"Estimated' billing assumes that one's pattern of usage has _not_ changed significantly. _Usually_, estimated billing is a -little- bit on the high side -- a few percentage points -- to try to prevent these kinds of 'surprises'. If actual usage has changed, the estimated usage will be in error -- in one direction _or_ the other. We once got a _refund_ from the gas company, *WITH* *INTEREST* when they replaced the gas meter -- they tested the removed meter, and found it was over-counting the amount of gas going through it. They had a complicated formula for figuring 'how much error, when' (given that the meter _was_ tested and accurate when installed), and the erroneous amount _was_ refunded. Anyway, 'pleasant surprise'. :)
- posted
15 years ago