Energy back-billing: when an old catch-up bill can be charged

The basic rule

If your supplier has not billed you correctly, it generally cannot charge you for gas or electricity used more than 12 months before it sends a correct bill. The rule applies to domestic customers of licensed suppliers in Great Britain.

When it may not apply

The protection can be lost if the supplier could not bill because of something you did or did not do. Examples Ofgem gives include:

• Refusing access to the meter, or not responding to reasonable requests for a reading.
• Behaving obstructively or tampering with the meter.

How to check a catch-up bill

• Find the period the bill covers and the date you received it.
• Look for estimated readings ('E') across that period.
• Compare the closing reading with your meter today.
• Work out whether any of the charges relate to usage more than 12 months before this correct bill.

Raising it with your supplier

Write to your supplier (email or online account is fine), say you believe back-billing rules apply, and give the dates. Keep a copy. If the supplier does not resolve it, you can usually take the complaint to the Energy Ombudsman once eight weeks have passed or you receive a final response, whichever comes first.

Quick recap

Domestic suppliers usually cannot bill for energy used over 12 months before a correct bill, unless the delay was the customer's fault. Raise it in writing and escalate if needed.

Sources

• Ofgem — Energy advice for households
• Citizens Advice — Problems with your energy bill
• Energy Ombudsman
• Citizens Advice — Energy

Related guides

• Your energy bill, decoded
• Understanding an energy bill