A reader contacted TLS today after receiving an overcharged utility bill from the electric company. The customer contacted the electric company after their bill, based on an actual reading, was approximately double the previous month’s bill, although the Air Condition was used less due to the cold weather.
The company asked the customer to read the numbers on the meter and determined that it was indeed a mistake on their part. The amount on the bill was charged according to the incorrect reading by the company.
The company also mentioned, that when the amount dropped from a higher bill the month prior, a company employee was sent out to the home to check for the accuracy of the drop in in the usage charges. Those charges proved to be accurate, because of less kilowatts used due to the change in weather.
However, “when the bill jumped approximately 50% in usage charges, the company never bothered to check its accuracy”, the customer tells TLS.
“I think its important for customers who notice a drastic change in their utility bills to inquire about it before paying it”, says the customer.
You wouldn’t have gotten charged a penny more. The following reading would have been less. But you did save the paying this month over next.
Never pay estimated bills always read the meter to them. Keep the cash in your own pocket.
In this day & age I find it archaic the way customer billing is handled by the Electric Co (JCP&L) does it . having to have a person read your meter every month by a worker for the Company is so outmoded. This could easily be done by transmitting the data via a phone line and save the labor cost & time it takes a worker to do this and it would be more accurate .
Transmitting anything by “phone line” is as archaic as having someone read a meter. These days, the data is transmitted wirelessly, like the new wireless meters they installed from the water company,
It’s air conditioner, not air condition.
U would have had the few dollars back the next reading so what’s the big deal. Watch real money that u waste on it credit card etc, interest that u never will get back,
This is only of concern if you heat your house with gas or oil. Some of us have all electric.
Find something more productive to do with ur time. The next bill would balance out. U will save more checking ur receipt at the supermarket.
They read the meters every other month… next month you would have paid less to compensate….
“Transmitting anything by “phone line” is as archaic as having someone read a meter. These days, the data is transmitted wirelessly, like the new wireless meters they installed from the water company,”
having worked in the communications industry when I said by telephone I meant via Fiber optic not copper wire!! ,you obviously don’t understand, most multiplexed transmission now is fiber optic .There are legal issues wireless presents that anything through the air can be monitiored by anyone legally !! Did you ever have your cell call drop offor experienced the call fading in & out?? for data this is a major Fiber transmission is much more secure without signal loss
To all those geniuses that say he would get it back in future months. You are only partially correct because the usage is multiplied by a fluctuating rate that is higher in the summer and lower in the winter. so the electric company stands to gain by charging you for the usage now.