Away from home? Tell your Energy company.

crackofdawn

With the constant changes to energy prices, you could be paying for energy used in a period that you were away from home, at a higher rate, when there was a price increase in your absence.
Example: in a 3 month billing period, one month could be at a lower rate and 2 months could be at a higher rate due to a price increase. Now, you may have been away from your home for a period of time in the higher rate charge. You could have used more units in the lower charge period than in the higher, yet when your bill is calculated, the units used is averaged out over the whole period - thus, charging you for more units in the higher rate when you used them in the lower rate period.
Advice: if you are going away for a period of time, take an energy reading and inform your supplier before you leave. On your return, take another energy reading and inform your supplier. At the end of the billing period, ensure you also take a reading to avoid an estimated reading. This method will ensure you are charged the correct rate at the correct time of usage!

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

They don't 'average out over the whole period' as such but estimate consumption(i.e. meter reading) on the day of the price increase(or decrease). This estimate is worked out using a sophisticated algorithm that takes into account weather data from the Met Office and is independently audited.

Given that companies must now notify customers of impending price rises well in advance, it will be easy for customers to predict if the price change estimate will be to their advantage or disadvantage.

Most companies will readily accept a(reasonable) change to their estimated meter reading in the situation you describe. In any case it is a double-edged sword as you might be away during the low price period and the estimate would then work in your favour.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Interesting first post, crackofdawn. Are you going to post-and-run or are you planning to hang around?