Do You Think My Energy Provider May Have Ripped Me off??

ccyw88 on 04/04/2023 - 20:41

I live in a 2 bedroom apartment (3 adults, 1 toddler and 1 infant). My previous energy provider sent an email in early March saying the rate that I have locked in for a year will be coming to an end on the 28th March and I will be switched to another plan which is more expensive. According to their email, based on my past usage, my new rate will see an increase of $100 to my quarterly bill.

I only managed to shop around for another provider on the morning of 29th March but the transfer was made official only on the 31st March. Meaning, I would be charged by my previous energy provider at the new rate for 29th and 30th March. I would assume my previous energy provider would have come and do a reading on either the 28th or 29th so they can record my consumption at the old rate.

Fast forward to this morning, I received my final bill. They’ve provided 2 readings. First reading was for my usage from 22/12/22 - 28/03/23 (97 days) for 2363kwh which is about 24kwh/day consumption. The next part of my bill was a reading for 29/3/23-30/3/23 (2days) for 194kwh which is equivalent to 97kwh/day! This doesn’t make sense because our usage definitely did not increase in that 2 days, in fact our usage would have decrease because my mum who does all the daily cooking and laundry has been in hospital the last 2 weeks and we’ve just been doing minimal cooking and washing. So a 73kwh increase per day just doesn’t seem right.

What are the chances my ex energy provider gave a false reading? They may think that since I’m leaving, they reduce the reading for that 97day period on the lower rate, and bump up the usage on that 2 days on a higher rate. And they know since I’m living in an apartment complex, I have no access to the meter to check too. Is there anything that can be done or do I just pay that final bill and move on?

Financial Electricity Energy Supply Gas Supply

Comments

  • Bafranz on 04/04/2023 - 20:42
    +2

    Cut your losses and move on

  • djsweet on 04/04/2023 - 20:51
    +6

    The first reading was probably an estimate. The second reading was probably actual. If the estimate was off by a small percentage (over 90ish days), it would explain why your usage between the first reading (estimate) and second reading (actual) was higher than expected.

    • ccyw88 on 04/04/2023 - 22:44
      +1

      Surely if they are planning to increase my rate on a certain date, they would send someone to get actual readings on the last day of my old rate instead of using estimates? Anyway, bill says meter reading instead of estimate.

      • djsweet on 05/04/2023 - 10:06

        If both readings are actual, there is likely a mistake. It should be automatically corrected at the next actual read. You will still end up paying more though because of the inflated part of the reading being charged at the higher rate, and the corrected lower usage being charged at a lower rate. But its only a couple of days, and shouldn't come to much.

      • Webber000 on 05/04/2023 - 18:16

        If it says reading then it should be accurate (so they have either made a mistake or are ripping you off)
        But personally - no I would not assume they send someone to get an actual reading on the last day of your old rate - because potentially there are tens of thousands of customers who are on an offer that ends on a specific date and it isn't realistic for them to send someone to read everyones meters on an exact date, nor is it cost efficient to do so. Unless of course they are charging you because you want or need a meter reading on a specific date.
        And you should still be able to access your meter even if you are in an appartment.

  • avoidfullprice on 04/04/2023 - 21:00
    +8

    Your distributor does a read, not your retailer (the energy provider in your text)

    Just email your old retailer account section with what you said here, minus the accusations and assumptions. State facts and what your resolution are (i.e. get them to revise the bill for last two days)

    • ccyw88 on 04/04/2023 - 22:42

      Thanks. I’ll give this a go!

  • dtc on 04/04/2023 - 21:19
    +2

    Go and look at your electricity meter. Deduct 24 x days. It wont be totally exact but if it comes out at around the amount the old distributor said was your meter reading then it was very likely accurate.

    its possible someone got a number wrong; I have a water reading where someone read a '3' as and '8' and charged me for 500kL extra (which was like $2000 at the time). But unless you have a photo of an accurate meter reading, aint no one going to believe you.

  • trustnoone on 04/04/2023 - 21:49

    Are they readings taken at the metre, or do they say they're "estimates". Can you see the metre numbers to confirm its gone up that much (do they have previous metre numbers on the bill or can you check your metre).

    • ccyw88 on 04/04/2023 - 22:00

      It’s not an estimate. It says meter reading. And I don’t even know where the meter is as this is a rental apartment. I tried looking around the building for it.

      • avoidfullprice on 04/04/2023 - 22:59

        It is behind one of those locked cupboard along the corridor. If you ask your REA to ask the building manager to organise access, they can help you. Just say you have a billing issue and need to take of the reading.

    • Cliche Guevara on 05/04/2023 - 07:18
      +2

      I don't think they take readings at a metre, they get much closer than that…

  • soan papdi on 04/04/2023 - 21:53

    If you have a smart meter, your distributor will have a way to download power usage in 30min blocks for the last 1-2 months. Paste it into a spreadsheet and see if there’s a spike in the days you’re referring to.

    FWIW, 24kwh already seems high for a 2BR apartment, unless you’re running the aircon/heater all day.

    • ccyw88 on 04/04/2023 - 22:07
      +1

      Unfortunately, I don’t have a smart meter.
      Yeap, aware of the high usage. Can’t help it, have a mum that loves to cook and bake all sorts, and do laundry every day. 😪

      • soan papdi on 04/04/2023 - 22:10
        +2

        I hope you realise how much she’s spoiling you. Not all parents have the time or inclination to cook a lot.

        Good luck sorting it out.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 04/04/2023 - 22:17

    You live with your mother?

    • ccyw88 on 04/04/2023 - 22:45
      +14

      Nope, my mum lives with me.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 04/04/2023 - 22:38
    +2

    Without sharing your actual invoices, which will likely have the information needed to decipher this mystery, shall we just play some rounds of "guess the problem and solution!".

    I'll be the loveable yet witty host. Test your buzzers! Let's begin.

    Is OP in:
    A: Victoria
    B: NSW
    C: WA
    D: Democratic People's Republic of Korea

  • Summoner on 04/04/2023 - 22:44

    Nothing much you can do as you do not have any evidence of actual meter reading. Next time, do your own reading and submit them to your electricity provider, or if not allowed, at least take a photo of the reading.

    If you are living in an apartment, you would need to contact the onsite manager as the meters are often behind a locked cabinet.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 05/04/2023 - 19:08
      -1

      Even if there is a manager, doubt it, they won't have access.

  • WreckTangle on 05/04/2023 - 07:47
    +2

    Don’t even need to read details. Based on the title “ Do You Think My Energy Provider May Have Ripped Me off??” its safe to say yes.

    • skillet on 05/04/2023 - 13:21

      What do you think a business do? Charity? Of course to rip off customers as much as they can.

  • Chewy2221 on 05/04/2023 - 10:07

    You do have a right to have the disputed amount explained to you. It is possible that there is a simple explanation. If you don't get any joy from the retailer then next step is the energy ombudsman (or similar) in your state. I have taken a few cases to the energy ombudsman. Like all government departments, they are busy, but if you persevere you will get an explanation or preferably a refund. Good luck.

  • brad1-8tsi on 05/04/2023 - 11:33

    And they know since I’m living in an apartment complex, I have no access to the meter

    Really? I live in an apartment complex and can access the meter room. Ditto the place I lived in in 2017.

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