Meter reading experiment

popshed

We supply our gas/electric readings every 3 months and pay a "fixed" amount via DD.

I simply don't understand how energy companies seem unable to comprehend the simple idea that I'm likely to use a lot more energy in winter than I am in summer. Consequently despite me giving them clear historical data of our consumption level when we first switched, the DD fixed amount has gone up and down two or three times in the last couple of years.

It seems that they spot two quarters in a row where consumption is high and decide that my average consumption has gone up therefore I should pay more each month. Then summer rolls around and suddenly they have to recalculate. Obviously it's not quite as bad a fluctuation as it would be if we were paying for our actual energy use each month but I still find it annoying that they can't seem to 'get' this.

So I'm fighting back. Three months ago I "undertold" them how much gas I had used, not by much, just enough to even out the bill. This time I read my meters and I've told them I've used a lot more electricity and gas than I actually have, so now by my calculations I'm in credit going into the next quarter. I've actually gone back over the last 2 years data and calculated the moving average for each quarter and I've told them I've used exactly that amount. Theoretically, if I tell them the same thing every 3 months it should all even out.

As it was, this time when it worked out how in debt/credit I was I was actually less than a tenner in credit which works out pretty well. I know had I given them the proper readings I would have been a LOT more in credit and they'd probably have adjusted my payments again.

Anyone tried similar?

Vestra

Is that not fraud? Your lying about how much you are using? Also you will mess up the estimate system if you do need to get an estimated bill.

popshed

The estimate system is already screwed up. I've never once in my entire life had an estimated bill that wasn't grossly overestimated which required a correction by doing a reading myself.

I'm merely using proper estimates based on what I know I actually have used. Besides, I think they'd have trouble prosecuting me for overpaying.