from what i understand, they don't read your meter every quarter - they dn't HAVE to read it every quarter - i think it's biannually that they HAVE to read it. if they underestimate for one quarter, when they DO read it, you end up with a huge bill to make up for what was missed.
you pay to have someone come and read your meter - if it's accurate, it's on your head as you've requested someone come out and provide a service that isn't required. if it's not right, you can argue your case to have it credited etc.
Interesting BG. Like you Westy, our bill this quarter was massive... we're talking close to $1000. I freaked out when I saw it as I expected it to be large due to the air conditioner, but nothing like it is now. We were using the air conditioning last 1/4 also but this bill is up by 26%.
Lisa...our bill is a little bit higher then yours. I have noticed that $170 of it is from 15Dec-31stDec 2009 so they obviously did our reading a little later and it's only just catching up with us now.
Good job i set aside $50 per week for electricity ...althought this time it wont cover the bill. Not to worry we are big believers of using the equipment we have (air con,spa etc etc) so dont stress too much about it - was just cos it was almost double last quarters bill that shocked me.
I have not nor will i request someone else to come out and take another reading!
take note of your reading date (late march for last quarter, so i would say end of june next time), mark it in your diary and take a reading yourself. when your next bill comes, check and see if it adds up with the reading they've taken.
We got ours today too and also got a massive shock!! I read the bill and am so annoyed that there are $45 service charges (would love to know what they are for) and then $19 for them to read the meter - I'm so annoyed!!! Charging me to do their job - GGGRRR!!!!!
I am in victoria. we are on monthly billing but they don't do a readiing every month. If we get an estimated bill that is over the meter reading we just ring through the correct meter reading and get them to reissue the bill! I am shocked that they are trying to charge you to read the meter. Your eyes are just as good as theirs and it all works out in the end as you have to pay eventually when they read it, so there would be no point in lying!
Just got our bill. Even though our daily usage is about the same, infact I think it is down just a smidge from last quarter, our bill is up by $90. I know ours is not an estimate as the reader has to come into our house to do them and for some reason I happen to be home every time.
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