E.On Annual Usage Calculation

StephenM_2

I have a smart meter and get monthly statements from E.On with actual meter readings. They are always dated on or just after the 1st of the Month.

So that makes it pretty easy to calculate my annual usage, just by adding up 12 consecutive monthly usages.

Doing that for the 12 statements dated 2/12/10 through to the statement dated 2/11/11, I get.

Electricity 4992 kWh
Gas 15763 kWh

Why, then, does E.On come up with completely different numbers, i.e.

Electricity 4,906 kWh (a 2% error)
Gas 14,494 kWh (an 8% error)

The statement says that these are based on actual usage from Dec 10 to Nov 11, although as the statement was dated 2/11/11 they can't know my Nov 11 actual usage.

I just can't work out how they do their calculation, which they presumably use as the basis of the DD payments.

backfoot

Very interesting. Can't wait for the Eon explanation.

Check out lots of recent Eon Direct Debit threads.

This could be another factor.

StephenM_2

Firstly I'm not moaning. I'd be complaining direct to E.On if I was. I'm just curious about how they do their calculation since it comes out with the wrong answer, especially for gas which is always on the low side. There must be something wrong with their algorithm.

Secondly, the statement specifically says they are based on actual readings, not estimates.

I put the numbers up because with my regular monthly statements its easy to compare what my actual usage is with what E.On say it is. When I used to get quarterly statements the "quarterly" periods tended to move about quite a bit, which made the comparison much harder.

Wellery82

I'm moaning about them for one. Everytime i speak they have some new way of justifying why my bill needs to go up, every quarter i have the same arguments over and over again.

There is always an excuse in the way they calculate readings when i speak to them - "we didn't have last April's reading so we are comparing May - October last year with April - October this year and making average calculations" seemed one of the strangest ones i have heard recently.

To my mind their system is designed to get you to pay for electricity you haven't yet used, and to overcharge you, thus they are getting the money in their bank, the cash flow and the interest that goes with it. It may be the same as all suppliers but their customer service in my experience is a joke with "consultants" reading scripted and inflammatory answers.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

StephenM wrote: »

Doing that for the 12 statements dated 2/12/10 through to the statement dated 2/11/11,

2/12/10 - 2/11/11 is only 11 months.

backfoot

[Deleted User] wrote:

2/12/10 - 2/11/11 is only 11 months.

12 monthly statements presumably covering 12 months consumption?

StephenM_2

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,



2/12/10 - 2/11/11 is only 11 months.

2/12/10 covers consumption from the start of Nov 2010, 2/11/11 covers consumption up to the end of Oct 2011. 12 months.

victor2

Hopefully, an E.On rep will come along and offer an explanation.
Maybe they have looked into their crystal ball and decided that this winter won't be as cold as last, so you'll use less?

rogerblack

StephenM wrote: »

Doing that for the 12 statements dated 2/12/10 through to the statement dated 2/11/11, I get.

Why not simply subtract the first from the last meter reading?
if you do that, do you get a different result?

StephenM_2

victor2 wrote: »

Hopefully, an E.On rep will come along and offer an explanation.
Maybe they have looked into their crystal ball and decided that this winter won't be as cold as last, so you'll use less?

Their figures are for usage over the last 12 months, not a prediction for the next. I wouldn't say no to a refund though, given that they say I used less over the last 12 months compared with what their 12 individual statements say I used when you add them all up.

StephenM_2

rogerblack wrote: »

Why not simply subtract the first from the last meter reading?
if you do that, do you get a different result?

I did that for electricity and I get the same result as I get when I add them all the 12 monthly statements up. Its a bit more complicated for gas because of the conversion from the meter reading to kWh and the fact that the calorific conversion factor varied a bit during the year.