“HANG on, I’m not heating Buckingham Palace!” – that’s the reaction of a West Moors pensioner opening a gas bill for £6,479.99.

Barbara High, 68, lives in a mobile home and phones in her meter readings to EDF Energy under its Read Reward scheme.

She actually owed £67.19, but the company has not apologised for the mistake on her spring quarter bill from March 6 to June 9, or explained how it happened.

Barbara, who has been with the company over 10 years, said: “I knew it had been a cold spring, but it was not that cold!

“My immediate thought was that it was wrong, but how on earth can I get out of it?

“I was really worried.

“It took three days to get through to the company, and then the operator just said he didn’t know how that had gone out.”

A correct bill arriving on Wednesday, June 21, did not mention the previous error.

“The lady I gave my meter reading to read it back to me,” Mrs High said.

“I just don’t see how it can have gone so wrong. It’s not like they’ve got the reading round the wrong way, it’s just a crazy amount.”

When the Echo approached EDF Energy, they apologised for the inconvenience caused, and a senior customer services advisor will be contacting Mrs High to apologise.

A spokesman said: “It has been established that there was a miscommunication when Mrs High gave the reading over the phone.

“We will make every effort to speak to her directly and discuss her concerns.”