MA rescues licensee from high charges

Under-fire electricity sup­-plier Opus Energy has allowed a licensee to leave his three-year contract early after the MA intervened.

Opus has reduced the rates for licensees in the past but this is the first time the company has been known to let hosts leave contracts early. It gives hope of a way out for other pubs that are paying inflated costs for electricity from Opus.

Martin Moylan is set to see his bills fall by nearly 40% after switching to British Gas 12 months after starting a three-year contract with Opus.

Moylan had been paying Opus between £263 and £797 a month for the past year, after a cold-caller agent assured him monthly bills would be around £250 to £300.

Opus agreed to a 10% discount after the MA raised Moylan's case with Opus earlier this year, although the licensee of the Red Bull in Stoke-On-Trent was also told that he owed an additional £1,813 because he had been undercharged.

However, Opus has since said Moylan can sign up to another supplier so long as he pays £2,267 that the company said is owned to them.

This week Moylan signed a 12-month contract with British Gas, which is charging 6.93p per unit compared to around 11p from Opus.

"When we said we were going back to the Morning Advertiser and getting our MP involved they didn't like it," said Moylan.

However, in another twist to the story, Moylan has since received a letter from Opus' solicitors that threatens legal action and disconnection if he doesn't pay a separate "outstanding" amount of £994.

Moylan's wife, Barbara, said Opus agreed that the

letter was incorrect and promised to investigate. The MA asked Opus to comment but received no response at the time of going to press.