A new government scheme will help schools and academies overcharged by energy suppliers to clawback the cash. The Department for Education has contracted energy consultancy to run an energy cost recovery service, which will be optional for schools and trusts. The company will carry out audits to look for 鈥渁nomalies and billing errors鈥�, then recover funds. The DfE said it would help support schools 鈥渋n this economic climate鈥� as they came under 鈥渋ncreasing pressure from increasing costs鈥�. It has predicted schools spend 拢1.3 billion a year on electricity and gas following huge hikes to energy bills. The scheme aimed to 鈥渄rive value for money鈥� by 鈥渆nsuring that schools can be assured that they are and have been billed accurately for their energy bills鈥�. It would also facilitate 鈥渂etter access to their own data to help them manage and monitor their energy consumption鈥�. PCMG would look at up to six years of bills. It said energy billing was 鈥渟urrounded by complex structures鈥� and 鈥渋naccuracies can happen for a multitude of reasons and can remain undetected for a long time鈥�. A case study on its website shows savings of 拢173,950 for Hull City Council. Tim Golding, an energy expert, said overcharges could relate to VAT, climate change levies and third-party charges incorrectly applied by the supplier. Micon Metcalfe, a school finance expert, said a trust she once worked for paid a small fee to have its energy bills checked. 鈥淭hey would check we paid the right amount of VAT, check the metering was correct and check we were being charged for the right site. We found once that one school was sent the bill for another school.鈥