Energise bank balance with a utilities refund

MILLIONS of households could be sitting on hundreds of pounds in unused energy credit however most won't ask for it back.

- By Harvey Jones

A staggering 15 million homes have a combined £3 billion in credit with their suppliers, an average of around £200 each, according to new research from comparison site Uswitch.

Yet only one in three households plan to request a refund, despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis squeezing incomes.

At this time of year, most energy credit should have been used up by winter bills. But many are still sitting on large sums, often without realising it. One in 10 is owed more than £300, and 4% owed over £500.

Elise Melville, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “During the energy crisis, we advised households to leave credit with their supplier to protect against soaring prices. But consumers with excessive credit should consider reclaiming it now.”