What first seemed to be a bizarre joke has turned out to be no laughing matter for a Kent woman after a massive electricity bill she received turned out to be correct.

EDF Energy initially blamed a misplaced decimal point for Caroline Strover of Naccolt, near Wye, being sent a quarterly electricity bill for an incredible £6,663.44.

But the energy company now confirms the bill is correct, as EDF had only recorded an estimated reading at the property for the past four and a half years.

The meter had been read five times during that period but each time the meter reader rejected the reading as the figure seemed too high.

It now appears the energy consumption was accurate and the four-bedroom house, which does not have a gas supply, was consuming an abnormally high amount of electricity.

The isolated house is being renovated and was heated with electric heaters during the winter.

Mrs Strover pays £65 per month by direct debit for the electricity, but her correct monthly usage requires a payment of about £175 a month which, with the underpayment over the past four and a half years, has left her in arrears of £6,663.44.

EDF Energy has offered to reduce this figure but Mrs Strover has taken the case to the watchdog Energywatch to see if she is liable to pay for the energy company’s mistake.

She said: “When the bill came it was a worry and then it was a laugh as it seemed the bill was a joke.

“It has now turned serious again and is becoming worse and worse.”

Richard Robinson, spokesman for EDF Energy, said: “We have explained fully to the customer why the reading is so high and apologised for what has occurred.

“EDF Energy has also offered a gesture of goodwill to the customer for the inconvenience caused,” he added.