In contrast to most vitality suppliers, we don’t mechanically ship vitality statements month-to-month for almost all of our clients. As a substitute, we’ll ship you an announcement everytime you submit a meter studying.
There are a number of exceptions to this: should you’ve received a related good meter, you may get a invoice each month in your chosen day based mostly in your actual meter readings.
Or, should you’ve opted to pay in your vitality in full each month upon receipt of a invoice, we’ll ship you an announcement each month in your chosen day. In case you’ve given us readings, we’ll use these to calculate your fees. If not, we’ll estimate how a lot vitality you’ve got used.
For everybody else…
Too usually, automated statements depend on estimations of how a lot vitality you’ve got used for the previous month (except you’ve got received a wise meter). These vitality utilization estimates aren’t at all times correct. If we invoice you based mostly on estimates for too lengthy, your account can find yourself with an enormous debt or credit score stability.
The one approach we are able to cost you for the vitality you’re actually utilizing is should you give us common meter readings.
Plus, we such as you to be in management wherever attainable. So that you get to decide on if you get an announcement!
Why are estimated readings dangerous?
Principally, they’re simply educated guesses. To estimate how a lot vitality we reckon you’ll use, we have a look at:
- previous meter readings you’ve given us (which implies submitting readings commonly makes our estimates extra correct, too)
- historic vitality utilization information out of your outdated provider(s)
- the annual utilization figures you gave us if you signed up
With all this information, we are able to often get your vitality utilization estimates fairly shut. However…
Our estimates do not account for you immediately utilizing vitality otherwise in your house.
That sizzling tub you’ve simply put in? That tropical aquarium you don’t have to warmth anymore as a result of your bizarre uncle bought all of your unique fish on ebay? We don’t find out about it, except you give us meter readings.
Equally, should you’ve simply moved into a brand new place, our estimates will all be based mostly on the utilization of the earlier occupants. In case you’re a don’t-leave-the-TV-on-standby individual, you don’t need to be billed based mostly on the consumption figures of a 24/7-chocolate-fountain individual.
If we estimate that you just’re utilizing extra, or much less, vitality than you actually are, your statements might be unsuitable for months. If you do find yourself submitting a meter studying, you could be caught with an surprising debt to pay if the estimates had been too low. Or discover out that you have been overpaying in your vitality with out realising it!
The answer
Each month, we ship you a reminder to submit meter readings. We all know, we all know – it feels a bit like being informed to eat your greens. However we actually have a wheel of fortune recreation – each time you submit a studying, you get a spin the wheel for an opportunity to win as much as £512 credit score!
Inside a number of days of submitting your readings, we’ll ship you an correct vitality assertion based mostly in your actual vitality consumption. In case you do not ship us readings for over three months, we’ll mechanically ship you a invoice based mostly on estimates.
And one closing factor…
Different suppliers usually solely ship payments each 3 months (often called quarterly billing) which imply months of inaccuracy. We work actually exhausting that can assist you keep on prime of your payments, and common updates on what you’re utilizing, and what that you must pay, is finest. It is why Octopus Vitality has by no means provided quarterly billing as a fee possibility – we do ask that you just pay us month-to-month.
We make it tremendous straightforward so that you can submit your readings.
- You’ll be able to submit a meter studying on-line. In case you don’t have a web-based account, you possibly can set one up right here. It’s very easy and takes lower than a minute.
- You’ll be able to submit a studying instantly from our meter studying e-mail, without having to log in.
- You’ll be able to e-mail us your meter studying.
- You’ll be able to take an image of your meter, ship it to us, and we’ll enter the studying for you.
- If, for no matter purpose, you’re unable to take the meter studying your self, we are able to organize for somebody to learn the meter – or if it’s simpler – add a pal or member of the family who can ship the readings in your behalf.
It’s a small job however offers you huge rewards – get pleasure from correct payments, if you need them; and the arrogance you’re solely paying for the vitality you utilize, not what we expect you utilize.
