MP demands explanation for £67,500 electricity bill
Posted on: September 19th, 2008 by Emma Young
MP Anthony Steen has demanded an explanation from the electricity company for charging £67,500 from a South Hams hotel. He has also asked Vincent Derivaz, the CEO of EDF, to check the possibility of a faulty meter reading.
The MP said that situation may be similar to what had happened recently with the Cornish Pasty Company. They were given a bill of £40,000 by EON without any major increase in their energy consumption.
The 22-bedroom Soar Mill Cove Hotel is run by Keith Makepeace and his family. The family run hotel, located near Kingsbridge, has been given an initial explanation by EDF. The energy company has apologised but added that they have been reading the meter incorrectly. The last digit of the meter was erroneously being read as a 10th of a unit. So if the meter was so far being read as 90,000 units, it will now be read as 900,000 units.
Anthony Steen has told EDF that apparently the error is continuing for last ten years. Legally, any debt more than six years old cannot be collected. He stressed that a consumer cannot be made to pay for the company’s negligence.
Mr Makepeace said that he is shocked by the bill. They have written to the energy company, asking for information on when did the first ‘error’ took place. No reply has been received from EDF so far. However, an EDF spokesman has offered a 25% reduction in bill along with an apology for the inconvenience. But nobody from the company has spoken or communicated directly with Mr Makepeace till now.
Please visit www.edfenergy.com for more details
