Let’s start with the total amount. The total amount is the final bill total for a given billing period. It shows the quantities actually consumed, i.e. taken from the network, during the period in question (start of period index, end of period index or consumption during the period, if indexes are not provided, or load curve) as well as the various prices applicable for the different services provided during the period in question, and the taxes and other elements that form part of the bill. If prices or taxes have changed during this period, the quantities are distributed over the different periods to apply the corresponding price.
The bill total is therefore the sum of all costs attributable to you for the billing period. Any advance payments or deposits are deducted if you have paid them beforehand.
Advance payments are payments made in advance of the forthcoming total amount due. They may simply stipulate an amount calculated on the basis of the estimated total amount over the entire billing period or be based on an estimate of consumption in the period concerned. However, advance payments may be adjusted, even during the billing period, for example in the event of significant changes in market prices for electricity or gas.
With the introduction of smart meters, it is possible to take a meter reading more frequently than in the past. Previously the billing period was normally one year or, sometimes, 6 months. If you want to pay your bills on the basis of your consumption at shorter intervals and not on the basis of an annual or half-yearly statement, ask your supplier if they can adjust your billing method. However, you should bear in mind that a monthly statement exposes you to greater variation in your regular (monthly) payments than the advance payment system with accompanying statement, especially for the energy used for your heating. This is because if you chose to pay monthly, the bills in winter would be significantly higher, whereas in the advance payment system these variations are spread over an annual calculation.