Dealing with energy supplier a nProblem

With the news yesterday that nPower, the energy supplier, has reported a 41% increase in its profits, one Audlem resident suggests the success of the German-owned company may not be down entirely to its 13% hike in electricity prices.

Ian Haughey reports that he switched last month from nPower to Green Electricity for environmental reasons. At the time, he was in credit with nPower – because, he says, the company increases the Direct Debit payments so that the account stays in credit – so he wanted his money back, or at least an accurate statement. Six weeks later, after extended phone conversations with eight (very nice) people at nPower, he still hasn't received either his money or the statement.

Ian says: "I read how energy companies are making impressive profits. No wonder, they threaten all sorts when you owe them money, inundate people with correspondence, up the cost of energy supply, and when they owe you they just delay and delay. It looks like the money markets may make them more money than actually supplying energy."

On the green energy front, Ian also asks how Audlem's own power generating idea using the canal is going on. The webteam can report it's still being discussed with British Waterways but with the recent dramatic increases in the price of energy, the financial case for local hydro-power generation must be getting stronger by the day.

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