My Prepayment Meters

karatedragon

I inherited a gas and electric prepayment meter when I moved into my apartment seven years ago. I have found out that the fuel costs to me are:

Gas:

10.42p per day standing charge
2.24p per kilowatthour

Electric:

£1.37 per week standing charge
9.06p per unit

I have been told prepayment is perhaps not the best deal and was wondering if this sounds expensive. if so is it possible to go to a cheaper supplier. I live in the Southern Electric area. Anyone know if a supplier is cheaper?

tripled

A switching site would be your best guide.

anniecave

according to the uswitch website (and I believe this is true) you have to get the meter exchanged for a "normal" meter before you can switch suppliers.

http://www.uswitch.com/Energy/Anyone-Switch.html

I don't know how much it costs to get a meter exchanged in your area, you'd have to phone up your supplier to ask.

By all means look at the switching websites and see if cheaper tariffs are available, I would think long term you would save money by getting a normal meter even if it costs a bit to get the meters exchanged.

tripled

People with prepayment meters can change providers, it may just be you can't do it online or uswitch itself doesn't hold the tariffs, try another or just call around.

roger56

tripled wrote:

People with prepayment meters can change providers, it may just be you can't do it online or uswitch itself doesn't hold the tariffs, try another or just call around.

Try Ebico, they are a fair trade not for profit supplier who charge the same tarriff regardless of how you pay (inc pre payment meter). Southern Electric do their admin and you can run your account online.
They are here:
http://www.ebico.co.uk/en/open/pages/gasandpoweren.php

Man-Alive

Switching from a pre-paid meter to a normal meter should not cost you a penny. I moved to a house with pre-payment meters and changed them over at no cost. As long you do not have any outstanding bills on your account your provider should be willing to change you over, once you give them notice.
In my experience pre-payment meters were a lot more expensive!

cheghead

Staying on pre-payment you have to be looking at Ebico for Gas and Lecky. check https://www.energyhelpline.co.uk