Again got an estimate reading on my mom's gas bill

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This summer, I think sometime in June, the gas meter has been changed in my mom's house and is now supposed to be read remotely. Remote reading should be actual not an estimate. The bill that was issued for Jul-Aug billing cycle shows an estimated reading instead of an actual one. I did not want to pay the bill so called the gas company to find out why it was an estimate reading when it should now be actual. For whatever reason they could not read the meter. I was told not to pay the bill. Someone will come to take a look at the meter and an updated bill will be reissued. When the guy came he said the same thing so I never paid the bill, however, an updated bill was never reissued. Instead, a new bill was generated for Aug-Sep billing cycle. It includes the amount from the previous bill I didn't pay, plus the current charges, and a late fee, for not paying the previous bill. The reading again is an estimate. Why? I contacted the gas company and was told I have to pay the current bill, that includes charges for two months, even though they are estimate readings. Once I do that and contact them about it they will credit me the late fee. I will do that next week when they should receive the payment. Hopefully they will credit the late fee like they said they would. They made an appointment for a guy to come look at the meter on Oct 4th, in place of a remote reading. I don't understand why that has to be done when a meter should be read remotely from now on. Another thing that baffles me is why meters are in the garage. If no one is home when someone comes to read the meter the reading will always be an estimate. Yes, there is an option to submit a meter reading but you have to know how to read the meter to do that. And then there is this thing of letting strangers into your house. I guess the community where my mom lives thought it would look nicer if meters were not outside.