Industry regulator OFGEM is poised to penalise the company in a rare victory for hard-up households.
Confirmation could come as early as today. It would be the second fine levied on Npower in less than three years.
In 2008, the German-owned giant paid £1.8million after doorstep salesmen were found to have tricked customers into signing up for gas and electricity.
Npower also had to refund £70million to 2million customers last year in a billing fiasco. Both Ofgem and Npower refused to comment last night.
Sources claim they are still thrashing out the details of the announcement.
But industry experts said it was a sign the regulator is finally getting tough with Britain's Big Six energy giants.
Richard Lloyd — executive director of Which? — said: "If they are flexing their muscles it's overdue but very welcome." Ofgem fined BRITISH GAS £2.5million for mishandling complaints in July. At the time the regulator said it
was also investigating Npower and EDF on the same grounds.
Energy Ombudsman figures show complaints are soaring.
It dealt with 632 customers fobbed off by their supplier in September — up 81 per cent on the same month last year.
The Sun extended its Keep It Down petrol campaign last week to urge the Big Six power firms to play fair.
27/10/2011- Thesun.co.uk
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