Actual readings very different from estimated readings

samsky

Hi my actual day reading is 1,000 kWh more than what Powergen estimated in my latest bill. But my actual night reading is 7,000 kWh less that the estimated one. If I call them to submit actual readings, will I actually get money credited back into my account, and if so how much?

anniecave

It depends on how much you are paying for each....
and 7000 units is a lot. How long have you have the powergen account for? How many units have they billed you for on each (day and night) in total since the account started?

anniecave

The second batch of questions is just to check that the billing is reasonable.
If you give some figures on how much you are paying for each then we can give you some ideas... unless you've already worked it out for yourself....

samsky

Nah, couldn't work it out myself as the whole thing seems really complicated. I think the previous owner used estimated readings for a long time, hence the large discrepancy between actual and estimated readings.

These are the details of my latest bill
- Day previous 13,511 E
- Day current (17 Jan 07) 14,727 E
- Night previous 25,901 E
- Night current 27,349 E

Current charges comprise day primary (229 kWh at 18.44p), day seconday (987 kWh at 10.94p) and night (1,538 kWh at 4.37p), giving a total of 227.25 pounds after 5% VAT.

My actual readings as at today are 15,810 day and 20,543 night. If I call up Powergen, will they revise the bill, and what rates will they use to calculate the difference in readings?

masonic

samsky wrote:

I think the previous owner used estimated readings for a long time, hence the large discrepancy between actual and estimated readings.

You did give Powergen opening (actual, not estimated) meter readings when you signed up for your account though, didn't you?

molerat

Based on the figures given they should reduce your bill by about £179.

You have been undercharged 1083 day units @ 10.94p = £118.48
You have been overcharged 6806 night units @ 4.37p = £297.42
meaning a credit of £178.94 or £187.88 inc 5% vat bringing your current bill to £39.37 ish.

anniecave

It will depend on what the opening reading (when you took over responsibility) actually was on the meter. It sounds to me like the opening reading on the bills may be way out, so you may not get as much as a benefit as you think.
If you have never paid for 7000 night units then you won't get that back in credit, unfortunately!
I would give your readings to powergen and let them figure it all out.

masonic

molerat wrote:

Based on the figures given they should reduce your bill by about £179.

...If they choose to accept the readings, that is. A reading that is less than the previous estimate can cause problems, but from the number of night units they are estimating, that reading looks like it is probably lower than their estimate from 12 months ago would have been.

If they do accept the readings, they will probably have to go back to the last actual reading they have on record and calculate the bill from that time, meaning all of the units probably won't be charged at the same rate.

anniecave

masonic wrote:

...meaning all of the units probably won't be charged at the same rate.

oh yes that too.

anniecave

masonic wrote:

...meaning all of the units probably won't be charged at the same rate.

oh yes that too. It sounds like it's all way out to what it should be.

samsky

Thanks for all the help so far in trying to help me clear this up and understand things better.

The 2 of us staying here are actually students renting this place. We moved in Sep 2006. Our first bill (100.07 pounds) in Nov 06 was as follows:
- Day previous (19 Aug 06) 12,988 E
- Day current (16 Oct 06) 13,511 E
- Night previous 25,258 E
- Night current 25,901 E

We are not sure if the account was actually closed, and then re-opened when we moved in, or could it have been transferred to us, with the previous person asking to settle the bill as at 19 Aug 06.

If it was closed, shouldn't some actual readings have been taken?
If it was transferred, can we claim back the amount in credit, since the previous person seemed to have underpaid in day units but overpaid in night units?

I realise that the right thing we should have done was to take the actual readings when we moved in, but there was some confusion over which was our meter and we only just gained access to the correct meter.