Npower rules catch out licensees

A North Yorkshire pub is set to see its electricity bills double after becoming the latest victim of Npower's strict contract notice rules.

Owners of Blind Jack's, at Knaresborough, failed to contact the energy company within the required 90-day period before its contract ran out. It has been automatically locked in to a further year with Npower, which will see rates soar from 7p to 15p per unit. Bills for a typical quarter will leap from £1,044 to about £2,100.

Blind Jack's owner, North Bay Alehouses, is urging all Npower trade customers to check their contracts to avoid falling into the same trap.

The company successfully exited Npower contracts for its two other pubs, in Darlington, but spokesman Ralph Wilkinson says paperwork for Blind Jack's slipped through the net.

"We are stuck with Npower for a further 12 months on a very expensive rate so I am appealing to other pubcos or licensees with an Npower contract to check immediately," he said.

Manchester host Paul Downes found similar problems when his supply contract at the Village Inn, Trafford Park, Manchester, terminated, although Npower has since offered a new compromise rate.

Wilkinson said he contacted Npower about Blind Jack's contract but the firm seemed to intend to stand its ground.