A local council in Yorkshire has appointed a gas supplier after it discovered it had not paid any gas bills for 17 years.

Earlier this month, Beverley Town Council launched an investigation as to why it does not have a gas supplier “despite using and receiving gas since 2004.”

The local authority had previously contacted the gas distribution company, Northern Gas Networks who have confirmed that there has never been a registered gas supply.

Councillor Denis Healy, Chair of Personnel Committee, told ELN: “I am pleased to say that Beverley Town Council now has a gas supplier and that British Gas has undertaken to supply gas, and an account has been set up.

“We are still unclear whether any back payments will need to be made and we are waiting confirmation and clarification on this from Northern Gas Networks.”

Joanna Ferguson, Head of Market Services and Regulatory Compliance for Northern Gas Networks, said: “We work with any party who is responsible for an unregistered gas supply with a view to ensuring that registration takes place and any gas which has been consumed without a registered supplier is paid for.

“We work in accordance with our Gas Act, Licence and the Unbilled Energy Code of Practice to seek to resolve cases we are aware of.

“Beverley Town Council identified the issue with the property to us and the council has now initiated registration of the meter with a supplier and will calculate the unregistered energy on completion of the registration process.

“We will work with the council to reach an agreed mutual position on the final payment, which will be calculated according to standard industry charges for a property of this type.”