Published Friday, 26 August 2011
The move would save business and domestic customers around £15m over the two years of the price review from 2012.
It would save households an average £25 a year compared with Phoenix's own proposals.
The very largest business customers could see their annual bills go down by £100,000.
The Energy Regulator is proposing to create these savings by writing down the value of the company's regulated assets.
It justifies the move by pointing to work that the company is getting a return on that has not yet taken place.
The Regulator says "gas consumers should not have to pay for pipes before they are built".
The other form of clawback relates to efficiencies the company has benefitted from.
When a regulated firm like Phoenix builds network for less than was expected, it is allowed to charge a return on the difference. Over time this benefit is withdrawn. That's what's happening now.
Phoenix Gas have declined to comment.