Energy bill Calculation

fagin101

Hi,
apologies for this posting as I’m sure it’s been discussed I just can’t find it, wood for the trees and all, but how is my energy bill
calculated? My last meter reading request was July and I’ve just submitted one (crazy how the meter reading was top of my to do list with the rest of life ) and I’m curious as to how my bill is call by EDF - we were away for three weeks in august so no energy use then and be very careful over autumn and especially now. I’m concerned that EDF will be using todays energy rates for the energy use in the summer when it was a lot lower and we’d used less and it seems unfair to bill summer and autumn usage at todays rate. Don’t have a smart meter (rental property) - am I looking at a surprise bill soon :0
thanks, 
got to pick a pocket or two….

MikeJXE

Gas or electric or both ? They have different calculations. Electric is kWh Gas is metre or cubic feet 

[Deleted User]

They will estimate what your meter reading would have been at the time of the tariff change.  Usage before that will be at the old rate and usage after that at the new rate.

They can't know when you were on holiday or when you cut down, so their estimate will be wrong, but that's why you should send in regular readings.  They certainly won't estimate that all the use was in the last month.

fagin101

MikeJXE said:

Gas or electric or both ? They have different calculations. Electric is kWh Gas is metre or cubic feet 

Dual tariff - and I’ll track down those rates and try to figure out. Thanks 

macman

What makes you think you can't have a smart meter in a rental property? Your utility bills, your choice. Nothing to do with the LL.

Alnat1

How about from now on you set a reminder to give them the readings on a set date each month? Will only take a couple of minutes and saves any hassle in future.

EssexHebridean

Did you not give them a reading when the rates changed? If not then they will be estimating the figures at change - but whether they will estimate in their favour or yours is another question, and if you have been being careful with use, the chances are I'm afraid that an estimate based on previous years use will very much be in their favour. 

I agree with Alnat - a monthly reminder set from your phone to at least take a reading, and preferably send it through to the supplier as well would be a good plan going forwards. 

matelodave

As others have said, in these days of volatile energy pricing you really need to read you meters regularly (at least monthly) and especially when tariffs change and to send the readings into the suppliers.

EH above points out that if you don't do it when rates change then the supplier had to guess what you might have used before and after the change and it probably won't ever be to your advantage.

It's not unfair.  If you didn't put the effort in to make sure that your meter readings were sent to the supplier when rates changed then the supplier has no idea if what you may have or have not used and in the best case would probably have averaged out your consumption between readings

If you don't monitor your consumption, send in readings and check your bills regularly then there's no way you can keep control of your costs.