Fictional worked example

Check a full year of electricity and water records for gaps

A household creates a simulated year of paired statements. Its main question is whether both utilities have a record for every month before making comparisons.

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Inputs and calculation

Original simulated records, all in USD
MonthUtilityUsageBillBudgetVarianceMonth change
2025-01electricity400 kWh1001000—
2025-02electricity440 kWh1101001010 (10%)
2025-03electricity360 kWh90100-10-20 (-18.1818%)
2025-04electricity320 kWh80100-20-10 (-11.1111%)
2025-05electricity320 kWh80100-200 (0%)
2025-06electricity400 kWh100100020 (25%)
2025-07electricity480 kWh1201002020 (20%)
2025-08electricity520 kWh1301003010 (8.3333%)
2025-09electricity400 kWh1001000-30 (-23.0769%)
2025-10electricity320 kWh80100-20-20 (-20%)
2025-11electricity360 kWh90100-1010 (12.5%)
2025-12electricity440 kWh1101001020 (22.2222%)
2025-01water10 m³4048-8—
2025-02water10 m³4048-80 (0%)
2025-03water11 m³4448-44 (10%)
2025-04water12 m³484804 (9.0909%)
2025-05water13 m³524844 (8.3333%)
2025-06water14 m³564884 (7.6923%)
2025-07water16 m³6448168 (14.2857%)
2025-08water15 m³604812-4 (-6.25%)
2025-09water12 m³48480-12 (-20%)
2025-10water11 m³4448-4-4 (-8.3333%)
2025-11water10 m³4048-8-4 (-9.0909%)
2025-12water10 m³4048-80 (0%)

There are 12 months × 2 utilities = 24 records. August electricity variance is 130 − 100 = 30. August water variance is 60 − 48 = 12.

What the comparison shows

August combines to 190 versus 140 in January. If July water were missing, August water would have no comparable prior month while August electricity would still have one.

Assumptions and limits

A combined review is manual. Usage units differ, and amounts should only be added when they use the same currency.

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