The Chequers Inn in Lamberhurst, Kent, which changed hands through a community crowdfunding effort, could lose electricity after owners Becky Gomery and Rich Spicer were hit with a disputed bill.
Here's what to know
The Chequers Inn in Lamberhurst, run by Becky Gomery and Rich Spicer, is challenging a £55,589.77 ($73,442.70) charge from Yorkshire Gas and Power after being warned that not responding could result in disconnection, the BBC reported. The energy ombudsman said the supplier should review the meter concerns and confirm whether it billed the business accurately.
The couple took over the pub in March 2025 and had been paying roughly £2,000 ($2,642) a month by direct debit. Gomery said the dispute began in April, when YGP requested a meter reading and then issued a £39,000 ($51,520) bill that later rose to the final charge.
Papers seen by the BBC show the ombudsman said the available evidence did not establish whether the meter was faulty. It also found that YGP had not "adequately or promptly" investigated an apparent discrepancy involving its registers and the three-rate billing setup.
More background
The disagreement centers on how the pub's meter records usage. Gomery noted that it was supposed to show three separate rates, but only one appeared, and an electrician told the couple the meter might be faulty. They argue that this calls into question whether the Chequers Inn's bill reflects its real electricity use.
She added that Utility Collections told them the account had been moved to its warrants department, and described the daily calls as "harassing."
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The couple and their 12-year-old child also live above the Chequers Inn. Gomery said they were told a disconnection could still happen because the child was older than five.
What's being done?
As part of its response, the ombudsman told YGP to inspect the property to check whether the meter is working properly and whether YGP billed the Chequers Inn correctly. It also called for an apology and £150 ($198) in goodwill.
The YGP spokesperson said, "As the matter is under review by the energy ombudsman, it would also not be appropriate to comment on the substance of the dispute while that process is ongoing. We will, of course, fully engage with the ombudsman's process."
Gomery said they want an amended bill and to be released from their three-year contract. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council lists the Chequers Inn as a community asset, and the couple is also running a fundraiser to aid Hospice in the Weald.
"This is going to ruin us if they cut us off," she concluded. "It will have a massive effect on the business."
Where can I learn more?
The Chequers Inn's billing dispute is one example of the wider pressure businesses and households face over electricity costs. These stories explore business energy savings, grid spending, data center demand, crypto mining, and consumer power offers.
• Budderfly is helping companies reduce overhead costs of solar while cutting utility bills.
• U.S. utilities are funneling customer bill money into transmission, prompting alarms over costs.
• WattBuy lets households avoid being scammed by confusing electricity offers and fees.
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