Save Money and Energy: How Bill Validation Ensures You’re Not Overpaying on Utilities

It’s frustrating to discover you’ve paid more than you expected, whether that’s missing out on a two-for-one deal at the supermarket or being overcharged for drinks at a restaurant.

It’s equally annoying when you open your gas, electricity, or water bill and get the feeling that you’re spending more than you should be. 

When you think you’re paying more for your business utilities than you should, bill validation can give you peace of mind and ensure you get any money you’re owed back.

Join us as we look at the benefits of bill validation, how to get started, and how Tritility can help keep your energy bills in check.

What is Bill Validation?

Bill validation is when a third-party business (like an energy consultancy) assesses your energy bills to make sure you’re not overpaying.

If you are overpaying, the consultancy will submit a refund claim on your behalf with the aim to get your money back.

What are the Benefits of Bill Validation?

There are a some key benefits to bill validation through an energy consultancy.

Firstly, it saves you money. If you’re looking for ways to cut costs within your business, bill validation is a quick win. Some companies can save thousands of pounds by getting their bills checked. 

Secondly, it saves time. Reviewing your energy bills and contacting your energy provider to arrange a refund can be time-consuming, especially if you’re a multi-site business or on a highly complex contract. Leaving the work to someone else frees you up to focus on growing your business.

What Errors Can Bill Validation Discover?

Bill validation picks up on a multitude of errors in your energy bills. Here are some of the bigger errors it can identify:

• Admin errors. Sometimes an energy supplier can place you on the wrong energy contract, forget to apply agreed-upon discounts, or bill the wrong amount
• Miscalculated VAT. While most companies will pay 20% VAT on their VAT, some businesses (like charities) can be eligible for a reduced rate of 5%
• Estimated billing. If an energy provider can’t get a meter reading, it will provide an estimated bill based on previous usage and national trends. If this estimated bill is higher than your actual usage, you may be eligible for a refund
• Meter faults. While most meters are accurate, they can sometimes not work correctly, leading to incorrect billing
• Late payment charges. Some energy suppliers may charge fees or interest if bills aren’t paid on time. If you were charged mistakenly, you can claim the money back
• Incorrect levies and taxes. You might be charged a non-commodity cost you don’t need to pay. For example, your energy provider may claim a climate change levy (CCL) when you’re exempt

What Do I Need to Validate My Bill?

The more information you can provide to your energy consultancy, the better.

As a bare minimum, you will need to provide current and historical energy bills and a copy of your energy supply contract. This will help the consultancy make sure you are paying the rates that your contract specifies.

Meter readings and historical consumption data can help paint a comprehensive picture of your energy usage too.

Your energy consultancy will let you know what documents they need to check your bills.

Should I Get My Energy Bills Validated?

All businesses should get their energy bills validated to make sure they’re paying the right amount – mistakes can happen to everyone after all.

However, bill validation is especially important if:

• You use a lot of energy
• You have a complicated energy setup; for example, you operate across multiple sites
• You’ve recently changed your energy supplier or moved premises
• Your energy bills are higher than normal 
• You want to reduce business costs

Take Advantage of Tritility’s Bill Validation Service Today

While you can check your bills yourself, this can take time and effort. It’s far better to get a trusted, experienced energy consultant to review them for you.

We make energy management as simple as possible with our bill validation service. 

With several years of experience in the energy sector, our skilled team understands exactly what to look out for, to ensure your bill is accurate. We’ll also explain our findings in plain English and keep you updated about your refund claim every step of the way.

The great thing about our bill validation service is that we don’t just check one bill. We can carry out proactive annual reviews to catch any errors, so you have peace of mind that you’re paying the right amount.

Get in touch today and take the first step towards ensuring your energy bills are more accurate.