Merchants receive an electricity bill of nearly 7,000 euros by mistake and are debited
The two managers of the Bar of Europe in Caen (Calvados) saw their electricity bill go from 338.41 euros to 6,996.64 euros between October and November 2022, an increase of 1,967.6%, reports Liberty The Freeman. That of gas increased from 117 to 847 euros. This mass coup met the family business in great difficulty.
However, as of the start of the school year, the establishment had multiplied the energy saving measures by installing solar panels on the roof or replacing the neon lights with LEDs. The electricity bill had thus been halved between September and October last.
A price per kWk multiplied by 23
Contacted by the distraught managers, TotalEnergies acknowledged that it was an administrative error. the price per kWh jumped because the business associated with the Traders Electric contract had ended so its due date is actually set for the end of December. It had therefore applied a price excluding subscription: 1.41 euros against six cents. But the money has already been debited from the bar’s bank account.
Despite this explanation and thegovernment aid announced, traders are worried about the future. From January 2023, the price per kWh will increase to 74 cents in the bar. So they had to take new measures. Free drinks from the lunch menu have been removed and the Christmas dinner has been cancelled.