What Is Your Meter Reading Day ?

Swipe

I've been labelled as 'sad' on a number of occasions for keeping a spreadsheet for the last decade.

matelodave

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Oh dear, I can see everyone on this thread frowning.. so slack and no spreadsheet huh?

We only frown at those who whinge & moan when a ginormous bill comes in or their DD gets cranked up. Usually because they can't be bothered to read their meters and check their bills. They then wonder why they've had to pay more for their energy than they (or the energy co) guessed they would use.

Keeping a spreadsheet is just the way some of us like to keep on top of our bills and monitor our consumption.

Talldave

Swipe wrote: »

I've been labelled as 'sad' on a number of occasions for keeping a spreadsheet for the last decade.

We might be sad, but it's the knowledgeable and informed sad people who are able to give advice to others on this forum because they understand the consumption and cost profile of the homes they've lived in.

I once participated in a market research session about energy websites and I was the only person in the room who had any idea what units energy was measured in and what it costs - I think that's sad. After all, who would drive into a petrol station with no prices displayed - just a sign saying "we could save you (some random figure) per (some random interval)"?

GunJack

Must admit I've not long switched (to bulb) but HAVING to read the meters every month is a bit of a culture shock after several years with EDF...it's not that I didn't know what my bills were (I did, vey well), but I only had to submit readings every 6 months...

Now, though, I moved my DD forward with bulb by a few days, and only found out after an estimated monthly bill, that I had to read my meter on a dfferent day as I'd moved the DD

I think the inflexibility of the smaller suppliers is still too inflexible on such matters.

[Deleted User]

Hi,


I read same date every month, can keep eye on things, plus if meter should go faulty you catch it early rather than let in go months.

coffeehound

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Oh dear, I can see everyone on this thread frowning.. so slack and no spreadsheet huh?

Oh I do have a spreadsheet! Nowhere near as professional as the one posted above, but it does yield usage and cost per day and per month. It just sometimes has quite large gaps between entries

Talldave

My spreadsheet has just had an upgrade to add a field for calorific value so I can show gas in kWhr!

[Deleted User]

Hi,


I just multiply gas units used by 11.2, it's not to the penny, but close enough for me.

badmemory

That monthly change in calorific value with gas is a significant pain. I take readings on the 13th, update the spreadsheet & then post on the suppliers site. My current suppliers bill is ready within the hour even at the weekend rather than after a few (at least 2 working) days. I then compare what I get & what they get & why it differs - usually calorific value or rounding re VAT. Unfortunately the usage is creeping up but that is due to ageing increasingly cold bones & not any suppliers fault. So gas usage is going up whilst electricity is going down due to the improved (lower) usage of newer appliances.

badmemory

Talldave wrote: »

My spreadsheet has just had an upgrade to add a field for calorific value so I can show gas in kWhr!

Now why didn't I think of that! But wouldn't it change the historical costs or do you do it on a line by line basis? At the moment I just change the conversion formula each time.