Why have I been billed on an estimated read?

What are estimated bills?

Estimated bills can happen if your meter reader was not able to safely access your electricity meter, usually due to locked gates or pets at the property; however, sometimes your usage may be estimated during severe weather events where meter readers aren’t able to safely travel to read your meter.

Rarer instances also may occur where your meter wasn’t read due to a fault with your meter. For specific advice on why your read was estimated, get in touch with our team.

How are estimated bills calculated?

The estimate of your usage is based on your property's previous usage pattern. If this data is not available, the calculation is based on the average usage of a comparable customer.

What can I do about an estimated read?

If you have recently switched to Amber and do not yet have a smart meter, your initial start read with us will likely be estimated. This helps you transfer across to Amber quicker to take advantage of Amber’s wholesale pricing model.

Rest assured, the meter reader will attempt to take an actual meter reading on the next scheduled read date, or we will get a read during your smart meter installation – whichever happens first. This depends how far into the quarter you transfer over to Amber.

Once we have an actual meter reading, we will make the necessary adjustments to your last billing period so that you only pay for the energy you’ve used.

If you've received a bill that ends on an estimated read, please get in touch to organise a meter reading, or follow on to send us a self-read.

Can I submit my own meter reading?

If you have a basic meter, you have a right to submit a meter reading if you’ve received an estimated bill. To do this, please send through a clear photo of your electricity meter before the due date of the bill to info@amber.com.au, including the date and time the photo was taken.

Once received, our team will review the reading and let you know the outcome.

How can I prevent estimated bills in the future?

The meter reader will try to access your meter on your next scheduled read.

• It is your responsibility to provide safe, unhindered access to the meter at your property.
• This may mean having someone at the property to provide access, leaving your gate unlocked, or keeping pets inside.
• Clear access is especially important for customers who can’t or don’t wish to have a smart meter installed as we rely on meter reads for accurate billing.

Please reach out to us if you are aware of any access issues. If you are renting the property, please get in touch with your property manager or landlord to rectify any access issues.