Energy comparison customers in Hawkhurst, Kent, could be plunged into darkness after the local council cancelled its street-lighting contract.
Hawkhurst Parish Council withdrew custom from energy supplier EDF when the costs of lighting streets increased by 40 per cent "overnight", ThisisKent.co.uk reports.
Andrew McTrusty, council clerk, told the news source that the utility bill for November 2010 had risen from £550 a month to £720.
"If we stayed with them and continued paying more, then it would not be within our budget," he explained.
Instead, the local authority has run a search on commercial electricity deals and members have agreed to sign up for a 12-month contract with E.ON.
An EDF Energy spokesman told the news provider that the energy supplier has invited the council to contact it for details of contract prices.
"Contract prices are cheaper than deemed rates as we can forecast a customer's demand with greater accuracy and purchase their energy in advance. This can lead to savings for the customer," he explained.
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