Energy firms – a shocking psychodrama in three acts

Believe me. I would love to write a drama about something other than the energy bills of strangers, but try as I might to find new inspiration, nothing creates tension, plot twists and psychodrama like the utilities sector. So here we go again...

- Anna Tims

Act I

The scene is London, where AH has discovered that his spending power is spent. His credit rating has plummeted by two-thirds and his credit card limit slashed to £150. With a reputation like that, he's unlikely to get the mortgage he plans to apply for. The culprit, it turns out, is British Gas, his old and unlamented supplier, which has invented a missed payment on his credit record.

The story begins in 2023 when his account is one of an unknown number to be screwed when British Gas migrated it to its new billing system. The account on the new platform showed an inaccurately low balance, so AH unwittingly fell into arrears. By the time British Gas got round to noticing the shortfall and informed him that his direct debits needed to rise by 100%, he owed £1,500. That was last April. AH promptly transferred to another supplier and, in the meantime, agreed a monthly payment plan with British Gas to make up the shortfall.