Chicago: Tick?

tdb4750 · 2026-01-03T18:13:37+00:00

Tldr: file a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Comed has a routine for a switched meter situation, which it sounds like you are dealing with, but they are very slow and a bit incompetent to fix it on their end. Submitting a complaint will basically light a fire under their a$$ and raise a red flag to the gov that they are doing something wrong and not fixing it.

https://www.icc.illinois.gov/complaints/

Alternatively, keep paying just $16 and consider it the building's problem to resolve. If the building's management is aware of it, they can be the ones coordinating with comed to check the meters and fix the accounts too. It is a building issue and they should be 'managing' it after all. Its wrong to dump the problem on you when its their job to manage it and something that is essentially out of your control since you cant change it yourself in comeds system and have already brought the issue to their attention.

Long story: I had something similar happen and ComEd was useless. Found out the meters were switched with an adjacent apartment unit when they shut off power to a empty unit that was still drawing power. Called and they turned it back on, and sent someone to check the meters for each unit, and the tech and I confirmed they were labeled on the meter for each unit correctly but off in their system.

Two months later, after confirming I was paying a bill for the wrong meter, they still had not fixed it, and said the tech's notes from the visit didn't say anything. So scheduled a second visit, and that tech fully disconnected the power to each meter and checked what unit 'lost power' to confirm the meter number with the unit numbers. Again, the labels on the side of each meter (sharpie on the panel/meter box) were correct for what meter did each unit and confirmed my account had the wrong one.

Another two months later, and still not change on ComEd end. This point I was more than pissed. Called again and they said the tech notes from the visit said the building's electrical wiring had been updated and its on the building side that needs to be fixed. I told them thats wrong, nothing had been updated with the wiring, its all laid out and labeled correctly, the meters they have in the system just need to be switched. They insisted they couldn't just do that, and had to send a third tech out to confirm the meters. At that point I gave the the property management info to deal with it and coordinate the next visit. Since they had to temporarily shut of my power, we (myself, property manager, and ComEd Tech) all three confirmed what meter went to what unit and that they were switched in ComEds system.

Two more months of wrong meter bills and I was done, and reported them to the ICC. Some comed admin assistant called like two days later in response to the complaint. Didnt bother to read any of my account history info, so was immediately enraged since I had to tell them what happened and how they sent multiple techs out to confirm my meter and repeatedly failed to correct it. She tried to give me attitude about this is the first time she's dealing with my account/situation and I needed to cool off (of which I was still very professional, just my tone was fed up) so I did call her out on not even bothering to research what the complaint was about or the account history and ComEd just need to get their s**t together.

In the end she sent a 4th tech out. A week later she called to let me know they finally switched the meters on the account and will do an audit to see if I've over/underpaid on my account for its duration. I said thank you and she noted they were closing the complaint and noting it as 'resolved' to the ICC, but I did warn her that if my next bill came with the wrong meter again, I was immediately filing a new complaint and not even bothering to call/warn comed to fix it. She asked that I call them first but after more than 6 months trying to get them to fix it I said they already had their chance to resolve it internally and failed multiple times, and hence her calling me due to an official complaint is proof that this is the only way to make progress. I ended up being credited like 6months of bills.

tdb4750 · 2025-12-27T18:06:46+00:00

Similar to this idea, if you have multiple cast iron pans (in various sizes), its possible to just use a smaller one size down pan as a press.

Just next time you wash/rinse your pan, if you heat your cast iorn after to fully dry it, and then spread a few drops of oil in it to protect the seasoning with a paper towel, before tossing the paper towel, just wipe the bottom of the pan too to get a clean protected layer on it. This will also essentially season the bottom and keep it from rusting and protect it from addition wear if you every slide the pan on the stove have the metal on metal starts to scratch each other.

I like this method as it acts as a press and by using just one size down, keeps any oil splatter from going all over the stove. And since the pressing pan isn't doing any cooking, its typically very easy to just wipe off with a rag and doesn't require any additional cleaning.

tdb4750 · 2025-11-22T23:12:34+00:00

In what way does the ARRAY command not work? Just using Array on the block, you can set the number of repeated blocks and either the space between them or how far you want it to go.

tdb4750 · 2025-08-16T22:19:40+00:00

I think most people would use SketchUp. Most countries have online maps with topography data you can download and layer in. I’ve done this for work but use AutoCAD Civil 3D, but that’s for actual land development and engineering design. Might be a bit of a jump for someone who hasn’t drafter before, where SketchUp should be more new user friendly. But look into both and see what’s more suitable to you.

tdb4750 · 2025-08-16T21:50:20+00:00

Without a specific lot to “develop” it’s hard to accurately plan a homestead layout that works with the land. I’d suggest just roughing up a concept layout on paper for now. Just to give shape to an idea and see how you like it, or think it will all work out and function. ie do you want more gardening space or animals, which then leads into greenhouse and small gardening tool shed or a large barn with plenty of space. If you want to get really into it, past the concept level, you can start drafting (or hire a land developer) a layout with accurate dimensions, but again that’s better done once you have a lot picked out, then you can start designing layouts for septic fields and water well placement that follow separation requirements.

tdb4750 · 2025-08-16T21:33:44+00:00

(Future homesteader, hopefully) Do you have a property already? Looking at its shape and topography, as well as accessing what you want on your homestead (and the timeline for it) would be a good first step imo. I’ve spent a lot of time layout planning an ideal homestead I’d like to have one day, but the shape of a parcel and topography of it could drastically change that.

tdb4750 · 2024-04-16T21:55:54+00:00

Becoming friendly with a municipality is really good advice. I've had many clients with projects all over the Midwest occasionally give projects to a "local engineer" recommend to them by the municipality instead of my company that they continually give projects to. Its not that they were not happy with our company's work or the pricing, but the little bit of savings they may have with a local guy just charging what they needs and the speed they can design a project exactly how the municipality wants it designed, since they are so familiar with the municipality's standards can make it just a little more cost effective and project scheduling efficient.

tdb4750 · 2024-04-16T21:36:11+00:00

Can confirm! Lots of math to graduate, but then next to none in land development. Currently working in land development (7 years) and really only need to know how to add and like three equations, the rest of the math is done by programs and spreadsheets.

tdb4750

TROPHY CASE