Pensioner forced to ration electricity for a year after receiving £13,000 bill in error

76-year-old man was threatened with court action and turned to food handouts after E.ON mistake

A 76-year-old widower was forced to ration his electricity for a year and rely on charity food handouts after a clerical error by his supplier left him facing a bill of nearly 13,000.

John*, who has a serious heart condition, has paid in advance for his electricity via a prepayment meter for 10 years. However, his supplier, E.ON, began sending unexplained bills several years ago and subsequently threatened court action if he failed to pay. It also withheld his 400 energy bill support scheme payment from the government to help with last winter's heating bills.