gas bill leading up to price increase

[lukegriffen]

just got my estimated gas bill, which shows 0 units of gas used in the last 2 months. I know it's been hot, but I have used gas, and if I had it for cooking would have used even more.
It's the first time ever they've estimated 0 units, Bord Gais aren't trying to be sneaky by deferring gas charges and then being able to charge you later at the proposed 35% increase , are they ?
I'd advise everyone to watch your gas & esb bills in the next few months, make sure your meter reading is up to date.

 

[micamaca]

Thats a good warning...was listening to Liveline the other day and someone had their bill estimated for 12 months then suddenly got a request to read the meter which they did. Apparently there was no meter reader for that area, according to Bord Gais. Turns out every months estimation was under the correct amount so they got landed with a huge bill at the end of the year, that they had not budgeted for.
And I'm sure there had been a price increase then too, isn't there one every year. Would we trust Bord Gais to bill the extra units on a pro rata basis??? I think not!
They are only sending gas meter readers around for every third reading now, so the onus is on you to ring in the correct reading for the other months inbetwen. I have often done this and it works out better. No point paying too little one bill and being stung a few months later when you can't afford it!

 

[Guest127]

posted not an unsimilar thread to this about esb about two years ago. noticed that when they estimated the usage it was fairly accurate except when an increase was due ie January the following year. then the estimate for say December was way way under and you had to phone them up and give them the correct reading. my last two esb bills were estimated and so far I have still not caught up with the estimate. but if there was a rise due I suspect the estimates would have been way way lower. anyway part of the reason my esb is now under is because I changed my central heating to pressurised system and find it much more efficient than the header tank in the attic old system. but that was two years ago and esb claim that their estimate is based on previous accounts. no worries anyway, when they do read it I will have a very small reading

 

[Superman]

On a rented property belonging to my parents, there was an estimate (possibly by a tenant - not too sure), which was much higher than the actual reading. So there was "free" gas for a couple of months afterwards.

Can one "accidentally" do this with Bord Gais before they up their prices? (thus getting the next few months worth of gas at current prices rather than future prices)

 

[wiggzie]

was thinking the same thing...don't see why not, just don't answer the door to the meter reader for a few months