My provider keeps screwing me with estimated readings in excess of $400+, when my actual usage has been consistently under $200/mo. Granted they do credit the average when they actually take a real reading, I'm not a loan company and I'm getting frustrated overpaying.
I live in a rural area and don't have any nearby neighbors to ask. My wife has said that a lot of people have been complaining about it on Facebook though (locally)
I live in south Texas and there are people with identical issues to yours on the outskirts of my city. I think you should cordially raise a stink about this predatory practice.