Consumers should take action over inaccurate energy bills

Consumers are being warned to be careful over estimated gas and electricity bills, as otherwise they could end up paying the current higher prices for units of energy that they used when prices were cheaper, this taking their bill higher and making the energy firms a tidy profit into the bargain.

Consumer Focus, a new watchdog group, has said that around sixteen million people could end up being charged more than they owe on their bills due to the inaccuracy of estimated bills. This is because the prices of gas and electricity have gone up, and the estimated bills could means that consumers are paying higher catch up bills when an actual reading is taken.

An official from the watchdog group said: “Consumers could be paying higher prices for gas or electricity used in the past, while for companies it results in a very nice windfall.” Another official said it was important that consumers did not rely on estimated bills, stating: “It’s important to get a correct bill rather than an estimated bill.”

Consumers should check their bills to see if they are estimated, which is indicated by the letter E on the bill, and if so should take a meter reading and contact the energy firm with the actual meter reading.