Tariff increases during billing period

Martina_2

This may already have been mentioned but it is the first time I have used the forum.
I live in N Ireland and the electricity went up 30 percent on 1st Jan. As my meter was read on 16th Jan I was charged the higher rate from 16th October. Other customers whose meters were read at the end of December paid the old rate. I complained about this but I am being told that it all works out fairly. But no matter how I work out the calculations I am worse off. The same thing happened in the October reading when the rates went up on 1st October. I sent calculations to the electricity company but they don't agree with me. Does anyone else have this problem? Surely the billing period can be split to take into account the different rates even if they just do an average of units used . Is it legal to charge customers different rates for electricity used at the same period?

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

The normal practice is, as you suggest, that an estimated meter reading is used on the day of the price change.

e.g. 16 Oct meter reading 1234(actual), 01 January meter reading 5678(estimated) = xxx units @ yy pence.

01 Jan meter reading 5678(estimated) 16 January meter reading 6789(actual) = xxx units @ zz pence.

I have never seen a bill produced other than using the method above. The utility company have a sophisticated computer algorithm that works out the split between old and new priced units, it takes into account the weather(it has a feed from the Met office)

You should definately take it up with your Utility company if you are certain that they have done as you describe. If no satisfaction take it up with the Regulator.