Gas price hikes have become so common that they are now almost a fact of life. While most people expect their gas bills to get higher and higher with each billing cycle, some consumers are still in shock when their bills turn out to be much higher than they expected. Sometimes, however, these unexpectedly high bills have less to do with increased rates and more to do with other factors. Those who don’t carefully analyze their gas bills could end up paying much more than they should. To make sure consumers don’t get any nasty surprises when their next gas bill arrives in the mail, this article will look at three of the most common reasons a gas bill can take an unexpected jump.
moving
When a homeowner moves into a new home, it may take a while before they successfully switch energy providers. If the owner takes a month before switching providers, that first month will be estimated and added to the first bill. As such, the first billing cycle will be much longer than normal and will of course correspond to a higher overall bill. In this case, there is little to worry about as you are not likely to be overcharged. Similarly, for those leaving home, the final bill will likely calculate the full cost of energy use up to the departure date. To ensure these estimates are most accurate, homeowners must provide meter readings to their providers on the day they move into a home or on the day they move out, depending on their situation.
estimated bills
Unless a consumer has a smart meter installed on their property, they are likely to pay for gas usage based on estimated readings. Estimated readings can mean that homeowners are paying more or less, depending on how closely the estimated reading reflects the homeowner’s actual energy use. However, underpaying is not as advantageous as it sounds, as once a provider realizes that the owner owes more than what was actually billed to them, the next bill could rise dramatically to make up the shortfall. The best way to avoid such a situation is to take periodic meter readings and send them to the supplier. Considering the installation of a smart meter would also solve this problem, since the readings would be sent directly to the provider from the meter.
old counters
Older meters measure consumption in imperial units, while newer meters use the metric system. A cubic meter, of course, is much larger than a cubic foot, so if a supplier gets confused and mistakes an imperial meter for a metric meter, consumers would be paying quite a bit more. In other words, a consumer would be paying much more for five cubic meters of consumption than for five cubic feet, so it is imperative to ensure that the company is using the correct unit of measurement that is on the meter. Alternatively, many vendors will offer to upgrade old gauges to metric gauges, which will ensure higher accuracy. The best option would be to opt for a smart meter that will take the most accurate readings and do so automatically, so there will be no need for manual readings by either the owner or the provider.
An unexpectedly high energy bill can be a shock to any homeowner, and with rates rising so much recently, they can also put a huge strain on a person’s finances. Sometimes, however, high bills may simply be due to a move, incorrect estimates, or an old meter, in which case steps can be taken to remedy the situation. By making sure the gas bill is accurate, consumers will be able to avoid unexpectedly high bills in the future.