Need help winning a dispute against natural gas company.

[Chief Roundup]

Any one ever have trouble with a utility company and won their argument?
Evidently the natural gas meter broke back in November. The month right after we got our deposit back and was applied to our bill. By our bills it showed actual changes in the meter that slowly was removing money from the deposit reimbursement. Now they have sent us an adjusted bill to cover the usage for those months. They estimated the bill using 95% of last years bills for those months. It is no where near accurate with the warmer winter versus last year. The number of teenagers living in the home has changed etc.
I have mixed feelings. We shouldn't be punished because they let this go for so long when they come and physically read the meter, so if they can't prove an accurate amount I don't think it is going to be fair. I also feel that we owe them some money and I don't mind paying it but I want it to be fair to favoring us not them.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Donger

Did you agree to provide them access to your meter to replace it? Not locked up or anything?

It is outside 50 foot from the house that is easily accessible.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I take it you didn't read the OP well. So the difference is that this winter has been much warmer than last winter, causing a difference in the monthly bills. My household is now 3 teenagers smaller than it was last winter which also would cause a difference between last winter and this winter.
Since they estimated our monthly bills at 95% of last winter usage the numbers that they came up with are not correct by a good amount.

I read it well enough to see that his evidence in the OP seems to be limited to a feeling that he didn't use the amount he's being billed for. Somehow I suspect that he'll either need something more concrete or he'll have to hope he catches his natural gas provider in a generous mood.

EDIT. my bad. Change everything to "you" instead of "he."

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I read it well enough to see that his evidence in the OP seems to be limited to a feeling that he didn't use the amount he's being billed for. Somehow I suspect that he'll either need something more concrete or he'll have to hope he catches his natural gas provider in a generous mood.

EDIT. my bad. Change everything to "you" instead of "he."

I should have to have something concrete to prove that I do not owe said amount, yet they don't have to have anything concrete to prove that I do owe said about. Yeah that seems fair and unbiased. NOT

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Donger

They can't. It's an estimated bill based on previous usage.

Depends on how 'broke' it is. They definitely can take it into the test shop and determine how far off it is reading at the time it was taken out. When it broke would be the question.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

Depends on how 'broke' it is. They definitely can take it into the test shop and determine how far off it is reading at the time it was taken out. When it broke would be the question.

Their customer service rep told me sometimes meters can keep the total usage even when they break but this one did not that it stopped recording anything in November.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I should have to have something concrete to prove that I do not owe said amount, yet they don't have to have anything concrete to prove that I do owe said about. Yeah that seems fair and unbiased. NOT

Why on earth would you expect fair and unbiased treatment when they're the ones who are in the position of power? I suggest you grovel.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Donger

Did you agree to provide them access to your meter to replace it? Not locked up or anything?

This they cant replace your meter unless someone is home so they can go in and turn any gas appliances,water heaters and furnace back on. In my case that gave them reason to do a inspection. The convinced me it was routine. When they were done they tagged out my water heater was setting on floor and needs to be 18 in above floor minimum. The gas line to dryer was copper tubing through wall in garage into laundry room. He said it had to be solid gas pipe through wall then can make a flexible copper line connection. Since the water heater was in garage along with furnace a pipe bollard needed installed and the floor needed to be sawcut and then dug 18 inches for gravel bed the cement with steel anchor bolts to mount the bollard. All this was perfectly fine on the inspection when i closed on the house. When I got estimates all were out of this world expensive so i did it myself. then called those ****ers to come out and sign off on it and remove the tag out. I was fearful if anything happen to house insurance would not cover. So my long winded post is if at all possible keep them out your house.

[ClevelandBronco]

If you're unwilling to grovel, or if they don't respond, you could always threaten to embarrass them. This isn't as sexy as the United Airlines story. Do you think you could get them to physically assault you?

[bobbymitch]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

$833.67

Holy crap! Just for 4 months? And that's above what you paid monthly? I guess I'd be a little po'd as well.

