A NEW study has revealed that householders in the North West are anxious and confused about gas and electricity bills.

Around 42 per cent of residents said they were concerned that they are paying for more gas and electricity than they consume, and 53 per cent said they did not trust any energy supplier.

The survey — the largest ever piece of independent research into attitudes towards the energy market and smart meters — was carried out by Populus for Smart Meter Central Delivery Body (SMCDB), the organisation created by government to lead public engagement during the national smart meter roll-out.

Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of the Smart Meter Central Delivery Body, said: “Our research shows that more than half of the population feel they cannot trust any energy supplier.

“In an era when we are able to compare, record and track of our household spending more easily than ever before, two in five of us have no idea whether we’re paying too much for our energy.

“Today, still over a year ahead of the start of the mass roll-out of smart meters, almost half of consumers told us that they are interested in having one installed in their homes.”