initial meter read was an estimate

newlywed

Hi I recently left a long term controlling relationship and so my head was not in the right space when i moved…

I kept the electric supplier the same as the previous tenant at the property and thought the estimated reading would be fairly close… and then i never submitted a reading.

Its not a smart meter.

A few months on.... my life feeling more stable, i took a meter reading and checked back to my tenancy agreement and realised that there is about £1000 difference between their estimated initial reading and the actual one.…

They say readings should be submitted in 5 days… and i didnt.

What are my chances of arguing this one? Or am I going to be stuck with a huge bill for the previous tenants electricity? I dont even have £1000. I just dont know how I approach this one.

itsthelittlethings

At the very worst you can ask for a payment plan.

The problem I see with not paying st all is that the company will want their money somehow and I don't see them recouping it from the previous tenant/ owner.

If you do have to pay, and you have time and energy you could try applying for a grant to pay it off. Highlight your vulnerability as having been in a controlling relationship https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/ are supposed to be very good. It looks like you would only be eligible if you are a British Gas customer.

FrugaiMacDugal

Wow. £1000 is a lot in electricity usage, for a few months.

So,

How long have you been in the property?

What are the dates covering the £1000 deficit?

Is the most recent meter reading on the bill accurate?

t0rt0ise

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6655291/initial-meter-read-was-an-estimate

All you can do is explain the situation to them. You will need to show them your tenancy agreement showing the date the tenancy started. They should then work out a new bill using a more appropriate starting read.

How long has it been since you moved in and which supplier is it?

newlywed

Hi, i moved in November 2025. Its a studio flat but 150 year old building, high ceilings and huge single glazed wooden sash windows (so definitely not energy efficient), all electric. Supplier is British Gas. The £1k figure is my estimate (current reading, minus their latest estimate, multiplied by kwh rate) as I am too worried to submit an updated reading!

Their oiginal estimate reading is 3,000 kwh less than the actual initial reading. Their figure starts 67 instead of 70.

I think I genuinely owe them about £300 for my use (I have now cut back on all my usage and my flat is now 15c rather than 19c). They set the direct debit really low saying it was based on last tenant, and this month told me they are reducing it further to £30 a month. But i estimate theres still well over £600 difference for day 1.

My signed and dated inventory frrom letting agent has a photo of meter included, so i am hopeful that might help.

tim_p

what’s the meter reading (and date) of the photo and what’s the reading now?

MWT

My signed and dated inventory frrom letting agent has a photo of meter included, so i am hopeful that might help.

That should be all you need, but it is BG so it is going to take a while to sort out. Call them and tell them the opening estimate is wrong and provide the proof you have there to get it corrected.

Give them a current meter reading and photo at the same time.

QrizB

I agree with MWT; BG should accept the figure from your inventory.

Let us know how it turns out.

gpman

I'm sorry, can I try to understand your issue please?

You have explained you moved into the property in Nov 2025. Is this also when your tenancy agreement commenced?

You explained, as I understood you, that you have never provided your supplier with any meter readings, so they have used estimated readings. Does that mean you are currently on the supplier's default/price cap tariff?

You say there is about 3000kWh difference between the opening reading you have on the tenancy and the estimated reading the supplier has used to open your account. Presumably that estimated opening reading is one you see on your first bill from your supplier?

And this is the bit I'm struggling to really follow.
You believe you have been overcharged about £1000 because of the mismatch in opening meter readings i.e. the difference between the opening meter read you have and the estimated one used by the supplier. But you appear say that this figure is based upon the difference between the actual meter reading today and the latest estimated reading the supplier used to create your bill.
If that is a correct interpretation, that is the incorrect calculation as it introduces too many variables.
If that is not a correct interpretation, then the cost of 3000kWh should only be about £800-£850 depending on your supply region. This value is based upon the current price cap. A further complication is that there was a price increase on 01-Jan-2026, which would reduce that value even more.

What you need to do is calculate the cost of 3000kWh at the unit price applicable when the tenancy began. Don't forget the VAT.

Then you need to do the calculation of the difference between the latest estimated reading and your actual latest meter reading, (assuming they relate to a similar date) based upon the latest unit price. That will provide you an indication of the under- or over-charge for your latest actual usage.

Then you need to explain all this to your supplier. Expect the supplier to make a small adjustment to the estimated 01-Jan-2026 reading they would have created to bill you. So their final cost figure may not exactly match your calculations.

In regards the level of direct debit, if you are concerned that is incorrect, raise this also with your supplier with full details. They should be willing to adjust that for you. (or advise why they believe you are incorrect)

itsthelittlethings

If British Gass won't reduce your bill after you explain what happened apply for a grant to pay off your arrears via the link in my first post.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81884423#Comment_81884423

… if they will not adjust it then escalate to a complaint and take it to the Ombudsman if there is no resolution…

With photo evidence from the lease date there is no reason for this not to get fixed.