Gas Networks issue leading to inflated estimated bills

An issue affecting meter readings has led to some gas customers receiving inflated estimated bills, which consumers have reported are many multiples of the amount that their bill would typically be.

Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) has confirmed it “was made aware of an issue affecting a number of estimated gas meter readings provided to gas suppliers” and has apologised to customers over the problem.

It’s understood inaccurate readings were provided by GNI to suppliers for some energy users covering 9 – 12 October.

The utility – which is responsible for the operation of the country’s gas network, including metering usage – said the cause of the issue, the nature of which has not been disclosed, “has been identified and fixed”.

GNI also said gas suppliers have been informed of the situation and have paused issuing further bills to customers.

The State body added it is working with gas suppliers and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to “address the affected readings and to ensure that the necessary corrections are made to those customer bills”.

There is no indication how many gas customers are affected by the issue.

An Electric Ireland gas customer told RTÉ News that yesterday they received an estimated gas bill of €665.61 for just under two months, despite their bill normally amounting to less than a third of that amount.

In addition, the timeframe covered by the bill was during a traditionally low-usage period with warmer weather.

Many suppliers automatically take the amount for estimated bills from customers via direct debit 14 days after bills are issued.

Bord Gáis Energy told RTÉ News that “no payments have been collected from customers impacted” by the GNI meter-reading issue.

The provider added “we have taken immediate steps to minimise disruption and protect our customers, including temporarily pausing billing and cancelling affected bills to ensure no payment is collected.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Meanwhile, Energia said it is liaising with Gas Networks Ireland “regarding a market-wide issue that has impacted a small number of our customers”.

It added that no Energia customers “will be adversely affected by this issue”.

Yuno Energy said that after an “initial review … it appears that no incorrect amounts have been debited from customer accounts”.

RTÉ News has contacted all of the other major gas suppliers for comment.