Giving a higher gas/electric meter reading than actual reading

Atlantic Dawn

If you were in a position where you submit your gas or electric meter readings to your provider what would be the legal position of you submitting a reading higher than the actual reading and paying for same? This could hardly be seen as theft as you are paying for something before you actually used it.

The advantage of giving the reading higher would be to avail of the price per unit now rather than higher price in the future.

mondeoman72

This is going to be interesting. Another angle would be someone expecting to be out of work next month and prudently prepaying for a load of energy so they will not go into arrears..... or perhaps the user submitted an estimated reading but loaded it so the supplier would be overpaid rather than underpaid.

Everyone is doing it already. Just how far do you want to push it.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119285168#Comment_119285168

They're not. And you know it.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119285168#Comment_119285168

They'll just send out the meter readers and then you will be in credit, giving the company an interest free loan, paying the higher rate. The only people who can beat the increases are those who use pre pay meters

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119285335#Comment_119285335

It would depend on how frequently the meter was being read. Mine is read almost every billing cycle, but I know in some cases for some reason it is much less frequent and there are long gaps (well over 12 months) between readings.

You would imagine any credit (if in fact a credit situation arose) would be raised based on the prevailing rate at the time, so the feasibility of it would boil down to how often the meter is read and the price change during this time.

As to the legalities, I wouldn’t encourage it. You are effectively submitting false meter readings with a view to making a gain, and there is an element of deception. Doubtful that anyone would be prosecuted, but I think I’d steer clear.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119285250#Comment_119285250

3 months between readings, they are and I know it.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119286599#Comment_119286599

Everybody? Not at all. Me thinks you exaggerate a tad.

Claw Hammer

It is an offence under Section 6 of the Theft and Fraud offences act to do such a thing.

NUTLEY BOY

If you are going to submit an "honest" meter reading before the change in price take a digital photograph of the meter reading. Make sure that it also shows the meter number and the date/time stamp on the photo. This puts your reading above suspicion.

NUTLEY BOY

PS. Rendering a deliberately higher reading to obtain cheaper electricity might also constitute unjust enrichment for which you might get a financial correction 😉

With The profiteering going on country wide....no one will notice you saved a tenner on your electric

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119286599#Comment_119286599

Meters tend to be read officially 4 times per year. However many people are billed every 2 months or even monthly.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119294774#Comment_119294774

Indeed, and most electric meters are now read remotely anyway.