I guess 'd try to come up some sort of split or pay that over 12 month period.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Their customer service rep told me sometimes meters can keep the total usage even when they break but this one did not that it stopped recording anything in November.

Ok I have to admit it has been a long time since I used natural gas and switched to propane where I am in total control. Back in the 80's I helped write a gas metering system where the units were all physical with dials and not electronics. Back then when a meter was changed out it was tested for accuracy and the customer was either back billed or given a refund.

So my question now is if the meter died in November were you being billed for anything for those months since, or are you paying on a budgeted billing amount? If the latter is true it should eventually even itself out and you will be reimbursed if you stay there long enough. At least if BHP has a system overseen by a utility board. I helped write the long time average billing function too although not for them.

Anyway, you say you've had a warmer winter and if you don't like the 95% adjustment watch BHP's overall usage drop for those months and tell them you want the same adjusted percentage. If not, tell them you're going to file a complaint with your utility board.

[chief52]

Originally Posted by bobbymitch

Holy crap! Just for 4 months? And that's above what you paid monthly? I guess I'd be a little po'd as well.

I guess 'd try to come up some sort of split or pay that over 12 month period.

I am thinking there were no payments made during that 4 months as the meter was not registering.

I think you can get it knocked down a little, but am almost positive you will be able to get it spread out over 12 months.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by chief52

I am thinking there were no payments made during that 4 months as the meter was not registering.

I think you can get it knocked down a little, but am almost positive you will be able to get it spread out over 12 months.

They showed two months that used up our deposit of $200, November and December and then the bill showed we had credit every month there after until now. I knew there would be a bill that accumulated but this is just a ridiculous amount. I am going to have my monthly statements from last year along with receipts that show two of my teenagers have rented their own place and are no longer dependents therefore not living in this home during the time frame. I will also be using the temperature difference recognized by the American Department of Natural Gas that shows the difference in temperatures from the same time periods in the winter of 2015/2016 and the winter of 2016/2017. I also plan on pointing out that we got our deposit back because we were never late on any payments.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

Ok I have to admit it has been a long time since I used natural gas and switched to propane where I am in total control. Back in the 80's I helped write a gas metering system where the units were all physical with dials and not electronics. Back then when a meter was changed out it was tested for accuracy and the customer was either back billed or given a refund.

So my question now is if the meter died in November were you being billed for anything for those months since, or are you paying on a budgeted billing amount? If the latter is true it should eventually even itself out and you will be reimbursed if you stay there long enough. At least if BHP has a system overseen by a utility board. I helped write the long time average billing function too although not for them.

Anyway, you say you've had a warmer winter and if you don't like the 95% adjustment watch BHP's overall usage drop for those months and tell them you want the same adjusted percentage. If not, tell them you're going to file a complaint with your utility board.

I will use the utility board as well. One of my neighbors is going to allow us to use them as a comparison of those same time frames to show the differences that they had between the two winter seasons.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

They showed two months that used up our deposit of $200, November and December and then the bill showed we had credit every month there after until now. I knew there would be a bill that accumulated but this is just a ridiculous amount. I am going to have my monthly statements from last year along with receipts that show two of my teenagers have rented their own place and are no longer dependents therefore not living in this home during the time frame. I will also be using the temperature difference recognized by the American Department of Natural Gas that shows the difference in temperatures from the same time periods in the winter of 2015/2016 and the winter of 2016/2017. I also plan on pointing out that we got our deposit back because we were never late on any payments.

You realize teenagers leaving doesn't count.

You can provide all the temperature differences you want but you're only going to get and expect what BHP provides lower gas usage was on average based on total gas delivered.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I will use the utility board as well. One of my neighbors is going to allow us to use them as a comparison of those same time frames to show the differences that they had between the two winter seasons.

Good luck. You're fighting a company that is in bed with the government.