Got a doozy here in San Jose. PG&E meter reader transcribed 89432 kWh as 84932 kWh, creating a massive spike in calculated usage the following month. My client got billed for 9,500 kWh when actual usage was only 4,000 kWh. Took three months to get PG&E to admit the transcription error and issue credits. Anyone else seeing more manual transcription errors as these utilities try to stretch their meter reading workforce?
PG&E meter reader transcribed 89432 as 84932 - $3800 overbill
Pete, that's a classic digit transposition. I see this with IPL (Indianapolis Power & Light) maybe once a quarter. The problem is their handheld devices don't have good validation rules. If usage spikes over 150% from the previous month, the system should flag it for verification. Instead, these errors slip through and customers get shocked by massive bills. Did you get interest waived on the overbill amount?
This is why I always tell clients to track their usage monthly. Cincinnati Gas & Electric has handhelds with better validation but errors still happen. Had a residential client where the reader entered 15432 instead of 10432. The next month's calculated usage was negative 5,000 kWh, which should have been impossible but CG&E billed it anyway as zero usage. System logic failures everywhere.
Chuck, negative usage should absolutely trigger automatic review. Pacific Power here in Oregon has similar issues with their handheld validation. I caught them billing a restaurant for -2,800 kWh one month. When I called, the CSR said "well, at least they didn't owe anything that month." The lack of basic data validation is embarrassing for these utilities.
Clyde, that's exactly the problem - CSRs who don't understand that negative usage means a data error, not free electricity. IPL's customer service is getting better but I still have to educate them on basic meter reading principles. Pete, did your PG&E case involve demand charges too? Those transcription errors can really explode the bill when you're on a demand rate.
Dale, fortunately this was just a small commercial account on E-19 Secondary so no demand charges involved. But you're absolutely right - transcription errors on demand meters can create $10,000+ billing disasters. I had a case last year where the reader missed the decimal point on a demand reading. Instead of 142.5 kW they entered 1425 kW. The demand charge alone was $18,000 that month.
Pete, 1425 kW demand would power half of downtown! These utilities need better training for their meter readers and better validation on the back end. Alabama Power here in Huntsville has started using photo verification - readers have to take pictures of meter faces with their readings. Cuts down on transcription errors significantly. More utilities should adopt this practice.