Two million ‘ghost' energy customers in the UK

Britain has almost two million ‘ghost' customers - where people are either not paying for their gas or electricity, or have left a property without paying for it, according to research by moneysupermarket.com.

The comparison site found over a million households (six per cent) are not paying for their gas and electricity. Almost two thirds of those (four per cent) are not paying because they haven't been acknowledged as a customer by their supplier or despite attempts, have been unable to identify their supplier. A further two per cent haven't even tried to find out who their provider is. The research also discovered over a million customers moved out of their property without settling their gas or electricity bill.

Scott Byrom, utilities manager at moneysupermarket.com said: "Over two million customers have slipped through the energy net and are not paying for their gas or electricity. Whether this is deliberate or not, I would advise against remaining invisible to your provider - if caught, you could find yourself facing a hefty bill as a result.

"After a significant period of non-payment, there could also be complications over the amount you owe, especially if you don't retain proof of your usage or the meter readings from when you moved into the property. From a billing point of view, a supplier can only charge you retrospectively for the past 12 months of energy used but at current prices this could see still you hit with a whopping bill of as much as £1,390. "

"It is quick and easy to find out your electricity or gas supplier; contact the local distribution network operator (DNO) as it varies by region for your electricity, and for your gas supplier you'll need the Meter Point Administration Service.   Once you have identified your supplier, it is essential you get onto the best tariff for your needs. With the recent price rises from a number of providers, consumers should be looking to switch to the best fixed priced energy tariff for their usage level and area they live."

The research found seven per cent of households have had difficulty identifying who their gas and electricity supplier is. Those under 35 have had the most difficulty, with one in 10 (13 per cent) admitting to the problem. Similarly, households in London and West Midlands reveal they have more difficulty than the average in identifying their provider.

Scott Byrom continued: "As more and more Brits are unable to get onto the property ladder, many will be forced into going down the rental route so the problem of ‘ghost' customers will continue to rise with people moving more frequently, especially in urban areas.  If you've recently moved into a property, it's worth checking with your estate agent or rental agent about the details of the existing gas and electricity supplier for the property. I would advise contacting the supplier with a meter reading from the day you move in to ensure you don't end up paying for someone else's bills. If you need proof of the date, you can obtain a written letter from the estate agent or previous landlord.

"It is also worth nothing that if you fail to find out who your supplier is and set up an alternative agreement, you could find yourself paying both your existing and new supplier for the energy that has been used. It's therefore vital to identify the correct supplier as soon as you can."