Deliberately Overstating your meter reading

Yossarian

This may seem insane, but if your supplier has not yet increased prices and it is likely to, would it be worth over stating your meter reading/s if you have the spare cash up front?

Effectively paying up todays rates for what you are going to use this winter?

Sure you lose intrest if it was in a saving account, but if they bump the price 20% seems to me it could be a good deal?

Nyarlathotep

Don't forget that your supplier will read your meter themselves from time to time and if the readings don't tally, there could be a problem.

Cardew

It would be 'worth it' if you got away with it. Technically it is fraud, but could never be proven.

The 'Computer' should flag up 'unusual' meter readings - or just ignore the one you give them and use an estimated reading.

It is important that those who have had a series of underestimated readings that they haven't corrected, should do so now. If they don't they will pay at the increased price when a correct reading is inputted.

Gavioli_UK

Yossarian wrote: »

This may seem insane, but if your supplier has not yet increased prices and it is likely to, would it be worth over stating your meter reading/s if you have the spare cash up front?

Effectively paying up todays rates for what you are going to use this winter?

Sure you lose intrest if it was in a saving account, but if they bump the price 20% seems to me it could be a good deal?

Prepare to be flamed.

Woofles

I did it totally by accident, entered wrong figure when doing online meter reading, only realised when I came to do another one a few weeks ago. Did think my last bill was a little high, but with all the price hikes its hard to keep up to date on charges.

Probably get banned now for not been efficient money saver.

tobykim

I don't think you'd get away with it, my usage has gone down as our household has been depleted by two, I put the readings in every month and as soon as they noticed that my usage had gone down the meter reader came calling, not seen him for about 18months previous

A_fiend_for_life

How do you explain high kwh for summer and lower for autumn?? Not a good plan.

RichOneday_2

A_fiend_for_life wrote: »

How do you explain high kwh for summer and lower for autumn?? Not a good plan.

Spent the winter months in Spain for the climate! Voila.

GQsm

No not insane at all. Done it myself years ago unintentionally because I was never in when the reader came, didn't give any readings and they majorly overestimated my usage.
A few posts are far from accurate. Usage will change for many households dramatically (Divorce, kids moving out, family focus on being energy efficient, new CH system, winter abroad etc etc) the companies cannot be sure of usage predictions, the Summer Winter thing carries zero weight.

In the past I have told meter readers it was inconvenient and that I'd submit a reading myself. I've done it a few times when decorating or just about to go out and I didn't give the reason. They were never bothered.
If you go too stupid then things may be different, but I'd personally consider at least doubling my own reading if I hadn't already had the price rise. A few years back I genuinely trebled my usage when I split with a gf and actually started spending nights in at my own house with the heating on. These things happen.
If you're the type of person who would want to do it, I'd think it through and not go too mad. I'd be doing it myself if I hadn't already had the rises.
powerRIP may have a point so you might want to look at that aspect too.

moonrakerz

This happened to me when I changed from London to BG about 5 years ago. I never gave either of them a reading but they came up with a reading which in effect meant that a lot of electricity I had used whilst a London customer I paid BG for at a much lower rate.
I did actually query where the reading came from - both companies said they got it from the other !!

ultramagnetic_commuter

I accidentally entered a wrong meter reading online which gave me a quartely bill of £1,300 about a year ago.

EON just billed me without querying it. I rang to explain the error and asked why their systems weren't programmed to make credibility checks on customers meter readings. They said it just goes on what you enter [no matter how stupid].