File a utility complaint about low voltage with Claude

Posted

Sep 2, 2026 by Jgrubb (Hacker News)

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Last checked

Oct 16, 2026

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Method:

How we verify

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Outcome

A Hacker News commenter who had circuit-level power monitoring set up at home was analyzing bills when he mentioned voltage problems to Claude. He says it put together a packet documenting brownouts down to 95v and routine dips below 110v, and helped him fill out a Board of Public Utilities complaint form. Two days later the utility, JCP&L, called; he says he still needs to call back to ask for a larger transformer.

Agent

Claude

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.

Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so.

Goal: Build a clear, evidence-based complaint to my utility or regulator, and work out the right place to file it.

What I'll share as we go:
- The problem and how long it's been happening
- Any data: meter or monitor readings, outage times, photos, bills
- Contacts with the utility so far, with dates and reference numbers
- My state or region

Safety first: if this involves gas, the electrical panel or mains wiring, structural work, or anything that smells of burning or gas, stop and tell me to call a licensed professional.

Rules:
- Summarize my data into a short evidence table (dates, readings, what's normal) without exaggerating.
- Explain the usual order: utility complaint first, then the state utility regulator, and find the official complaint form.
- Help me fill in the form fields with facts; I'll submit it myself.
- Don't suggest I open or modify my electrical panel or meter; that's for a licensed electrician or the utility.
- If a site asks for a login, a CAPTCHA or payment details, stop and hand control back to me.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.

Output: An evidence summary, the filled-in complaint text, and a list of what to ask for when the utility calls.

You'll know it worked when: the complaint is filed with the right body and the utility contacts me with a plan.

Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so.

Goal: Build a clear, evidence-based complaint to my utility or regulator, and work out the right place to file it.

What I'll share as we go:
- The problem and how long it's been happening
- Any data: meter or monitor readings, outage times, photos, bills
- Contacts with the utility so far, with dates and reference numbers
- My state or region

Safety first: if this involves gas, the electrical panel or mains wiring, structural work, or anything that smells of burning or gas, stop and tell me to call a licensed professional.

Rules:
- Summarize my data into a short evidence table (dates, readings, what's normal) without exaggerating.
- Explain the usual order: utility complaint first, then the state utility regulator, and find the official complaint form.
- Help me fill in the form fields with facts; I'll submit it myself.
- Don't suggest I open or modify my electrical panel or meter; that's for a licensed electrician or the utility.
- If a site asks for a login, a CAPTCHA or payment details, stop and hand control back to me.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.
- Draft notes for the phone call with the utility, including the fix I'm asking for.

Output: An evidence summary, the filled-in complaint text, and a list of what to ask for when the utility calls.

You'll know it worked when: the complaint is filed with the right body and the utility contacts me with a plan.

Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.

Source

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49535164