Licensee launches legal action over £8,000 Opus bill

A licensee has launched legal action against controversial energy firm Opus over an £8,000 bill.

Karen Bradbury of the New Inn, Skipton, Yorkshire, insists the huge bill is an error and is demanding a re-count.

She claims her village pub is a low energy user and that the Opus Energy electricity bill should be nearer £2,000.

Karen, who is a trained lawyer, is now taking legal action against the firm and has successfully appeared in court twice to stop Opus cutting off her supply.

"It's just bullying tactics and I am not having it," she said. "I am a trained lawyer so I know my rights and what has happened is a joke.

"By their calculations I will have used £20,000 in electricity since February 2007 - it's just ridiculous. I will fight this all the way."

Opus Energy has previously faced a barrage of criticism from other pubs hit by steep bills. Angry Manchester licensee Mike Lyons even launched a cyber campaign against Opus after he lost a dispute over his bill.

However Andy Nash, Opus Energy's operations director said the company had been "fully transparent" with Karen Bradbury and "explained that invoiced amounts have been calculated using meter readings for actual usage at the current contracted unit price".

He added: "The customer's initial fixed price contract period expired in February 2009 and was then renewed at the current market price - this led to a rise in unit cost for the customer due to the increased market price of wholesale electricity.

"Further specific charges have also been incurred by Ms Bradbury as a result of non-payment."

Nash said that as a "show of good will" the company had "taken several opportunities to reduce the outstanding amount - including waiving the standard charge that is triggered when a direct debit is cancelled, and have also waived costs associated with the customer disconnection process".