Horror as pub's electricty bill goes from £800 to £20k

A couple of licensees were left stunned when their quarterly electricity bill rocketed from £800 to a staggering £20,000.

Rob Wilson, who runs the Sportsman in Arundel, West Sussex, with his partner Teresa Figg, said being forced to pay the bill would seriously jeopardise the pub's future.

He said: "This would take £20,000 out of the business and could leave us facing bankruptcy.

"To say it came as a shock when the bill came through would be something of an understatement."

The huge increase arose after electricity supplier E.ON realised they had been reading the meter incorrectly.

Rob added: "It seems very unfair to charge us now because it is their mistake. If I undercharge someone for a pint or a meal I can't ask them for the money a few months later."

An E.ON spokeswoman confirmed that the company had been basing the bills on a five-digit meter reading when it should have been based on six.

She said they would be working with the couple to reach a "mutually acceptable" arrangement regarding payment of the bill.

"We have spoken to the customer to apologise for the concern this matter has caused. We are working to resolve the situation and have arranged for a check meter to be fitted at the property on the February 28, to confirm if the meter is reading correctly.

"The matter is on hold until the meter's accuracy has been checked and once this is known we will work with the customer to reach a resolution which is mutually agreeable," she said.