Dubious Bill Shenanigans by nPower

Pennimus

On the 7th of December nPower issued a bill for the previous 3 months totalling £195. Now, for one reason or another I didn't get round to looking at this bill until the 14th of January. Shocked at the cost, I checked the meter reading to find that they had estimated my usage at 377 units since the last bill, whereas my actual usage was 290 - 5 weeks later than their estimate! Needless to say I submitted a new meter reading and waited for me new bill.

It duly arrived - costing £240! :rolleyes: I've found out that this is because from December - February they charge a larger number of units per day at a higher rate (28 per day at 8.36p, compared to 21 per day the rest of the year). And because I gave my meter reading in mid January, there was an extra 5 weeks at the higher rate.

Now here's the thing... by submitting an accurate meter reading, I think I've done myself out of a load of cash. Here's my thought process...

If I'd paid the £195 7th December bill, then submitted my meter reading on the 14th of January, nPower would owe me money. They would have to refund me for the gas I haven't used that they charged me for, so the extra days at the higher rate would not have existed.

Am I right or missing something obvious? Even if I am right, is there anything I can do here? Anyone had similar experiences?

littletommytucker

Your next "quarterly" bill will cover 5 less weeks. With the number of higher rate units calculated on a daily basis, you will have less units charged at the higher rate. When you put both bills next to each other, the total amount would be the same no matter when you submitted the reading.