Martin Lewis tells customers of Octopus, EDF, OVO and British Gas to demand £180 back

Money-saving expert, Martin Lewis, has encouraged customers of energy suppliers such as British Gas, EDF, E. On, Octopus Energy, OVO, and Scottish Power to stake their claim on a possible £180 rebate.

According to Martin, May is the perfect month for consumers to scrutinise their bills and their account balances because those who pay by monthly direct debit often pay a flat rate, regardless of their actual energy consumption. With energy use typically declining in the spring and summer months, many customers accrue credit by overpaying compared to their usage.

The experts at MoneySavingExpert have shockingly disclosed: "Energy firms are sitting on over £3 billion of our cash - around £180 per household. And a decent whack of that should be back in people's pockets."

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Martin was quoted by The Express advising customers: "So if you've done an up-to-date meter reading (or your smart meter has), your bill is up to date, and your direct debit is the right level, now is the perfect time to see if you've too much energy credit. More than a month's worth right now is certainly a lot, so ask for it back."

Though it could be "tricky to do" as companies often present numerous reasons to retain customer payments, he reassured that checking balances now can "defeat the timing excuse - making it all a lot easier.", reports the Mirror.

The latest piece of advice comes after Martin encouraged his followers to check their household bills, including council tax, mobile phone tariffs, and water bills last month, after they rose by at least five per cent in line with the new tax year.

However, in good news for energy customers, prices fell by around 12 per cent in