Reading electricity and gas bills: the figures you need to compare

First pass: address, period, consumption

Check the supply address and whether the period covers roughly a year. Record the start and end dates alongside the kWh figure. Check how the reading was obtained: an estimated value differs from an actual meter reading. E-Control recommends comparing equal periods.

Second pass: costs and payments

Record energy prices, network charges and taxes or levies separately. Do not compare one offer’s energy price with another bill’s total. Instalments are advance payments towards the final bill. An additional payment therefore does not automatically mean that prices alone have risen.

Third pass: mark unanswered questions

Ask: is the period short, does the new instalment fit expected usage, and has the discount been included? Note the invoice number and the exact item. According to E-Control, the network operator determines consumption; clarify supply prices and payments with the relevant bill issuer.

Ask about a specific item on your bill

Include the invoice number, period and disputed item in your enquiry. For example: “What consumption and price were used to calculate my new instalment?” Add the figures you checked yourself. Keep the reply and documents together. Separate guides below explain network charges and instalments.

Read the original sources

The factual information was checked against these sources. Checklists and labelled examples are our own presentation. Your supplier’s current documents govern your contract.

• E-Control: bill structure and contents
• E-Control: instalments and annual bills
• E-Control: check your bill