April 3, 2012

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Now, let's see ...

According to my latest statement, my February meter reading was an estimate. But the collection company insists it was an actual reading.

I was billed for 1020 Kwh over a 34–day period. Remarkably, that calculates to precisely 30 Kwh per day. No fractions.

Seems to me that an actual reading wouldn't be likely to produce an exact daily average — that there would be a fraction in there somewhere. But do the math yourself. Divide 1020 by 34. You'll come up with 30.

On the nose.

Sounds like an estimate to me.

But, to be fair, I suppose anything is possible. Wait about four weeks until my next statement comes in, and we'll see if it is an exact number again. That would seem, to me, very unlikely — if the meter really is being read.

I think there is considerable reason to doubt that it is.

Anyway, to test this out, I checked my meter this morning. It was about three hours short of 24 hours since the last time I photographed my meter.

And, since 30 divided by 24 (for 24 hours in a day) equals 1.25 Kwh per hour, I figure that my usage actually should be about 26.25 Kwh since yesterday morning.

I don't think I'm using more electricity than I did in February so the average should be about the same, maybe a little less.

But I'll give the electric provider the benefit of the doubt and round it down to 26. That means that this morning's reading should be 2008.

I think that's more than fair, don't you? I think it is quite generous, actually.

Too generous, it turns out. See, my actual reading, 21 hours later, is 1994.

That is probably difficult to see in the attached photo, and I do apologize for that. I'm not much of a photographer, and it is rather overcast today.

But that is what it says — 1994. That is 12 Kwh used since yesterday morning. Far below that daily average of 30 that the statement from February suggested.

In fact, it is less than half of what I estimated it should be for a 21–hour period, based on my February "usage." I think it is a valid comparison because this February was so mild.

I don't believe my electricity consumption in the last 21 hours varied dramatically from my usual consumption. Consequently, I must conclude that I am being overcharged — considerably.

My apartment management has had signs all over the complex for months boasting of how it cares about its tenants. Now would be a dandy time to prove it.

Oh, and one more thing. Yesterday, when I spoke to the billing company's customer service rep, Patricia, she took my home phone number and assured me that her supervisor would call me back before the day was over.

Guess what didn't happen? (First two guesses don't count.)