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Billing standards improve: Energy UK report

Figures from Energy UK’s latest Billing Code have revealed improvements across the industry in billing, payments and metering services in 2015, with two of the big six suppliers receiving the highest award.

The Billing Code applies to domestic customers and sets voluntary standards to go over and above the supplier standard licence conditions. Participating energy suppliers are judged against five key commitment areas: switching, meter reading, energy bills and statements, payments, and back-billing.

British Gas and EDF Energy obtained gold awards from the code, meaning they are “fully compliant with all areas”, while Eon and Scottish Power received silver.

The results also showed that, in the majority of cases, suppliers are able to bill customers properly, and auditors found many areas of good practice within meter-reading and back billing.

Energy UK chief executive Lawrence Slade said: “The latest audit results are testament to the work suppliers are doing to improve the standard of service for their customers.

“Energy suppliers are striving for improved conversations with their customers. It is important for customers to check their bills and to get in touch with their supplier if they have any questions.”

Suppliers who achieved the highest rating this year have also seen a reduction in billing complaints.

Billing has been a long-standing problem for suppliers and these results come after figures from price comparison site Uswitch earlier this month claimed customers had been overcharged £270 million in 2015 through billing mistakes.