FAQ: 3 - Why is the account for a month in which my meter was read often, so different to my estimated accounts?

Consumption is never easy to estimate as it varies from month to month and season to season. 

In the case of residential customers, the following may have a marked effect on the consumption of electricity:

• Geysers and space heaters working harder during the winter months.
• Air conditioning units working harder during the summer months.
• The number of days weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays changing from month to month.
• A change in the number of people living at the premises. 

Consumption might also vary because of increased consumption of faulty appliances. For example, be aware that there may be a stove element that doesn’t switch off; or a geyser thermostat that stays on.

In the case of business customers, the cause of vastly varying consumption is often due to:

• Air conditioning units working harder during the summer months.
• Changes in activity levels due to holiday seasons etc.
• Installation of new electrical equipment