DonaldM makes a good point about theft of service. Most utilities don't take that lightly. Regarding the meter reader: is your meter reader the same every month? Many of them rotate areas. Do they actually read the meter or is it done remotely? In other words, there are a couple of reasons the reader wouldn't notice.

Regarding the billing system: many people move but still keep service especially if the home is for sale and they want to be able to heat the house occasionally when it's being shown. How do they know that you are actually living there? Sure they send the bill to the house but you could have the mail forwarded. I think right now with as many homes that are for sale/vacant, it's not uncommon for utilities to have a lot of houses that have reduced their consumption dramatically.

And finally, even if you are on average billing, if they deem this 'theft of service' I suspect they will demand full payment immediately. It just depends on what your States PUC allows but I believe that with theft, the PUC doesn't get involved much.

Note: I'm just speculating on some of the stuff I've written. I work for a utility but not in the billing department but I have interviewed a person that investigated billing discrepancies and theft of service. As she said, she's very willing to work with someone when it's a genuine billing error but when it comes to theft, she gives no leniency. Your mileage may vary but I would just be confident that your utility wouldn't/couldn't view this as theft.

posted by 67.185.208...

• Ethics question about gas bill, OKSaabs, Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:22:58
  • UPDATE, OKSaabs, Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:15:38
  • Ethically . . ., pony, Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:31:14
  • Don't worry, pony, Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:24:25
  • yes. nm, AlS, Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:17:29
  • Two thoughts, Jeff B, Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:54:10
    • Honesty and ethics make it real easy.........., Herb Hirsch , Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:03:07
  • Ethically, yes - maybe even legally, DonaldM, Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:47:51
  • I see what you're saying, but..., OKSaabs, Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:45:41
    • Re: I see what you're saying, but..., CWilson, Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:28:45 <-- Viewing This Message
  • I would tell them..., MI-Roger , Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:59:30
  • Are you sure the meter is broken?, CWilson, Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:48:52
  • Policing utilities, phone, cable companies..., Mike Lynch , Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:39:43
  • Re: Ethics question about gas bill, No Snaab, Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:05:24
    • Not really ethics, Ari , Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:10:20
    • No Snaab is right, Dale, Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:01:14

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