Music studio powerless after energy firm dispute

A music studio has been without power for three weeks following a long-running dispute with its energy provider.

The owner of the Rehearsal Rooms in Bury St Edmunds said he was disconnected from the network by Yorkshire Gas and Power on 3 June.

Two months earlier, an ombudsman had instructed the energy firm to fix the studio's potentially faulty smart meter and recalculate the venue's electricity usage.

Neil Attridge says he has paid the company an extra £5,000 - for electricity he claims he never used - but the power still has not been returned.

"It has been really tough and just all-consuming. I am losing a lot of business," said Mr Attridge, who has owned the rehearsal studio for 20 years.

The stressful saga started about a year ago when Mr Attridge switched energy supplier to Yorkshire Gas and Power, which installed a smart meter at the studio.

He said that for months, he was charged three times what he previously paid.

The 50-year-old asked the company to replace or fix his meter, but it never did, and after paying about £2,000 in bills, he contacted the ombudsman.

"They asked them to write me a letter of apology and give me £200 credit on my account, which they did," he told the BBC.

"But they also asked them to change the meter and to take accurate readings for the next six months so they can bring my account up to date, which they haven't done."

The ombudsman instructed the company to "install a new smart meter" and "rebill the account" – in a ruling document seen by the BBC - dated 4 April.

On the 23 May a warrant, also seen by the BBC, was issued by Birmingham Magistrates' Court giving the firm powers to enter the studio and disconnect the electricity.

CCTV footage dated 3 June captured the moment three men gained access to Mr Attridge's studio during the middle of the day.

"They put a pole through my letter box, angled it up to the electric 'out' button and gained entry and then cut me off," he said.

"They did have a warrant but they did not supply me with the warrant so I had no idea they were coming to disconnect my supply.

"They can send people round to turn me off but not to replace the meter."

Since the energy was cut off, Mr Attridge has had to rely on a "very noisy" generator to keep his business running.

"It has not been going down well with neighbours and some people have not been happy to come in to rehearse on a generator, so bookings have dropped off," he said.

Mr Attridge, with the help of the generous music community, said he had since raised the £5,000 Yorkshire Gas and Power had asked for in order for the electricity to be switched back on.

But, two weeks later, he says the company has yet to restore power and his business very much remains in the dark.

"My wife and I have been through breast cancer recently, so we realise it is just money," he said.

"But this has been absolutely exhausting and so stressful and they have given me no help or support at all.

"I love this place and I just want to get it back online."

Yorkshire Gas and Power was contacted multiple times by the BBC but did not respond.

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