The Energy Advice Line has urged the Big Six suppliers to extend their My Energy Credit reimbursement scheme to business gas and electricity users.
Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service, said the scheme, which helps consumers access money they are owed by previous suppliers, should also apply to non-domestic energy users.
The campaign launched last September and extended this month, helps customers around the UK find out about money that might be owed to them.
According to suppliers, millions of pounds have already been reunited with their owners. Experts estimate an average 3 million householders are owed an average of £50 each after closing an account that was in credit.
“It’s a positive step that suppliers are doing the right thing and helping customers access money that’s rightfully theirs,” Mr Morgan said.
“This often happens because customers don’t realise or aren’t told they are in credit when they switch suppliers, or they simply overlook this information on their bill and don’t ask for it back.
“However, this scheme needs to be extended to business energy customers who might not realise there is money owed to them as a result of closing an account.
“Many small and medium-sized firms are more worried about their energy bills than any other overhead and encouraging them to come forward if they believe they are owed money would be a welcome start to the New Year.
“If suppliers are serious about rebuilding trust with their business customers it’s only reasonable that help them claw back money that is rightfully theirs.
“This shouldn’t be seen as suppliers doing their business customers a favour – this is money that doesn’t belong to energy companies and they should be doing everything they can to get these funds back to their rightful owners.”
Ofgem, which originally called on suppliers to return money owed to customers, welcomed the progress made to date but said energy companies needed to do “everything in their powers” to return the money and prevent a similar situation arising again.
“We urge Ofgem to ensure that this programme extends to business energy customers, who are just as entitled to have their money returned to them as domestic energy users,” Mr Morgan said.
“We don’t understand why, yet again, there appears to be different standards of customer service obligation when it comes to domestic and non-domestic energy users.
“We also strongly urge Ofgem to monitor suppliers’ progress to ensure this isn’t a one-off campaign to be forgotten about in the medium and long term.
“In the interim, business energy customers who feel they might be owed money by a previous supplier should contact them and present their case. At the present time, it would seem that suppliers are not going to help them do it.”
The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.
The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice service for business energy customers throughout the to of their energy contracts.
For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk