Wimmera gas bills: residents overcharged because of estimated readings

WIMMERA residents are being overcharged for gas because of estimated meter readings.

Horsham’s Andrew Sostheim is among residents in the city who contacted provider Energy Australia when he received a gas bill hundreds of dollars higher than he was expecting.

Mr Sostheim said his most recent gas bill in July was $662.73, 61 per cent higher than the same time last year.

He said his statement said the amount was based on an estimated meter reading.

“I went and read the meter and did my own calculations and worked it out was excessive,” he said.

“I called Energy Australia and quoted the actual meter reading and was able to get my bill reduced to $142.21.”

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Mr Sostheim said he posted on Facebook about his experience, and found many people were in the same situation.

He said it was concerning to think how many people would receive their bill and pay it without realising the discrepancy.

“It was easy to rectify from a consumer side, but the average punter out there who doesn’t understand it is an estimate could just pay their bill,” he said.

“I am not sure how they can justify coming up with an estimate. Perhaps they didn’t have a meter reader available.

“The other side is that there is only one gas retailer in Horsham, so people don’t have any flexibility with pricing.

“It seems like the provider can do what they like and there’s no comeback.”

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Horsham’s Caroline O’Donnell said she received a gas bill for $609, about 300 per cent higher than the same billing period last year.

However, she and her family were overseas for most of the billing period. “When we queried it, we were told that it had been an estimate,” she said. “In the end, our recalculated bill came to $40.”

Energy Australia provides gas across the Wimmera.

An Energy Australia spokesperson said meter readings were taken by the distribution networks. 

“They supply the meter reads to electricity retailers, who use the data provided to bill customers,” she said.

“Where a customer has been overcharged due to an incorrect meter read, an adjustment will be made to the customer’s account. 

“We would always encourage a customer who has any queries regarding their account or bill to contact us to look into the matter.”

The Energy Retail Code for Victoria stipulates that distribution networks must complete one actual metre read a year.