity in history, California resident Ken Wilson has been unknowingly paying his neighbor’s electricity bill for 18 years. It all started when PG&E mixed up the apartment meters back in 2006. Ken, thinking his energy consumption was out of control, tried everything—turning off lights, unplugging gadgets, and probably considering a hamster wheel-powered TV. Meanwhile, his neighbor, living like royalty, had no idea they were being treated to an 18-year-long electricity-free joyride. Now that the mix-up’s revealed, Ken’s probably wondering if he should start asking for back-pay rent—or at least an invite to his neighbor’s next party.
PG&E has promised to fix the situation, but unfortunately, there’s no refund on 18 years of frustration. Ken’s only solace might be that at least now he knows it wasn’t his toaster binge-watching shows behind his back.
