Shell - using estimates rather than customer readings?

clearingout

Electric me:  98862, Shell:  98989 (difference of:  127)
Gas me:  34427, Shell:  34465 (difference of:  38)

So not a huge difference, but it is a difference.  Not recently changed tarrif (not come out of a fixed rate, for example) and am on their standard one, flexible 7. 

Opening read date is 23rd August, closed read date is 24th September - same days I provided readings.  

k_man

Have you got the previous month's too (from August)?

clearingout

Electric me:  98603, Shell:  98603
Gas me:  34405, Shell: 34405

So no difference.  All under 'C' code.  The latest bill has 'E' code for calculations but shows my readings with a 'C' code. 

[Deleted User]

Looks too big a difference to be the “apply a reading at midnight on the day before you receive it” way that has been discussed here recently.

k_man

[Deleted User] said:

Looks too big a difference to be the “apply a reading at midnight on the day before you receive it” way that has been discussed here recently.

Or even extended to the end of the month.
More like the readings didn't reach billing system fully.
It has been a busy few weeks for providers' systems!

On a positive note, the over estimate means a few week worth of energy at cheaper rates. 
It may all catch up next month.

clearingout

More like the readings didn't reach billing system fully.

Does that account for it then?  That despite the fact someone has marked the reading as 'accepted', they haven't actually been applied when the bill was produced?   Human error or computer error?  I mean they actually have my readings on the bill so they can hardly say that they didn't get them on time! 

I agree, it will all even itself out but the bottom line is I provided what they asked for and they have done something else which has cost me considerably more than it should.  If that's a standard practise, then they are frontloading their system with money many people can ill afford them to have.  The whole point of monthly direct debit was it was pay as you use, not pay as you might use!  

k_man

clearingout said:

More like the readings didn't reach billing system fully.

Does that account for it then?  That despite the fact someone has marked the reading as 'accepted', they haven't actually been applied when the bill was produced?   Human error or computer error?  I mean they actually have my readings on the bill so they can hardly say that they didn't get them on time! 

I agree, it will all even itself out but the bottom line is I provided what they asked for and they have done something else which has cost me considerably more than it should.  If that's a standard practise, then they are frontloading their system with money many people can ill afford them to have.  The whole point of monthly direct debit was it was pay as you use, not pay as you might use!  

Not knowing their system, but I assume accepted is the first part of a multi step process.

While using their estimates means you will pay for energy you haven't used yet (assuming you pay the bill as is), so isn't working as expected, it doesn't cost you more.
You don't pay more, just early,  so may impact your cashflow.

It actually costs you a bit less, as you are paying pre Oct rates for a few kWh you haven't yet used.

If you push to use your readings, you will be paying more for the difference.

inkydolphin

clearingout said:

Electric me:  98603, Shell:  98603
Gas me:  34405, Shell: 34405

So no difference.  All under 'C' code.  The latest bill has 'E' code for calculations but shows my readings with a 'C' code. 

So the latest bill is showing both your read and the estimated read? I'd love to see a pic of that part of the bill as it's intriguing!

[Deleted User]

Do the C and E readings have the same date?