Masonic lodge to fight huge bill

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A masonic lodge in Edinburgh has been hit with a £100,000 electricity bill - because its supplier said it has two meters which have never been billed.

Edinburgh Masonic Club said it wanted its meters independently checked, after the British Gas bill was sent to its premises in Shrub Place Lane in July.

British Gas insisted the fee was right because it said the club had two unbilled meters.

The energy firm said it hoped to reach a "mutually agreeable resolution".

'Easy payment'

Club secretary James McLean said the average electricity cost for the past few years had been between £12,000 and £15,00 - and had been paid by direct debit.

He said he was not impressed with British Gas' efforts to find a solution and that the club was prepared to fight the company's claim.

"One lady has said she'll take £10,000 off the bill if we paid it fairly quickly," he said.

"Another suggested easy payment terms to facilitate the arrears being paid over a number of months.

"How on earth you get easy payment terms for £100,000 I do not know."