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!