Octopus, British Gas, E.On and EDF customers could claim £210 energy refund
25.04.2024 - 16:04
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
More than half of the major energy companies' customers could be able to claim back money on their bills, as it emerges that millions of people are sitting on growing piles of credit. This includes Octopus Energy, British Gas, Scottish Power, and other big North West suppliers.
On average, most households are owed around £210 each after building up credit through winter energy bill payments. With the energy price cap falling to £1,690 from the start of this month, people struggling with the high cost of living could benefit from withdrawing this winter nest egg.
This money does not belong to the big six energy companies but their customers and can be used to help with the higher cost of heating in winter. However, with the energy price cap forecast to fall again from July, to around £1,463 for the typical household according to the latest estimates, cash-strapped customers could ask for a much-needed windfall.
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Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said:“Despite the expensive winter for energy bills, more than half of UK households are exiting winter with credit on their accounts. This may be because households were spending more on energy than the previous winter, as they were not benefitting from any government bill support this time around.
“In recent years, when bills have been so high and unpredictable, it has been a good idea to keep a lot of credit with your energy supplier.
“However, the fall in prices this spring means that consumers with excessive credit may want to consider reclaiming some of it. If you have a high credit balance, you may want to ask your supplier to check that your direct debit is set at the right