Npower estimated bills

njs1999

Hi

I have just received a bill for my electricity from npower. My issue is that they have estimated my christmas period use at 691 units for 19 days -based on the previous occupants -a family of four- living here (as I have not yet been here a year).

However, it is only myself and gf living here and from 5/1/08 to 11/4/08 - I worked out that we had used a total of 557 units for 76 days.

I have phoned them up and queried this but they told me they based the estimates on the previous occupants, surely they should look at the history of when I was in the house.

Althought we have not yet lived here for a year, they must be able to see what we have used for 76 days and somehow backdate this to the xmas period?

I appreciate it is always best to give accurate readings but I have only just received the bill.

Thanks

Nick

mute_posting

Surely when the previous occupents moved out there was a final reading?

Therefore, if you give your current reading they should average the difference between that and the final reading from previous occupants over the time involved (95 days?)

MP

Thomas_Crown

njs 1999, if you receive an estimated electrickery bill & it is based on a much higher reading than the genuine meter reading, log on to www.npower.co.uk & on the home page look at the right hand column under 'Customer Service'.
Then select 'Send a reading'. You need to enter your account No./surname/meter reading & they will send you an updated bill.

njs1999

I've been living in house for just over year, but they estimated part of the latest bill (17/12/07 - 05/1/08). They did this based on the people who used to live here, as they said if we hadn't been there for this period before, then that is what they do.

So I asked if the previous occupants were a family of 4 people, running the electricity all day, would they still estimate it based on this, and they basically said yes.

Although I cannot get a reading for the end of the last bill, my main issue is that they have estimated such a high usage over the xmas period, based on a family of 4 that used to live here.

Previous bills have been fine, but it seems as if they are really taking the mick with the whole xmas thing.

Thomas_Crown

Send them your current meter reading online a.s.a.p. & as mute_posting says they will have a final meter reading from the previous occupants so they can work out your useage over the year & a bit that you've been living there.

notbritishgas

njs1999 wrote: »

I've been living in house for just over year, but they estimated part of the latest bill (17/12/07 - 05/1/08). They did this based on the people who used to live here, as they said if we hadn't been there for this period before, then that is what they do.

So I asked if the previous occupants were a family of 4 people, running the electricity all day, would they still estimate it based on this, and they basically said yes.

Although I cannot get a reading for the end of the last bill, my main issue is that they have estimated such a high usage over the xmas period, based on a family of 4 that used to live here.

Previous bills have been fine, but it seems as if they are really taking the mick with the whole xmas thing.

They estimated this part of the bill because 5th Jan was the time they increased their prices and no meter reading was taken. It would be to your advantage if they overestimated the usage in this period because you would pay at the pre increase price. Your usage after 5 Jan, based on an actual reading at the end of the period should therefore be less.

mute_posting

Ahhhh - sorry I thought you had only moved in 3 months ago...

As notbritishgas says, in a way you are better off in the long run (assuming you're not about to move out!) as you have have paid for more units at the pre-increase rates than you actually used and thus paid for less at the increased rates.

Assuming you pay this bill "as-is" when the next bill arrives and you given them an actual meter reading, it will appear that you haven't used as many units (having already paid for them on the last bill).

If the prices hadn't changed on Jan 5th, it wouldn't have made any difference long term as long as a bill was based on an "actual" reading before the next price change. As it currently stands, because of the price increase, you have bought some of your units at a lower rate than applied when you actually used them

HTH

MP

njs1999

Thanks for replies...

Not too fussed about the price increase.

My issue with them is that they have estimated a usage of 671 units in a period of 19 days - based on family of four living here (previous occupants).

I've questioned this and told them that since the price increase - a period of 76 days - we have only used 557 units.

So, I'm trying to get some sort of adjustment to the estimate that they have made over the xmas period.

mute_posting

njs1999 wrote: »

So, I'm trying to get some sort of adjustment to the estimate that they have made over the xmas period.

But why? By the time your next bill arrives, you will be better off because they over-estimeted as you will have been billed for electricity that should have cost 6p/unit at 5p/unit (for example):rolleyes:

MP

njs1999

I'd much rather pay for what I have used, or at least they should change their estimate to match the other patterns of usage.

I'm just annoyed that they have estimated so much. I can see what you're saying with regards to the price increase, paying more at a lower rate.

However, it's the volume that they've estimated that I'm trying to query.

notbritishgas

If your latest bill, which I assume came in about 3 months after 17 Dec, was based on an actual meter reading then your usage between 5 jan and the end of the bill period would be very low due to them overestimating the 5 jan reading. However the total used for the period would be correct. Even if you get the estimate lowered that would just increase the units used after 5 jan and the total for the quarter would still be the same,with you paying the post increase price for more units.
Just as an aside your previous occupiers would have a job to use 671 units in 19 days, thats nearly 40 a day, when the national average is about 9 per day, more in line with your usage.