Golf clubs overcharged by more than £5 million per year by energy firms

An energy expert has said that golf clubs are overcharged by about £5 million per year by their energy suppliers and that 70 per cent of golf clubs will recover about £2,000 each, if they carry out an audit.

Consultant Steve Muir, who has worked with clubs for several years analysing their energy spend, stated: “Golf clubs of England, Scotland and Wales have been overcharged about £30 million within the last six years.

“Most golf clubs, understandably yet mistakenly, expect their supplier to bill them correctly for the energy that is consumed, after all how difficult can it be? The meter reader sends the readings to the supplier and they bill you for the units, what could possibly go wrong? Incredibly, the errors that can occur are too numerous to list.

“Energy suppliers do not generally check what their billing systems produce until they receive queries from customers. And most customers lack the necessary expertise to recognise an error in their account billing or argue with a supplier to recover an overcharge that may have occurred.”

As energy prices are rising, Muir urged clubs to undertake an audit as soon as possible.