British Gas 'fabricating readings' as bill soars 232%

Poole Hill Brewery, based in Poole Hill, Bournemouth town centre, warned back in October it may have to shut because of the financial strain of rising energy bills. 

But bosses said they have just found out that their half-hourly three-phase meter has been non-operational for an entire year. 

They accused British Gas of “fabricating” readings that “far exceed the actual consumption” and have lodged a formal complaint. 

Poole Hill Brewery (Image: Daily Echo)

Poole Hill Brewery is home to Southbourne Ales (Pictured Jennifer)

Owner Jennifer Tingay said: “We are now out of contract and cannot take on a new contract without a working meter and meter reading. Meanwhile the made up bills continuing to soar.” 

Jennifer said to mitigate costs, staffing reductions were made by not replacing staff when they left for other jobs, resulting in Jennifer working upwards of 90 hours weekly. 

Last December, the brewery’s bills amounted to £2614 - a 232 per cent increase from December 2022's £785 bill, despite efforts to reduce electricity consumption. 

Read more: British Gas quotes man £13,000 a year for his electric

Co-director Sheldon Young added: “I’ve been really worried about Jennifer, she’s been working herself to exhaustion for over a year now to keep the company operational and bills paid.  

“Payment of these bills has been coerced monthly with the threat of instant cut-off, because it’s a smart meter they can do that from their side, so she’s been fighting termination of her successful business with no negotiation.  

“This has prioritised their payment above everything, so to find out the readings are fictional is extremely vexing.  

“We have been wondering why all our attempts to reduce energy consumption have failed, and now we know.  

“It does beg the question, is it someone’s job to make up these figures, or is there a computer program running it, which could imply a pre-considered strategy of dishonesty?” 

A spokesman for British Gas said the brewery's last contract was at the height of the energy crisis but the firm has offered to discuss a new contract.

He said: “Poole Hill Brewery’s previous contract was taken out at the height of the energy crisis, it has now ended, and we’ve called the owner Jennifer to discuss a new contract at lower rates.

"In addition last year we helped to reduce her balance by over £3k through our Small Business Energy Support Fund.

"In regards to her meter, we will ensure that an engineer attends to take a look and replace it if necessary so that we receive her meter readings automatically.”  

Meanwhile, bosses at the home of Southbourne Ales and Tingays recently announced they are to become a supplier for one of the UK’s largest pub companies, Stonegate Group. 

The family-run business founded in 2016 will supply its real ales to Stonegate’s 4,800 pubs and bars. 

The brewery, which started in 2012 in Lyme Regis, moved into its restored premises in Poole Hill in 2017 after raising £250,000 from investors.  

Poole Hill Brewery, which was awarded silver at the International Brewing Awards, offers live music nights six nights a week, with genres including jazz, folk, rock and more.