Electricity key??

dll

Hi,
We are looking at a flat and something that came up that the agent didn't seem to know all too much about was the way the electricity worked in the flat. Apparently you need some sort of key for it which you add credit to.

A couple of questions, which I hope the helpful users here will be able to answer:

1) Can someone explain to me a little more about what this is and how it works? Is it a monthly top up? Roughly how much per month?
2) How readily available are places that you can add credit?
3) How does the cost compare to a normal electricity meter with a standard supplier?

With thanks.

HannahIOW

We have one of these, nasty horrid things. It's not a monthly top up, more that you top it up, and use it til it's almost run out then go get some more. As far as I know you can top it up anywhere you see the blue 'Paypoint' sign, most newsagents normally. I believe the cost is far more than a standard supplier seeing as we are getting through around £20 every 5 days or so! And we don't actually use many appliances at all, most of it is used up by the storage heaters which if we didn't use them we would freeze.

dll

Thanks for your reply.

Agh - not quite what we wanted to hear in terms of cost. Just to try make a comparison... we're looking at a largish 2 bed - is that comparable size-wise? Also, we're both out at work in daytime, so it's just evenings and weekends.

Thanks again for your help

davetrousers

Key meters = Expensive tarifs

Premier_2

dll wrote: »

...
1) Can someone explain to me a little more about what this is and how it works? Is it a monthly top up? Roughly how much per month?

You pay as you go
(but can still end up with a credit/debit on your account if things don't quite work out right)
There may or may not be a daily standing charge (see answer to 3 below about possibility of changing supplier/tariff)

dll wrote: »

2) How readily available are places that you can add credit?

fairly readily; the supplier will give you info of at least a couple of local places. Typically they may be local paypoint stores but exact details may vary with supplier.

dll wrote: »

3) How does the cost compare to a normal electricity meter with a standard supplier?

Usually about the same or less than the equivilent standard tariff the supplier offers to their credit metered customers.
You can also switch suppliers if you want. Use the comparison sites in the resource bar abobe to see if you can get a better deal (but you'll need to know your anticipated annual consumption in kWh to get an accuracte result)

nickyQ

It is useful

markharding557

HannahIOW said

We have one of these, nasty horrid things. It's not a monthly top up, more that you top it up, and use it til it's almost run out then go get some more.

There is nothing to stop any pp user applying more credit than needed during the warmer months ready for winter.
this is how dd works,it can work this way on prepayment too.:D

the_other_woman

Hiya,
We had one in the house we bought 2 years ago and we havn't removed it. We are with E-on at the moment and their rates are brilliant. We pay approx. £10 - £13 a week for it and it runs a 3 bedroom semi detached property (only 2 adults live here tho) You never have any unexpected bills, are always up to date with payments and can top it up a little extra when you have available funds. It's a good payment system.

Important: Make sure you phone the company with the meter readings the day you move into the property to ensure you dont have any unexpected charges applied for previous users.

Regards
x

Mankysteve

Key meter are not that expensive now days. But anyway.

You should be able to get it switched if you like but it might cost you. Your free to move around suppliers if you wish.