Conqueror Milling Company General Manager Michael Campbell was shocked to receive a bill last month approximately twice his usual bill and upon closer inspection noted that the increase could be put down to a new “network charge” - a fee no one has been able to explain to him.

The mystery network charge represents more than 60 per cent of the total bill.

The charge comes after Mr Campbell and other local business owners and managers were forced onto new contracts, which Country Energy initially implied would save them money.

The new contracts were specifically designed for businesses which use large amounts of electricity, and according to Mr Campbell no option was presented, he was told Conqueror Milling Company must go onto the new contract.

“Country Energy has done this with no notice and no reasoning at all,” Mr Campbell said.

“It is just a massive cost on business which we didn’t see coming.”

Given the most energy intensive activity at the mill is the manufacture of animal feed pellets, an activity which accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the business’s workload, Mr Campbell said animal feed pellets is likely to be the area cut back if a positive resolution cannot be reached on the matter.

“It just would not be sustainable for us to continue to manufacture pellets, we would have to increase our prices so much to cover electricity we would be pushed out of the market,” he said.

After receiving the unusually high bill, Mr Campbell contacted Country Energy to find out just what the charge related to.

When the electricity provider was unable to give an answer Mr Campbell contacted the Energy and Water Ombudsman.

Continued correspondence with both Country Energy and the ombudsman has failed to find a solution to the issue as yet, however Mr Campbell says he is pleased both now realise there is a problem and he is confident of a good outcome.