Pre payment meters

[rm88]

Ive never used these before but my new flat has gas and electric pre payment meters which I have to top up. I am unemployed at the moment so it is probably better for me, I can pay what I can afford.
I was wondering how much they would cost for a single person in 1 bed flat, who is good at switching lights/plugs off and not overfilling the kettle, etc.

Also my water is on a payment card top up, how much is that usually? again for a 1 bed flat single person.

 

[deltic1989]

My utilities are on pre-payment meters. For me, with a 3 bedroomed house and also being rather energy savvy, £20 - £25 each on Gas and Electric usually sees us through a week.
When I lived alone in a 1 bed flat it was around a tenner per week on each.
It largely depends on the supplier and area though. Maybe look at Compare the Market, or some other comparison site to see who will give you the best deal in your area.

 

[island]

The main issue with prepayment meters is that they charge way more than people using monthly direct debit and somewhat more than people on quarterly bills.

 

[bluebirdman]

The main issue with prepayment meters is that they charge way more than people using monthly direct debit and somewhat more than people on quarterly bills.

Not true.

PPM's have the exact same price as the Standard quarterly tariff.

Paying by DD gives a 6% discount with most suppliers, although a few smaller ones reward paying this way slightly differently.

 

[DarloRich]

Not true.

PPM's have the exact same price as the Standard quarterly tariff.

Paying by DD gives a 6% discount with most suppliers, although a few smaller ones reward paying this way slightly differently.

they have changed that then because mine was more expensive - i hate them with a passion

 

[bluebirdman]

they have changed that then because mine was more expensive - i hate them with a passion

Do you have any evidence that they were more expensive? Certainly since I started working in the energy industry those with PPM have been charged the same as those paying quarterly on receipt of bill.

It seems more expensive to some as during winter you really do have to feed quite a lot of money into these things. It's always been my belief that if the whole of the UK were forced to use PPM's you would see consumption plummet overnight - a lot of people with credit meters are incredibly profligate!

Those with PPM's - edf and British Gas will change them free of charge to a credit meter, where you can take advantage of the 6% DD discount (subject to passing a credit check).

 

[DarloRich]

Do you have any evidence that they were more expensive? Certainly since I started working in the energy industry those with PPM have been charged the same as those paying quarterly on receipt of bill.

It seems more expensive to some as during winter you really do have to feed quite a lot of money into these things. It's always been my belief that if the whole of the UK were forced to use PPM's you would see consumption plummet overnight - a lot of people with credit meters are incredibly profligate!

Those with PPM's - edf and British Gas will change them free of charge to a credit meter, where you can take advantage of the 6% DD discount (subject to passing a credit check).

We will have to disagree but first hand experience dictates otherwise.

It is some years since i had prepay meter (5+ & i agree things may have changed) but my bills at the time suggested the tariff was higher than having a "normal" meter. I certainly paid more over a measured period (one standard billing quarter) than i did on a "normal" billing system - AND this was even after moving into a smaller house.

Once you have them it is incredibly difficult to change to a standard meter - despite what is suggested - and it is very difficult to persuade them to change your tariff. I will agree that if you have a good record of payment and you move to a house with a key meter they will change it. If you dont they wont. As for a credit check, most people on key meters wont pass one!

If you get into debt they take the money at source meaning you have to put extra on your key to make the lights work. No arranging a sensible payment plan like you can on your standard bill!

Finally you have access only to the open tariff, preventing you from accessing any deals in the market, you have no option to fix or change easily like you do on a standard bill and you often feel like a prisoner!

AND it always runs out at 3am, when no shops are open!

(the gas one was worse than the electric btw!)

 

[island]

Not true.

PPM's have the exact same price as the Standard quarterly tariff.

Depends on the supplier. The Co-op, for example, charges a 50% higher standing charge for prepayment meter users as compared to credit customers. And as I mentioned, the rates are very disfavourable compared to letting the energy company raid your account for whatever amount it thinks it can get away with direct debit.

 

[CatfordCat]

May be worth looking at www.ebico.co.uk

They are a non profit energy supplier, they do not have a daily 'standing charge' and do not charge variable prices depending on how you pay.

 

[Butts]

May be worth looking at www.ebico.co.uk

They are a non profit energy supplier, they do not have a daily 'standing charge' and do not charge variable prices depending on how you pay.

Who said you could use a cat

Seriously, I am on a tariff with no standing charge (Scottish Power) as I use no gas during a lot of the year and it soon mounts up. I had to defect from N-Power when they introduced one I was unable to get out of. Also pocketed £40 from Simply Switch (I think) for the privilege.

 

[island]

I'm going to have to get out a slide rule at some point and figure out which is actually the best rate for me. I use approximately zero gas for around seven months a year. Back in Ireland I had a tariff that had a high rate for the first X units every two months (billing is customarily six times a year there) and then a lower rate after that with no standing charge, essentially a way of collecting the standing charge through a high unit price early on. But not using gas in some months meant avoiding that fee

 

[CatfordCat]

Who said you could use a cat

 

[bicbasher]

I'm on EDF's standard tariff using a prepayment meter and it's exactly the same price as a credit meter, except for the DD discount.

However I do get a dual fuel rebate for having the gas with them which is either credited when I add credit to the gas or electric or in the form of a voucher barcode which can be redeemed at a PayPoint outlet or the Post Office.

 

[bluebirdman]

Depends on the supplier. The Co-op, for example, charges a 50% higher standing charge for prepayment meter users as compared to credit customers. And as I mentioned, the rates are very disfavourable compared to letting the energy company raid your account for whatever amount it thinks it can get away with direct debit.

Correct, those outside the big 6 have slightly looser regulation. Any supplier with under 250,000 customers is exempt from certain green levies - http://www.which.co.uk/news/2011/06/new-rules-announced-for-small-energy-companies-255996/

The lovely people at the coop then use this freedom to truly shaft people with PPM's - at least British Gas and the like are stopped from charging higher than those that pay their bill quarterly.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm going to have to get out a slide rule at some point and figure out which is actually the best rate for me. I use approximately zero gas for around seven months a year. Back in Ireland I had a tariff that had a high rate for the first X units every two months (billing is customarily six times a year there) and then a lower rate after that with no standing charge, essentially a way of collecting the standing charge through a high unit price early on. But not using gas in some months meant avoiding that fee

2 tier billing systems have been outlawed by OFGEM. All new tariffs have to consist of
Standing Charge
Unit Rate.

Ebico have a 0p standing charge (but, obviously, one of the higher unit rates out there).

A price comparison site will tell you what the best tariff is, there are far too many tariffs, pricing regions and consumption patterns for most people to work it out without their help.

 

[island]

Not touching price comparison sites, you just get assumptions made which aren't right and then your phone starts jumping off the hook with cold callers.