why is my bill higher when i give a lower meter reading than their estimated one!!!

pickle2467

This has happened twice now. i am with E-on and they estimate my bill, when i give them my meter reading which is lower than the estimated one the bill goes up not down??

Totally baffled can anyone help

jd87

That makes no sense. Can you give any more details?

KimYeovil

This can be caused by either or both of two things - the two-tier collection of the standing charge in combination with the fact that the revised bill will also include an extra two or three weeks of useage (so an extra two or three weeks of tier 1 units to pay for). (Check the dates on your new bill - the end date will not be the same as on the old one (usually).)

Gothicfairy

Could it be a date thing with standing charges or tariff ?

What I mean is, say they bill to 375 on 15.03.10 but you call up 01.04.10 with a read of 372 it is less usage but a longer period.

That is the only thing I can think of, what have they said the reason is ?

pickle2467

my bill is dated 17/02/10 - estimated meter reading of 1752

actual meter reading 16/03/10 - meter reading is 1683

thats a difference of 69 kwh

but my bill has was 221.33 and is now 223.36

I know its only £2.03 but if i have used less elec then why is my bill higher???

pickle2467

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Could it be a date thing with standing charges or tariff ?

What I mean is, say they bill to 375 on 15.03.10 but you call up 01.04.10 with a read of 372 it is less usage but a longer period.

That is the only thing I can think of, what have they said the reason is ?

yes the dates are different but i am billed for the electric i use not the length of time i take to use it surely ?

KimYeovil

Here's an example:

1 Dec to 1 Mar: 500 kwhs used

225 tier 1 at 25p plus 275 tier 2 at 10p --> £56.25 plus £27.50 --> £83.70

But say you only used 400 kWhs and the new bill is generated two weeks later. They will estimate you have used another 60 kWhs over those two weeks so the new consumption is 460kWhs. This is less than 500 but still costs more because of the extra 35 tier 1 units ( 2 / 13 x 225)

260 tier 1 at 25p plus 200 tier 2 at 10p --> £65 plus £20 --> £85

miniemma

do they charge a daily standing charge on your tariff?

kjsmith7

Even if they don't apply a "standing charge", you'll still have a "tier 1" and a "tier 2" or primary and secondary rate. The tier 1 is usually 500kWh or 900kWh per year depending on your supplier and tariff, which is averaged out daily to 1.4kWh or 2.5kWh respectively. Because your bill is for more days, you'll have been charged for more at tier 1. It averages out over the whole year.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi pickle2467,

I think the guys here have answered this spot on. The increase is charges will almost certainly be the result of there being more primary units on the amended bill compared to the original bill, because it covers a much longer period of time.

If you would like this explaining in more detail I can do this for you. You can email me via the email address in my profile. I’d be happy to help.

Brian