Britain has almost 2.9 million ‘ghost' households - where people are either not paying for their gas or electricity, or who have left a property without paying for it, according to research by
moneysupermarket.com.
The price comparison site found almost one million households (four per cent) aren't paying for their gas and electricity.
Of those, half haven't tried to identify their provider, while the other half aren't paying because their supplier hasn’t acknowledged them as a customer or because they can't identify their supplier despite trying.
The research found seven per cent of households have had difficulty identifying whom their gas and electricity supplier is. Those under 30 have had the most difficulty, with one in four (26 per cent) admitting to the problem - compared to just seven per cent on average.
Similarly, potential bill payers in London and Wales reveal they have more difficulty than the average in identifying their provider.
The research also revealed 1.1 million households admit to moving out of their property without settling their gas and electricity bills, leaving the costs behind for the next people who move in.
"Our research reveals nearly a million Brits manage to slip through the net and escape paying for their gas and electricity,” said Scott Byrom, utilities manager at
moneysupermarket.com.
“Whether this is by deliberately keeping a low profile, or just being lost by their supplier, I would advise against staying invisible - you could find you are landed with a hefty bill when your provider finally catches up with you.
"After a significant period of non-payment, there could also be complications over the amount you owe, especially if you don't retain proof of your usage or the meter readings from when you moved into the property.
“From a billing point of view, a supplier can only charge you retrospectively for the past 12 months of energy used but at today's prices this could see you incur a bill of around £1,200.
"To find out your electricity supplier you need to call your local distribution network operator (DNO) as it varies by region, and to identify your gas supplier you'll need the Meter Point Administration Service.
"It is also worth noting that should you ever find yourself in a position where you don't know who your supplier is, despite trying to find out, and you set up an agreement with a provider of your choice, then you could be charged by both the existing and new supplier for the energy that has been used.
“It's therefore crucial to ensure you identify the correct supplier as soon as possible and pay for the energy you use.
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