If you haven’t received an accurate energy bill in a while

Summary

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. You haven't received an electricity bill in 2 years. You call your supplier and ask them to send you a bill. You give them an up-to-date meter reading. Your supplier sends you a bill, charging you for 2 years' energy use. You write them a letter stating that you're aware of the back billing rules and that you should only have to pay for the last year's energy use. Your supplier sends you a new bill, charging you for only 1 year's use. You can use our back billing example letter to help you. If your supplier still tries to charge you the full amount, you should make a complaint. If you have behaved unreasonably, your supplier could bill you for the full amount. Unreasonable behaviour includes: * not allowing the supplier access to read your meters without a good reason If you’re sent a bill but you can’t afford to pay it, you can tell your supplier you want to pay it in instalments as part of a payment plan. You’ll pay fixed amounts over a set period of time, meaning you’ll.

Key information

• not allowing the supplier access to read your meters without a good reason
• stealing electricity or gas
• how much you can afford to pay - give them details about your income and outgoings, debts and personal circumstances
• how much energy you’ll use in future - they’ll estimate this based on your past usage, but give them regular meter readings to make this more accurate
• 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.
• You call your supplier and ask them to send you a bill. You give them an up-to-date meter reading.
• Your supplier sends you a bill, charging you for 2 years' energy use.
• You write them a letter stating that you're aware of the back billing rules and that you should only have to pay for the last year's energy use.
• Your supplier sends you a new bill, charging you for only 1 year's use.
• If your supplier still tries to charge you the full amount, you should make a complaint.
• If you have behaved unreasonably, your supplier could bill you for the full amount. Unreasonable behaviour includes:

Practical guidance

• Source: If you haven’t received an accurate energy bill in a while

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