why do electricity-board use an estimate readings to charge customer, when one pays by direct debit ?

Answer 1

You pay a fixed amount each month for electricity you either use or not.

At the end of each quarter, they read the meter, or they don't, and what you've used is calculated and subtracted from what you've paid.

They have a legal obligation to read the meter at least once in 12 months, but will estimate use when they can't gain access to your property. You could find yourself in credit at the end of the year if they are over charging you. Don't ask for it back in summer, as it's useful to have this extra in reserve during winter months.

Get this back, though, as they don't pay interest on what you've saved with them.

Answer 2

How do they know how much power you have used?

There's no way to measure it apart from your meter which they can't read at the company so the only way is to estimate it and periodically send a reader around.

The cost of all these meter readers it deemed too high to have it done every month so they estimate based on your average consumption.

To an extent your right in that the system is dated and there should be a way they can read it by remote and charge us accordingly.

Answer 3

Because all households should have a reading at least quarterly and if a meter reader cannot get out to you it is estimated going on your previous consumption. This is for 2 reasons- firstly so that at the end of the year the company can work out if your dd payments exceed or fall below your useage and therefore the following year the payments are adjusted accordinly. And secondly for record purposes in case you move house, dipute dd payments and so on. There are several reasons but whatever payment methid cusomers have all have a quarterly reading or estimate.

Answer 4

Oh dear don't get me on this topic!!!!!!!!

They do it to make money out of things that are necessities.

DIRECT DEBIT is the biggest con going. Now BT have introduced a charge of £4.50 if you do not pay by direct debit-to force us to all pay in this way.

With regards to electric, if you cut down on your consumption- they won't refund your over payment until the end of the year!! Great- they get all the interest on your money that you don't even owe them.

BAN DIRECT DEBITS I SAY- i only use them for things like TV license as that is a set payment each month which you know in advance- but all the others- let them wait and send them a cheque for what you owe when the meters been read.

Answer 5

The onus is on you to ring them up with your meter reading IF you think the estimate is wrong.
They do state this on their bill.
ALso they do send guys out for meter reading every month but if you arent home then they will estimate the reading.
You will not loose any money though.

Answer 6

This happ to me yesterday - they tried to up my direct debit by almost double ! - I rang them and spoke to customer queries who firstly said that because it was an estimated readning then they shouldn't up the direct debit anyway, then I gave them the actual reading and it turned out I was over £300.00 in credit, not £103.00 in debit .

Ring them -

Answer 7

Because they didnt send anyone out to read the meter. It should catch up the next month.

Answer 8

perhaps you were out when they came to read the meter?

if your meter isn't outside the house..

sometimes you have to be careful.. as they read the wrong meter for the wrong flat. they did that with an ex girlfriend, and it was a flat with far more people in.

Answer 9

Because they can't find out what the meter reading is, so unless you phone them with your meter readings then that's the only way they can do it.

Answer 10

because it would cost too much to send someone round to read your meter every month, so they do it quarterly usually. you can send in your own meter reading and they will correct your bill if you are that worried. it will even itself out when they do read it and then they will adjust your payments accordingly.