There are certain rules energy suppliers must follow
Many UK households are being encouraged to make use of a template letter that could help them avoid paying certain energy charges.
It all comes down to when the energy was used. If you have not received an energy bill in over a year, your supplier is required to follow specific rules regarding how far back they can bill you. Your energy supplier may attempt to charge you for energy used in the past, and this is known as ‘back billing’.
However, if you have not received an accurate gas or electricity bill for more than 12 months, you may not be liable for the full amount of energy used during that period. Under back billing rules, your supplier cannot ordinarily issue a bill for energy consumed more than 12 months ago.
It is worth noting that these rules do not apply if the supplier did send you a bill within that 12-month period and you failed to pay it. In such circumstances, the supplier retains the right to pursue the charge.
Should your supplier attempt to bill you for more than they are entitled to, Citizens Advice has a template letter available to assist you in drafting a formal complaint. “If your supplier tries to charge you for more than 12 months’ energy use, you should write to them. Tell them that you’re protected by the back billing rules and should only be charged for 1 year’s energy use”, Citizens Advice said.
For instance, if you have not received an electricity bill for two years and you request one from your supplier, you are not legally obliged to pay the full two years’ worth of charges when it arrives. Citizens Advice recommends writing to your supplier to make clear that you are aware of the back billing rules, and that you should only be required to settle the previous year’s energy costs.
Your supplier should subsequently issue a revised bill covering just one year’s usage. However, if you have acted unreasonably, your supplier may be entitled to charge you for the full amount.
Unreasonable behaviour includes, but is not limited to, not allowing the supplier access to read your meters without a good reason, and/or stealing electricity or gas.
If you receive a bill that you are unable to pay in full, you can request to settle it in instalments through a payment plan. You will pay fixed sums over an agreed period, ensuring the amount remains manageable. The payment plan will cover the outstanding balance as well as an amount towards your ongoing energy use.
