Consumers finding utility bills too confusing

New research from Bulb, the green energy company, has revealed that a quarter of consumers under 35 still turn to their parents for help understanding their energy bills and many don’t
understand common utility bill terms..

Over half (52%) of all consumers said that they’d like more resources from their energy supplier in order to understand their energy bills. When thinking about bills they pay, energy topped
the list of most confusing, followed by council tax and water bills.

Overall, 17% of consumers revealed that they have never checked their energy meters and one in ten consumers have never checked whether or not they’re on the best tariff for their needs.

The language of energy bills also proves a problem for consumers, with 23% admitting that they don’t understand common terms such as “Calorific Value (CV)” and “tariff” (19%). And despite “Kwh” (kilowatt hours) being key to their spending, 19% of those surveyed – which equates to nearly 13 million adults – didn’t understand the term.

Erin Bullions, VP of Customer Experience at Bulb, said “As the research shows, when it comes to understanding energy bills much of the public is still kept in the dark by their supplier. As a result, people could be spending more money, and using more C02, than they think. That’s why at Bulb we champion making energy simpler to understand and manage. We don’t use jargon, we always get to the point, and we regularly update our website with advice like our online glossary of terms to help Brits demystify their bills.”

Top ten least understood utility bill terms:
1. Calorific Value (CV)
2. Meter point administration number (MPAN)
3. Meter point reference number (MPRN)
4. Kilowatt hour (Kwh)
5. Actual reading
6. Tariff
7. Estimated reading
8. Tariff Comparison Rate (TCR)
9. Fixed rate
10. Dual fuel