Caithness householders urged to check bills after ScottishPower refund promise
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CAITHNESS households are among those being urged to check their gas and electricity bills after ScottishPower agreed to pay £1.5 million in refunds and compensation for overcharging thousands of customers.
Regulator Ofgem said the energy firm made the payments after charging customers above the level of the price cap during the peak of the energy crisis.
A total of £250,000 was paid in direct refunds with another £250,000 in goodwill payments – equating to an average of £294 for each of the 1699 customers. All payments were made automatically, and customers do not need to do anything.
ScottishPower has also agreed to pay £1 million to Ofgem’s Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Fund, which benefits charities and community projects that help vulnerable customers with energy-related support.
Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national energy advice service energyadvice.scot, has welcomed the payments.
However, the charity has warned billing problems are its most common complaint and is encouraging Scots to regularly check the accuracy of their statements.
Those with smart meters are being urged to make sure the device is working while those with traditional meters should submit gas and electricity readings to avoid overcharging.
The organisation is also campaigning for the introduction of a social energy tariff, which would automatically enrol struggling households on the cheapest deal, in an effort to alleviate fuel poverty in the UK.
Hazel Knowles, energy lead for Advice Direct Scotland, said: "While any redress is welcome, and those ScottishPower customers affected should have already been compensated, this underlines the importance of checking your bills.
"With the cost-of-living crisis far from over, demand for help across Scotland with energy bills has never been higher and is the most pressing reason for people getting in touch. It is vital that people look at what they are paying and keep a close eye on the energy market.
"Taking regular meter readings and checking the level of your direct debit are as important as ever. If you have a smart meter, make sure it's working."
She added: "The important thing to remember is that nobody should struggle alone, and help is available.
“Our energyadvice.scot service provides free, practical advice on the support and assistance available, such as grants, and ensures that people can access all entitled benefits.
“Anyone who believes they have been incorrectly charged or is experiencing other difficulties with their supplier should visit www.energyadvice.scot or call 0808 196 8660 for assistance."
