Estimated water bills can be a hassle—and you could be paying for water you're not using.
While many utilities don't estimate their bills, some water companies do.
To determine whether your meter is being estimated, check your bill for an "E" or "EST" code. Most billing statements include a list of codes on the back to spell out the meaning of each.
If you notice that you are receiving an estimated water bill, here are five tips to getting an accurate bill:
- Contact your water company to determine why your bill was estimated. Ask for an actual reading the next month.
- Keep your meter clear of obstructions and keep pets away from your meter.
- If you are overcharged for previous estimated readings, you should receive a credit for the difference.
- If you are undercharged and receive a bill for the difference, be sure you are charged the correct rates for the dates billed and not the likely higher, current rate.
- You can also read your meter yourself. Determine when your next meter read date is, then record all of the numbers on the dial, which reads like an odometer, on that date and track it throughout your billing cycle. You can then compare your own reading to that provided by your water company.