Accurate reading means correct billing: DTEK Donetsk Grids explained why the company takes check meter readings

Thermal power generation10 September 2021

To generate accurate electricity bills, DTEK Donetsk Grids meter readers take meter readings every now and then. They do this depending on where the meter is located: inside the homes of customers or in public places. To ensure that bills contain accurate numbers, the company encourages customers to provide access to metering devices that are inside the apartments and reminds how to identify a real meter reader from a fraudster.

Most often meters are located inside houses (in apartments, single-family homes) or in public places (stair spans, street utility poles, etc.). To take electricity consumption readings, DTEK Donetsk Grids needs to have access to these meters. And while there are no problems with metering devices located outside apartments, sometimes difficulties arise with those located directly inside the apartment or house. Owners, for various reasons, do not always let the company's representatives inside.

“DTEK strives to become the benchmark for customer focus. Our specialists take check meter readings every now and then. We reconcile the data that customers submit to us monthly with the actual data, that is, those that are displayed on the panel of the device. This way the company gets a real picture of electricity consumption, and the customers get the accurate electricity bills from electricity suppliers,” says Oleksii Degtyarev, General Director at DTEK Donetsk Grids.

The company encourages customers to allow meter readers inside their apartments or houses to check the electricity meters. Failure to do so may entail inaccurate bills from electricity suppliers. If one does not let a meter reader inside to check the meter, this is a violation of the Retail Electricity Market Rules. Which, in turn, may become the basis to stop the power supply.

A meter reader must have a badge (with a photo, seal, and current validity period) or an official ID (with a photo, seal, and current validity period). Immediately upon request, he must show it to the customer. The meter readers inspect only the meter. They do not offer any other services and do not accept payments from customers for services rendered.

Check meter readings must be taken at least once every six months according to the legislation. The meter reader also examines the metering device in the process. He verifies the number, checks the integrity of the case and seals, pays attention to the availability or lack of other connections.