A MAN who lives alone told how he was left gobsmacked after being send a £20,000 gas and electricity bill...for just one month.

Shocked Ian Branch, 32, checked his online statement last week - expecting to see his usual bill of under £70.

He was left speechless when he saw it was over 28,000 per cent more than usual - a whopping £19,167.08

Ian, who works in IT and lives alone in Grays, said: “It was a bit of a shock getting it through.

“I looked online as I always do and saw it was telling me for November, I’m estimated over £19,000.

“No way can I afford to pay that - it’s not far off my annual salary.

“I really don’t understand how they think I could’ve spent that on electricity - I live alone!”

Ian, who lives in a two-bedroom end-of-terrace house, usually phones energy provider npower with his latest gas and electricity readings before his bill is generated.

His bill for gas and electricity is usually under £70 - with last month’s reading standing at £68.

After seeing the monumental November bill on Tuesday, Ian immediately called npower - who he claims failed to explain why he was being asked to pay so much money.

He added: “Obviously I tried to speak to them about it but they didn’t want to help.

“There is no way I could use that much on my own.

“When I tried to find out what was going on they were not helpful and left it at that.

“The lady on the other line looked on the system and said she couldn’t help.

“She said ‘why don’t you wait till January.’ I wanted to get it resolved there and then though.

“They have given me nothing but aggro.”

He added: “It’s come at a bad time if they do want that kind of money, with Christmas round the corner - I don’t know what I will do.”

After Ian went public about his ordeal, npower vowed to call him to apologise.

The firm has admitted the bill was a mistake - putting it down to his meter reading being entered into the system incorrectly by a call handler.

A spokesman for npower said: “The £19,000 that is showing online is an error. He hasn’t actually been billed that amount – this is down to incorrect meter readings being entered.

“We will give Ian a call to apologise and explain what has happened.”