system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why aren't utilities required to automatically deduct outage periods from my bill?

Time Warner has left me w/o internet for the last 2 days.  I called to complain and they immediately deducted 2 days from my bill (I think like $3.25).  But why aren't they required to do this automatically?  I know they are oligopolies(and can thus get away with murder), but why isn't this law?
gpt
In the case of something like electricity, you are billed by use. Any downtime is automatically unbilled as you could not have possibly used any of the service at that time to be billed in.

In terms of services like the Internet which are billed by month, the issue is more complex. For large companies like Time Warner, the billing function is entirely separate from, if not distended from, the service itself. Billing is automatic from within the companies financial management systems meaning that unless something is bought to the attention of those with access to those systems to correct, the billing will continue as-is.

If the service went down in a particular area, it is up to the local repair / service branch to inform the billing function of the change. Likely that is not a priority for these individuals - after all, they are not in the financial services division of the operation.

It would also depend on the breakdown in the service itself - if the service dropped because of something that they did, then they are probably more aware of the need for an adjustment as opposed to a localized break in your service, like a drop in the power or something similar.