How often to take meter readings?

KylieFan24

I have just moved to a new home and have always had a pre-pay meter before (which I am glad to be rid of!)

Just had my first bill which was fine but the estimates from Eon were higher than my readings which I entered on their website. How often do others take meter readings as I have no idea when to do it, is monthly about right or not often enough?

I would like to have done an actual reading in time for the next bill to be quite acurate so need to keep track of that.

Big_Yellow_Taxi

I take a note quarterly & enter it into a spreadsheet. I'm also with E.On, and at the moment they send round a meter reader each quarter - but I always pop out & check myself too (either just after they've gone, or if I didn't notice them, on receipt of bill).
I think you can submit 2 or 3 readings per quarter online, so suggest you do that until you get a feel for how much you actually use, then quarterly is probably ok.
Go & re-read your meter now & submit a revised reading. You may find they re-issue the bill based on that, which has happened to me in the past.
Good luck.

JohalaReewi

It depends on how often you can update your account with real meter readings. I do monthly readings and enter them into the Scottish Power site. That way, I don't get over the top estimated meter readings. Also, if Scottish Power try to up the direct debit payments, it is easy to negotiate the correct amount based on actual readings. YMMV

dellxps

Kyliefan,

how long after you recieved the meter reading email did you add a reading into your online account?

There is a window either side of your bill date when they need a reading by, If they didn't get the reading in time, it might explain why they estimated the bill. Saying that, the majority of the time you can get an estimated bill amended. Simply ring/email them with an uptodate reading and they will issue an amended bill.

KylieFan24

dellxps wrote: »

Kyliefan,

how long after you recieved the meter reading email did you add a reading into your online account?

There is a window either side of your bill date when they need a reading by, If they didn't get the reading in time, it might explain why they estimated the bill. Saying that, the majority of the time you can get an estimated bill amended. Simply ring/email them with an uptodate reading and they will issue an amended bill.

Hi,

I did the reading on the day I received the bill but that was 5 days ago and I havent had a new bill so just wondered if they adjusted it on the following bill as I will pay the full amount on this bill otherwise.

I think I will give them a ring tommorrow and check if they got the readings I sent via the website to update the bill else it is going to get confusing for me little brain

I will probably try and remember to do a monthly meter reading and that will keep things easier in future.

Thanks for the advice :beer:

dellxps

Hi Kylie, i don't think a new bill would have been automatically produced, it is likely the system automatically rejected your own reading if they did not fall in line with their estimate. If you call tomorrow they can manually replace the meter readings and get an amended bill. Best to get it sorted now to avoid any confusion.

And taking a monthly meter reading is a sensible idea.

When you login to your online account, if you click on 'view your latest bill' it should tell you when your next bill is due. I've put a meter reading in five days before that date and i had a bill ready the next day.

Let us know how you get on tomorrow

mute_posting

My last 4 or 5 powergen / e.on bills have been estimates but I have never had any problems when phoning the number and giving them actual readings, they just amend their system and a few days later I have had a new bill.

Managed to work it im may favour too with the price rise by over-stating my usage slightly, thus more were billed at the previous rate and come the next bill I'll have less to be billed at the new higher prices.

MP

Garz

Try to get in a habit of monthly reads yourself, this way you can get a pattern of your usage it will help should you need to work out price hikes and your budget.

Poppycat

Every month on 25th. I take gas/electric and water and out then readinsg into excel. I also send the energy company the readings online

KylieFan24

I called Eon earlier and gave them both lots of meter readings from the 3rd and some I took today and the guy was really helpful and just said they will do a new bill for me with my actual readings and I should get this in the next couple of days :T

Was easier than expected and nice to deal with a helpful company for once as I usually dread these type of phonecalls and end up with some stroppy git on the other end of the phone.

Think from now on I will try to remember to read the meter`s about once a month to keep track and have an idea of how much it should be when the bill arrives.

Thanks again for the advice