Do you know the difference between actual consumption and estimated consumption on your electricity bill?

Surely we all know someone whose electricity bill has arrived based on an estimated consumption, but what does this mean? It means that the technicians have not been able to account for the actual amount of electricity that has been consumed and therefore the final amount to be paid is an estimate.

This does not always play in favor of consumers, which is why we want to dedicate this article to explaining what the estimates on the electricity bill consist of, under what judgment they are prepared and how this can harm us as users.

Who calculates the estimated consumption of the bill?

First we must know that the reading of the accountants is carried out by an electricity distributor. That is, the company that provides the supply to the home and that is determined according to the geographical areas by the Government. This is usually the owner of the accountants of most of the houses.

So it is the distributor who obtains the data from the electricity meters and sends them to the electricity marketers. This measurement of electricity consumption is governed by Royal Decree 1718/2012, of December 28, which determines the procedure for reading and billing low-voltage energy supplies with contracted power not exceeding 15 kW.

The electricity marketer or company is the company that each of us has hired to manage the electricity contracts and to whom the invoices are intended. In simplified terms, users compare to the retailer the energy that the latter has previously purchased from the distributor.

How is the estimated bill calculated?

Estimated consumption is made based on historical consumption, and with this data, a forecast is made for the amount of the next bill. But of course, it is only a forecast, not the final invoice. The definitive one will come when the real consumption data is obtained. Therefore, many times, the data does not match reality and customers have to wait a while for the error to be compensated in the following invoices.

All bills have a fixed part that is always paid, even if electricity is not consumed; and another variable that increases or decreases depending on the energy expenditure of each month. This part is the electricity consumption and the estimate is made on it.

The problem is that estimated electricity meter readings do not usually benefit consumers. Why? Because this calculation is not the real expense, as we have already commented. The data is obtained with the average calculation of other previous months. But the point is that we do not use the same electricity every month. Especially if it coincides with the summer or winter seasons. So, most commonly, companies overcharge consumers.

A very simple way to avoid receiving these bills with estimated consumption is to install solar panels at home. In addition to forgetting about estimates forever because we will produce our own energy, we will also contribute to the sustainability of the environment.