A MOFFAT bistro is warning other small businesses to keep an eye on their energy bills after being overcharged.
Hugo’s bar and restaurant received a £4000 electricity bill from their energy provider E.ON Next last week.
Owner Sasha Carlyle contacted the energy provider to find out more about the hefty charge, as she explained: “We were informed that we had agreed to these monthly rates until January 2024, but I hadn’t signed a contract and I told E.ON that the rates they had quoted were unaffordable for us as a small business.
“After going back and fourth with them about it, they agreed that they had made a mistake.
“We had to pay the bill based on their very high unit rate and our usage for February but were immediately released to find a contract elsewhere.
“It’s been an absolute nightmare, I wouldn’t wish this on anybody because Wednesday and Thursday last week I didn’t sleep.
“I was so worried that I would have to come in last Friday and ask the staff to leave because if our bills stayed at those prices we’d would definitely have had to close.
“I know things are hard all over, but we thought that it’s important to share this because small businesses don’t share their struggles until it’s too late.”
