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Understanding prepayment meters, how they work, advantages and disadvantages, and how to switch from or to a prepayment meter.
A prepayment meter (also called a pay-as-you-go meter) is a type of energy meter where you pay for your gas and electricity in advance, usually by topping up a key or card at a shop or online.
Instead of receiving a bill at the end of the month, you pay upfront and the meter deducts money as you use energy. When the credit runs out, your supply is cut off until you top up again.
The process:
Types of prepayment meters:
Where to top up:
How to top up:
Smart prepayment meters:
Budget control:
For people with debt:
Flexibility:
Higher costs:
Inconvenience:
Limited options:
Stigma:
Common reasons:
If you have debt:
Yes, usually:
Requirements:
Benefits of switching:
Yes, if you want to:
Reasons to switch:
Emergency credit:
How it works:
Prepayment tariffs:
Example:
Ways to reduce cost:
Energy & Utilities Writer
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