Estimating your electricity and gas bills

Gas and electricity bills are sometimes estimated

While gas and electricity bills are generally based on a reading of your meter, sometimes this is not possible and your retailer may issue an estimated bill, based on an estimate of your usage.

They can issue an estimated bill:

• by agreement with you
• when access to your meter is unsafe or hindered
• if the retailer cannot reasonably or reliably base the bill on an actual meter reading
• if your distributor hasn’t provided your retailer with meter data.

To ensure your meter can be read, provide safe and unhindered access to your meter so that it can be read and tested.

Customers who receive an estimated bill can request an adjustment to their bill by submitting a self-read of their meter prior to the bill due date.

Estimated bills can be based on:

• a reading you have taken of the meter
• your previous usage data
• the average energy use by a comparable customer (if no historical usage data exists). 

If you think an estimated bill is incorrect

If you have concerns about estimated bills, contact your retailer. Retailers must review a bill if you request it. 

If you paid too much on an estimated bill, the next bill based on an actual meter reading must be adjusted to take account of any money that was overcharged.

If your bill was underestimated, and you haven’t done anything to prevent access to your meter, your retailer must give you enough time to pay the additional amount (equal to the length of time during which your meter could not be read, up to a maximum of 12 months). 

Find out more about restrictions on back-billing to recover unpaid costs.

Other resources

If you are not satisfied with your retailer’s response, contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria on 1800 500 509.