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Energy companies 'making £650m a year from billing errors'
Survey reveals 28% of customers were overcharged an average of £121 - and move to online billing is making matters worse
Energy companies were accused of "daylight robbery" last night after a survey indicated that more than a quarter of customers are being overcharged through mistakes on their bills.
The average error was worth £121 a year in the energy company's favour, suggesting that errors benefit companies to the tune of at least £650m annually and possibly much more.
Clare Welton, from the Fuel Poverty Action campaign group, said that with average annual energy bills from the Big Six suppliers now approaching £1,500 per household after a series of price rises, she would expect the "profiteers" to charge the correct amount.
"This daylight robbery disguised as sloppy service from energy companies is yet another blow to the idea that the Big Six, or any bodies that put profit before people's needs, are in any way suitable to be running our energy system," she said.
The survey was undertaken with the help of 2,000 people around the country by the consultancy firm Consumer Intelligence. Researchers were working on a brief from the Keep Me Posted group, which is opposed to the phasing-out of paper bills.
Almost a third of those polled, 30%, found an error on their energy bill, and 28% had been overcharged by an average of £121, according to the research.
Over 40% of people who receive paper bills noticed an error on their bill, compared with just 29% of those receiving their bills online. Younger people are particularly affected by "online blindness" as only 9% of 18-24-year-olds who receive their bills online say they check them for errors,
Full story Guardian
