Billing Investigation

This service is intended for significant or complex supplier billing concerns, rather than routine invoice queries.

In some cases, businesses discover that their energy supplier may have applied incorrect pricing, billing assumptions or meter data over an extended period. These issues are not always obvious from a single invoice, and can involve historic account records, settlement data or meter register allocation that requires detailed technical review.

Alongside arranging energy contracts, I also investigate complex supplier billing situations where there is reason to believe a business may have been incorrectly charged.

This is structured investigative work rather than general advice. It involves analysing supplier billing, contract application and consumption data to establish whether charges have been correctly applied.

What an investigation may involve

Depending on circumstances, this can include:

• Reviewing historic supplier invoices and contract pricing application
• Analysing consumption data, including half-hourly records where available
• Checking meter register allocation and tariff application
• Reconstructing account histories across multiple billing periods
• Identifying discrepancies between billed consumption and recorded usage
• Challenging supplier calculations and evidential assumptions
• Preparing structured documentation for supplier escalation or formal complaint

Some investigations identify no issue. Others uncover significant billing discrepancies that may span multiple years.

When this service is typically appropriate

A billing investigation may be suitable if:

• Your energy costs appear unusually high compared with previous periods
• Supplier charges do not match agreed contract rates
• Meter readings or day/night usage appear inconsistent
• A change of supplier resulted in unexpected historic adjustments
• Billing corrections have been attempted but remain unresolved
• Multiple invoices or periods appear to conflict with each other

Routine invoice or simple account queries are normally handled directly with the supplier and don't require this level of investigation.

How investigations are handled

Each case is reviewed individually to determine the most appropriate approach.

Depending on the nature and scale of the issue, investigations may be undertaken either on a consultancy basis or, where appropriate, on a results-linked basis if a clear billing discrepancy is identified.

If I believe the matter can be resolved more simply through standard supplier contact, I will advise this at the outset.

Case study

In one recent case, a structured investigation of a business's energy billing records identified a significant historical pricing discrepancy with a major UK supplier, uncovering a £143k annual structural overcharge. While large-scale discrepancies are uncommon, this case shows how billing errors can remain embedded within supplier accounts for extended periods unless subjected to detailed review.

Read the case study: Kent Vineyard Overcharged £143k/yr

Getting in touch

If you believe your business may have been incorrectly billed, and the issue involves substantial charges, historic discrepancies or complex supplier records, you're welcome to get in touch with an outline of the situation and copies of the relevant information.

Where a genuine billing error exists, resolving it can sometimes result in substantial financial corrections.

All information is treated confidentially and reviewed professionally.