British Gas stops backdating prices
Published On 1 December 2006
British Gas has been congratulated by industry watchdogs on its decision to stop backdating price rises for token prepayment meter users.The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and energywatch welcomed today's decision by the British energy giant to outlaw the practice that was leaving many customers with huge bills they weren't expecting through no fault of their own.
There are around one million electricity consumers who use token electricity meters, however, some energy companies are slow to reset these and consumers are left facing debts they were not expecting.
British Gas has now joined EDF Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy in saying it will not apply a debt when it recalibrates a meter and will also replace token meters with new electronic pre-payment meters.
Teresa Perchard, CAB policy director, said: "I am delighted that British Gas has recognised that backdating price rises has a devastating effect on poor households and this is very welcome news for people in the run-up to Christmas.
"Prepayment meter customers already get a raw deal and our evidence shows that some of the most vulnerable customers are ending up owing hundreds of pounds, exacerbating the hardship they face."
"It's time that Powergen, Npower and Scottish Power stopped being scrooges and followed suit."
