Opus compensates host

Opus Energy has apologised for overcharging a licensee by around £1,300 for one month's worth of electricity.

Gareth McDuff — who ran into difficulties with Opus at his other pub — has now been reimbursed and given £100 compensation.

Enterprise lessee McDuff was invoiced £4,006 for November 2008 when he took on the Beech Tree Hotel in Ystrad Mynach, South Wales. He said it amounted to six month's worth of electricity, a claim denied by Opus.

McDuff was charged higher out-of-contract rates of 22.5p per unit for the month. The problem revolved around a dispute over meter readings.

McDuff said Opus "ignored" readings he supplied at the start of the lease. The supplier denied this, saying he only gave one reading three months after the end of his supply.

Opus said it was "extremely difficult" to establish accurate readings. The firm said it made 15 attempts to verify them with the previous occupiers and those from the new supplier, Eon.

McDuff accused Opus of "plucking figures out of the sky" but said: "I'm happy with the outcome. It's good that I'm getting a bit of my money back."

Opus said: "Since Mr Duff contacted us on 12 August 2009 we have reacted quickly to resolve the problem, culminating in a direct apology to him, the return of his over-payment and an offer of compensation."

Opus said the corrected bill "seems high" because of the "exceptionally" high market price of electricity and out-of-contract rates.

McDuff switched supplier after bad experiences with Opus at his other pub, Enterprise's Fwrrwm Ishta at Machen, Caerphilly, in previous years.

Monthly bills there peaked at £1,360 after he was told they'd be £217, although tariffs were cut last year. Opus cited a shortfall in payments and an increase in the wholesale price of electricity.

Opus hit the news in 2007 after licensees complained of massively inflated bills and poor service. The supplier said it had worked to resolve problems and improve procedures.