For the last 3 months I have really been a scrooge when it comes to Electricity, only doing my washing during off peak times,turning off powerpoints, rugging up instead of using the heater,usng indoor solar lights instead of turning lights on.
Even turning off the fridge when theres not much in there
Thinking i was going to get a low Electricity bill this time, well shocked when the highest bill for the year came in.
Apparently it was based on a estimate so no meter read , EnergyAustralia says they allow one estimate a year so obviously they are saving money not having to come out to read .
I guess i have to work out when they are going to do a estimate and start using more
If i am doing all that to save, i feel so sorry to be a family with kids , I couldn’t imagine their bills !!!
And this “ estimate “ isnt fair because its apparently based on your average over the year
I hear they estimate for a number of reasons (scary looking dog, electricity meter box locked etc).
But they do, do (heh) an actual read at some point later, and when they do an actual read they refund you back the money. For example if you were supposed to pay $150 quarter 1 and $150 quarter 2, but they did an estimate quarter 1 and you paid $200, and they did an actual meter read in quarter 2, they will see that you overpaid in quarter 1, and thus refund that extra you paid (I'm guessing into quarter 2).
The issue here is the cost of opportunity of the money (you would've had more money in that quarter which you could've invested, spent etc) but you don't lose, lose if they do an estimate (assuming you stay for the next meter read).