Looking for Advice on Power

rose-n-thistle

HI wondering whether anyone can help me.

In a few weeks time Im moving in to a brand new house as the one Im moving out of is going to be bulldozed under the areas regeneration.
At the moment I have a key meter for Electric and a Card meter for Gas which I like in this house but I have been told the new houses dont have those type of meters in them as the company sends a bill out.

Now Im on benefits and a single mum and I know i would not be able to afford a bill for power. I was speaking to someone the other day and they mentioned that when i contact the power company nearer the time I could ask for a payment card where I can pay so much a week on to cover the power.

So need to know if they do that sort of thing or i plead with them they will put in a key meter for electric and a card meter for gas as I dont want to be in debt on power in a new house. The company im under for electric and gas is Scottish power if that helps.

Id be very grateful Thank you.

anniecave

you could certainly ask for a payment card (or pay money into a savings account of your own every week and use that to pay the bills).

or if you ask they should be quite happy to exchange the meters for prepayment meters if you'd prefer - there shouldn't be any charge for this either.

If I can I'd personally keep the normal meter and look for the cheapest supplier and ask to pay by monthly direct debit ( if you have an account that can do this) as the tariffs are cheaper. You can keep an eye on the meter readings and make sure your payments are covering your usage

but i quite understand if you'd prefer prepayment - that's up to you

anniecave

oh and well done for taking your electricity and gas bills seriously and knowing how to budget - so many people don't have a clue or don't bother or deliberately try to avoid paying their bills!

Magentasue

Cheapest tariffs are where you manage your account online and pay by monthly DD. Can't see any reason why you shouldn't pay weekly by DD. Or ask about making weekly payments with a card.

To keep in control, round up how much a kwh for gas and elec will cost. For example, if your gas costs 3.5p per kwh, allow 4p. Then learn to read the meters (especially the gas. Read every week and keep a record (spreadsheet or pen and paper) and work out the weekly cost. Bear in mind higher winter use - if you pay monthly, you pay the same all year round.

Most DD payments are set at 1/12 of the annual bill so you build up a credit balance Apr-Oct and then run this credit down Oct-Apr (approx).

CloudedPearl

I note that you live in the south of Scotland area - if the supplier(s) at your new address is ScottishPower, their prepayment tariff rates are less than their standard quarterly or weekly tariff rates so you would save by having prepayment meters installed rather than paying weekly and most suppliers are happy to install prepayment meters free of charge. EDF Energy and British/Scottish Gas have aligned their prepayment tariff rates with their standard quarterly rates. However, for all suppliers, paying monthly by direct debit offers the cheapest tariff rates and if you can afford to do this, this would be the most cost effective option.

As it's a new property and you will likely be unaware in advance of how much your energy costs will be, you can agree a monthly instalment value and then contact your supplier with meter readings a few months down the line to confirm if your payments are in line with your usage and the payments can be adjusted accordingly if you have a debit or credit balance without you having to pay the full amount outstanding if your payments have been less than your actual usage.

rose-n-thistle

anniecave - Thank you for your advice and yes I do take my electric and gas bills serious as we need power all the time whether it is for heating or putting appliances on.

Magentasue - Thank you for your advice as well looks like everyone has the same idea Direct Debit which I am thinking about.

CloudedPearl - Thank you for your advice, Im Scottish Power at the moment and I am going to take them with me to the new property as i have had no problems with them.

Again thank you all for your advice been very helpful for me.