Many businesses pay more than they should to their energy suppliers simply due to their bills being calculated based on estimated meter readings.
If suppliers don’t receive regular meter readings, they estimate usage, and these estimates are often incorrect. If you submit correct meter readings regularly, your bills should be accurate.
How to check if your business energy bill is estimated
Most suppliers provide this information on page 2 of your bill or statement. There should be a section named “details of charges” or something similar. You will see a box like this, which indicates your MPAN:
In the table near this box, there should be details of which readings applied to your latest bill. Next to each reading will be a letter indicating its type:
A = Actual Reading (correct bill!)
This means the reading was taken either by you or by an engineer visiting your premises. Actual readings ensure accurate billing.
E = Estimated Reading (estimated bill!)
This indicates the supplier has guessed your usage. If you see an “E”, it’s a good idea to check your meter yourself and submit an updated reading. Your supplier can then recalculate your bill, so you only pay for the energy you’ve actually used.
Should your business get a smart meter?
Smart meters provide automatic, accurate readings to your supplier, but many businesses don’t have them installed yet. If you’d like a smart meter, our Customer Excellence team can help you arrange this and explore options which may save your business money. Our team here at Procure Smart can also help you identify if you are being billed based on estimated readings and support you in getting your bill corrected.
Need help?
Give us a call on 0330 822 1681 or fill in the form below for free, no-obligation support from our experts.
