Why is My Neighbour's Bill Lower Than Mine?
Household energy consumption varies greatly depending on the size of the family, lifestyles and how family members use energy. No two families will have the same consumption patterns. Your neighbour may set the thermostat at a lower setting, or they may be using a programmable thermostat. They may have fewer or smaller appliances. They may not use all of the rooms in the house, or have upgraded their insulation, or have installed more energy efficient windows and doors. There are many factors that could contribute to the variation between yours and your neighbour’s bill.
What Uses the Most Electricity?
The largest users of electricity include an air conditioner, clothes dryer, block heater, water heater, freezer, refrigerator and furnace. |
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My Bill is Higher Than it Should Be. Can I Have My Meter Checked?
It is very rare for a meter to malfunction. Before each meter is used it is tested for accuracy by Measurement Canada and is then sealed. Once installed, meters are checked periodically by our contracted meter reading firm to ensure accurate readings are provided. A higher bill does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with your meter.
If you feel your bill isn’t an accurate reflection of your consumption, take an inventory of your usage in the past month. Possibly you used more electricity than you realize. Do you have the same number of people living with you? Has the weather changed? A heat wave or cold period can really eat up a lot of electricity. Perhaps you have changed an appliance or had an appliance working overtime, such as an air conditioner, an electrical heater, a clothes dryer or a hot water heater.
It is also possible that an actual reading was unavailable and an estimate was conducted. Your billing will indicate that an estimate was done and if this is the case, ensure that the billing department receives an actual reading next month. The difference will be accounted for on your next bill.
If you still have doubts about the accuracy of your bill, contact our Customer Service Department by telephone 519-507-6937 or toll free 1-866-978-2746 to speak with a representative or by e-mail at customer.service@westario.com. For more information you can also visit Measurement Canada’s website at http://mc/ic/gc.ca. |
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