Higher household energy prices and imprecise meter readings have contributed to a £464 million black hole of debt owed by customers to their gas and electricity suppliers. Following price rises over consecutive winters customers owe an average £128 for heating and lighting their homes, according to price comparison website uSwitch. The website quizzed more than 2,000 adults and 299 reported owing money to their supplier. Applying these results nationally suggests that more than 3.6 million households could be in the same position.

Glyn Davies is one of them. To his horror he discovered a debt much higher than average after receiving an electricity bill for more than £2,000 from npower. The 64-year-old supermarket checkout worker does not use gas at his two-bed flat in Llanishen in Cardiff, South Wales.....Read more here