I have timestamped photos of readings - can I require my utility provider to use those readings?

Chomeur

I took photos of my meters at the time the prices went up and used an app that makes a timestamp on the photo. Unfortunately I only got round to submitting the readings two weeks late, and my supplier wants to use its own estimate for the readings at the time of the price changes. Its estimates are too low so would leave me out of pocket. Can I force them to accept my readings?

[Deleted User]

Yes and no.

Condition 21B. Billing based on meter readings

21B.1 If a Customer provides a meter reading to the licensee that the licensee considers reasonably accurate, or if the Gas Meter is read by the licensee, the licensee must take all reasonable steps to reflect the meter reading in the next Bill or statement of account sent to the Customer.

21B.2 If the licensee considers that a meter reading provided by a Customer is not reasonably accurate, the licensee must take all reasonable steps to contact the Customer to obtain a new meter reading from him.

NO - in the sense that if you supply a reading on, say, the 25th of the month and your billing date is the 31st, then the supplier can estimate a reading from the 25th using the actual reading that you have supplied.

That said, your situation is somewhat unusual.

Chomeur

Thanks, that's really helpful. There'll always be a next bill, so, while they issued a bill as soon as I inputted the readings, they can make an appropriate adjustment in the next one if need be.