Can Energy Companies Back-Bill You for Years?
Back-billing happens when an energy supplier corrects a previous billing error and charges for energy used in the past.
However, there are limits.
Under rules supported by Ofgem, suppliers normally cannot bill customers for energy used more than 12 months ago if the billing problem was their fault.
Example
A meter stopped working in 2023 and the supplier did not fix it until 2025.
If the supplier failed to resolve the issue, they may only be able to charge for the last 12 months.
The earlier period may be written off.
Situations where suppliers may recover more
The rule may not apply if the customer:
• ignored requests for meter readings
• blocked engineer visits
• tampered with the meter
In these cases, the supplier may attempt to recover the full amount owed.