OT: Utility companies and estimated readings

Over the last few weeks I've received UK electric, gas and water bills for the period of time I was in lockdown in France. Fair enough, the utility companies didn't know that the house was empty and meter readers were probably furloughed so the bills are based on estimated readings. But as I've observed on a number of occasions over the last few years, the estimated readings all represent a theoretical increase in my usage, in one case by 67%. How can they possibly justify that estimation? Wouldn't a more reasonable approach be to estimate that I've used the same amount as I did at this time last year? They've even written to me saying that my usage has gone up and offering me tips on how to be more energy efficient. For a house where the gas and water were turned off for the entire period covered by the bill. I'm sure it's standard practice for them to improve their short-term cashflow in this way but a situation like this really shows up what shady operators these companies are.

 

Not sure about the utilities in France but the Spanish ones make no sense at all. I haven’t been to my place out there since the end of January and, of course, the electricity and water are turned off. Why then do the monthly electric and quarterly water bills vary? Surely I should be paying the standing charges only which shouldn’t vary. But the bills I am paying by DD do and I won’t know why until I get sight of the paper bills when I go in a few weeks, which are sitting in my mail box.

 

Dont worry about it. Consider it a savings account. Although check you are in contract.

 

Unlike my actual savings accounts though, they don't pay any interest.

Like @Farnham_Red I usually send my own readings in and that's of course what I've done this week. I've taken to submitting a reading each time I arrive at or leave the house here too. But I thought I'd mention it on here because if anyone is feeling the pinch with everything that's going on and has received bills based on estimated readings then they might find that the utility companies owe them a few quid.

 

Neither do most UK savings accounts!

I just submit readings between changing suppliers. Its always a nice little rebate..

 

If the utility companies got their act together and installed the latest second generation smart meters you wouldn't have to worry about taking readings.

 

Not everyone has the luxury of chalking off money they are entitled to as "savings" on a monthly basis, though.

 

Getting their act together would be nice, in October 2018 I had smart meters fitted, a couple of days later I found the gas meter was blank, no display, I phoned Scottish power to gat it changed, I am still waiting. I've made circa 60 phone calls to them ( all recorded ready for going to court ) it's been in the hand of the ombudsman for over a year and they can't get anything done. I haven't paid a gas bill since it was changed, hence me saying getting ready for a court case cos they artn't getting a lot out of me. I've been sending readings for the elactric and putting in 0000 for the gas, nobody has queried it, when my balance got well into credit they lowered my DD and gave me a refund. Complete incompetence, Now they're closed due to the virus, LOL.

 

Scottish Power have no concept whatsoever of customer service. I had smart meters installed in January. The meters work fine, but the in-house display unit (IHD) stopped showing any electricity info after a few months. I tried all the usual things to try to get the thing up and running again, but in the end I had to email them. I explained that I'd done A, B and C but to no avail. They emailed back suggesting that I should try doing A, B and C... the exact same things I'd already told them I'd tried. They also said they weren't issuing replacement IHDs.
Seems to me that they're only interested in the savings that smart meters will achieve for the company. Stuff the customer.

 

I had a small flat here when I was living in Germany back in 2004-2007. I actually received a letter from Yorkshire Water telling me I wasn't using enough water. I told them I lived in Germany, but they didn't believe me, and sent an engineer round to check that I hadn't bypassed the meter. Needless to say I wasn't in when he arrived.

Years later, in 2013, we moved into a house in Dodworth, and registered with Scottish Power for the electricity supply. Having paid about £30 deposit on setting up, I was told I would receive a bill in due course. I did eventually receive a bill.......3 years later. It went back 12 months which was (at the time) the maximum they could retrospectively charge. We effectively got 2 years electricity for nowt. If I'd known I'd have bought an electric car.

 

I might be in the same boat here. The water reading I submitted was less than the estimate from 2 bills ago so they've said they'll look into it and get back to me.

 

Doubt you'll be in a boat, not enough water for it to float. Good luck