Just 14pc can work out their energy bills correctly

By Richard Evans

Published: 11:27AM BST 28 Aug 2009

Only 14pc of people who were asked to work out how much they owed came up with
the right answer – even though they were allowed to make notes and use a
calculator.

The online test, set by uSwitch.com, the price comparison service, involved a
dummy bill that included meter readings but not the amounts owed. Of the
2,752 consumers who had taken part, 379 or 13.8pc had got it right, the
company said.

Of those who got it wrong, 745 said outright that they couldn't do it – all
other participants attempted, but got the calculations wrong.

Try the test

According to research carried out by the company in June, only 39pc of people
think their energy bills are written in plain English.

USwitch, which is campaigning for simpler bills, has started a
petition on the Downing Street website asking the Prime Minister "to
mandate in law that household energy bills are made simpler, clearer and
easier for consumers to understand". Nearly 8,000 people have already
signed.

Ann Robinson, the director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "You
shouldn't need to be an 'A' grade student to be able to understand your
energy bills.

"It's deeply worrying that only 14pc of people have passed what should be
a straightforward test – it serves to highlight the fact that large numbers
of consumers are in danger of being excluded because energy bills are far
more complicated than they need to be.

"Ofgem [the energy regulator] is looking to address this, but it's vital
that consumers make their voices heard too."