If you’re struggling with the current cost of living crisis in the UK, then it might be a good idea to see if you’re owed any credit from your energy provider.
Most people on a standard variable tariff will build up some credit on their accounts over the summer months, with this extra cash then being depleted during the winter – when bills often rise. While it’s generally a good idea to keep some of this credit that’s built up over summer on your account, if it’s much larger than one month’s typical bill then it might be a good idea to claim some of it back.
The best way to check if you might be owed a bit of credit from your energy supplier is to get in touch with them via phone or email. You'll have to provide them with an up-to-date meter reading.
Read more: Scots households to get £60 off their energy bills each month through winter
How can I claim back some credit from my energy supplier?
Some energy providers will do this automatically by getting in touch to say that they’ve overestimated how much energy they thought that you’d be using on your standard variable tariff, and offer to process your refund. This may be done by getting in contact with you via post or email, and alternatively some simply wait to see what the balance will be at the end of the year and refund the credit that may apply.
If you think that you may be owed some credit on your account and perhaps have been paying too much on your bills, then the best way to find out is to get in touch with whoever you’re under contract with and provide them with an up to date meter reading from your residence. It’s good to bear in mind though that Citizens Advice recommend keeping one month’s worth of credit on your account, and this is perhaps more pertinent than ever given the fact that the energy price cap is set to rise in the coming months.
If for some reason your energy supplier does not want to refund the credit you have built up on your account with them, they must provide you with a valid reason for coming to this decision. If they do not give you a valid reason or you’re not satisfied with their reason for not issuing a refund, you should contact the Energy Ombudsman.
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