‘Electricity bill farce is making me sicker’
MS PATIENT IN ONGOING BATTLE OVER SOARING HOME POWER BILL
A MAN who suffers from multiple sclerosis says he is growing ‘sicker and sicker’ due to an ongoing problem with his electricity bill.
Stefan Cairns, who has been bedbound for over a year due to a fall, claims the trouble began when his energy supply E.ON installed a smart meter at his home in July 2019.
The 65-year old has lived in his one-bedroom home in Markham Moor, near Retford, since 2018 and says when he originally moved into the property he paid an estimated bill of £42 a month, which was then reduced to £26 a month.
He claims that three months after E.ON installed a smart meter in July 2019, the company withdrew £1,724 from his account without warning.
Then in June last year, he was hit with a bill for £4,300.
After contacting the press, Stefan claims E.ON reduced his bill to around £1,600.
However, his most recent bill for the last quarter was £525 and E.ON states Stefan still owes the company £2,253.
Stefan said: “It’s an ongoing problem.
“I’ve been paying £50 a month for my electricity.
“I live in a one-bedroom house. I’ve been bed-bound since March last year.
“I have no dishwasher, no dryer, I have one radiator and seldom use the heating to try and keep the bills down.
“How on earth can I be using this much electricity - it’s enough usage for a family of four.”
E.ON say Stefan’s monthly payments weren’t enough to cover his usage and that the bill has built up over time.
Stefan says his health is getting worse due to stress.
He said: “I’m a 65-year-old pensioner with MS.
“I’ve been in bed for 13 months and it’s causing me so much stress.
I’m getting sicker and honestly farcical.”
An E.ON spokesperson said: “We’ve explained to Mr Cairns that the amount owed on his account has continued to rise over the last two and a half years because his monthly payments weren’t enough to cover his regular usage.
“At his request the smart meter sicker.
It’s
has been checked by an independent expert and found to be working accurately, meaning the bill and balance are correct.
“We appreciate this is a large balance on the account reflecting usage over a number of years which is why we’ve offered him a payment plan to cover the balance over a longer term.”