Estimated bills

Your home will have a meter that tracks your electricity usage. Data from this meter is collected by meter readers and sent to your electricity provider to bill you for your use. 

An estimated bill means you have been charged based on an estimate of your power use rather than your actual use. This usually happens when a meter reader has been unable to access your meter. Your estimated bill is based on your electricity usage in the same period during the last 12 months.

This usually happens when your meter reader can’t read your meter. It could be that they can’t safely access your meter due to unrestrained pets, locked gates or even long grass. It could also be due to severe weather events, faulty meter reading equipment or issues with the meter data.

You will continue to receive estimated bills until it is safe for the distributor to access your meter.

If you have a smart meter, the need for estimated bills is reduced as the meter is read remotely, but there are still some cases where you may still receive an estimated bill. It may be the data from your meter has not been received or some of the data may have been corrupted. This doesn’t mean the data cannot be retrieved at a later time, just that your current bill is based on estimate.

Your bill will include either ‘actual’ or ‘estimated’ in the total charges section. How it is displayed on your bill varies between providers. It can sometimes appear as either an (A) or (E) after the meter reading numbers where A = actual and E = estimated.

If the meter reader is unable to read your meter, they will often let you know by leaving a card in your letter box.

Since the bill is based on an estimate of your use, it may not always be accurate and could be either under or overestimated. Your provider must issue you with a bill at least once every 100 days. Once the provider has obtained an actual meter read, it is their responsibility to adjust the next bill. Adjustments can include:

• Issuing you with a 'catch-up bill', if your bill was underestimated.
• Applying a credit to your account for any amount you overpaid if your bill was overestimated. 

If your bill has been estimated and you have a basic meter (not a smart meter), you can contact your provider and supply your own reading and request to have your bill reissued. Your provider may ask you to send a photograph of your meter read.

There are some important points to note if you are providing your own reading.

• You must provide your self-read request before the payment due date on the estimated bill you have received.
• Your meter read will need to be consistent with the numbering format of your meter and a higher value than your most recent actual read.
• Make sure you understand your meter and follow the tips on reading your meter.

Most providers have a page on their website with advice on self reads and may also provide a way to submit your read online. Find your provider.

If you do provide a self-read to your provider, any new bill issued will still show as an estimated bill. Your bill will only show an actual read, when the meter read has been provided by the distributor.

Self reads can also be submitted directly through your distributor. You must provide the read within 3 days of being notified the meter reader couldn’t read your meter:

• For South East Queensland, visit Energex
• For regional Queensland, visit Ergon Energy