Estimating power bills

@JudyEv (370419)
Rockingham, Australia
January 31, 2026 12:48am CST
MyLotter Lena (@lovebuglena) wrote about her gas bill being an estimate. Such estimates rarely favour the householder. When we lived in Donnybrook, we used to read our own power meter for a while then a company took over. On one occasion, they said they hadn’t been able to read the bill because of the neighbour’s dog being aggressive. The fact that it was only barking and couldn’t get through the fence didn’t seem to matter. Anyway, the estimated bill was huge. When Vince queried it, he was told they take an average of properties nearby. Unfortunately, just over the hill was quite a large mining establishment which consumed a lot of power and that was the reason for the outlandish bill. It all got sorted in the end. The photo is of a grass tree on our old property. You've seen it before
6 people like this
6 responses
DE
@DaddyEvil (166620)
• United States
4h
We have "level pay" which is an estimated bill based on the previous year. We had all kinds of work done on our house to help our electric and gas bills. We're paid way ahead for gas now... I'm hoping the same thing happens with our electric bill this next summer, too.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (370419)
• Rockingham, Australia
3h
It's always a great feeling to have a credit on a power bill
2 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (33676)
• United Kingdom
2h
@JudyEv It is, although it's noticeable that they never pay credit interest whereas they are quick to charge if you fall behind
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (166620)
• United States
2h
@JudyEv Yes, it is...
1 person likes this
Go Crossbones
@crossbones27 (52077)
• Mojave, California
4h
I always loved Australia, stories and people so wild and free in away you do not see anywhere else. I did think about just staying there, but Australians told me same thing Marines told me. No one going to save you, thats up to you.
2 people like this
Go Crossbones
@crossbones27 (52077)
• Mojave, California
3h
@JudyEv Haha, yeah most of us learn the hard way.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (370419)
• Rockingham, Australia
3h
Despite our problems, we're still a very lucky country but certainly some are doing it tough.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (491987)
• Italy
45m
Of course that was not the correct wait for an estimate. When they could not read our, they "estimated" according to our previous bills.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (491987)
• Italy
24m
@JudyEv - That is the only correct way to go.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (370419)
• Rockingham, Australia
28m
That would be a much fairer way to estimate the amount.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (33676)
• United Kingdom
2h
Oh my goodness I can imagine that would have been about a hundred times higher than yours!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (370419)
• Rockingham, Australia
24m
We couldn't work out why it would be so high. It was a normal period for us with no extra power being used - not to the extent that we were charged.
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (212431)
• United States
3h
My bills are mostly on budget billing I think. They are usually the same each month. That way I don't get bills that are unusually high or low at a time.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (370419)
• Rockingham, Australia
27m
It's useful if you have some idea of what you're going to be up for.
LooeyVille
@LooeyVille (37)
• United States
4h
We have "smart meters" now so no meter-reader needed. We pay actual bill, which by the way we received yesterday and was high for us given such frigid temperatures in January
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (370419)
• Rockingham, Australia
3h
Where we are now we have those too. No more reading meters.
2 people like this