Electric key meter-is it worth it

gaz666_2

I have had a key meter for well over a year now and it is by far the best way to pay for your electricity.

I was initially reluctant to have the key meter installed, but a large debt that had built up, meant that I really had no other option. I am paying for the debt at a rate of £10 a week and with my electric use, it works out at £4 a day for me.

I am with Southern Electric and the exact rate I am being charged is 13.11 pence per unit. I am not sure how that compares with their usual rate, but I think it is quite favourable.

The advantage of course is that you don't get any bill at all, so it helps you to budget. It also makes you realise just how much electricity you do use and also more importantly, just how much it costs!

When you have a key meter there is a tendency to be more energy concious, switching things off sooner rather than later and just generally being more efficient with your electricity usage.

The only gripes I have personally are that my meter is located under the stairs. There is always furniture in this area that is awkward to move and it is difficult to hear any alarm going off when the credit on the meter is low.

Another gripe is that you only get one key for your meter and you can't get a second key because it is uniquely coded for your meter only. My key is loaded with £5 of emergency credit so that if the electric cuts off there is always £5 to use even if you haven't topped the key up. But of course you can only use this credit once between top ups. But it's generally enough to tide you over until you are able to get your next credit top up.

But if your credit is running low and someone else needs to take the key with them, then any person left at home obviously can't use the emergency credit! The other annoying thing is that you can't use your emergency credit until the credit on the meter shows less than £0.50. So, for example, if like me you have pulled all your furniture out and you find your meter has £0.85 of credit left, then you tend to just waste the credit down by turning the cooker on (or other high energy appliances), just so the rate drops below £0.50, so you can then use the £5 emergency credit.

There were reports that you could just leave the key in the meter, this would then automatically just credit the meter with the £5 emergency credit when it needed to. Wrong ..... I tried this and it doesn't work and of course if the electric runs out completely, then you have to reset clocks and timers etc.

That said though, I will keep the key meter even when my debt has been paid. Not getting a bill and not needing to have the meter read has obvious advantages, but it would be great if there were more places nearby to top up the key!

ben0121

Prepayment meters dont have to cost more, ok you get the hassle of topping up but I have found a company that sets fair rates for all no matter how you pay.

ebico.org.uk

Ben

I dont work for them just giving a tip so just have a look and if it isn`t for you then dont switch.

ben0121

To GAZ666.

Yeah the 50p limit before you can apply your credit is annoying (it`s set in the meter software depending on the model), but the meter should be set to automaticlly go into Emergency Credit during the hours 8pm-8am or 9am-9pm Summer time.

If not contact your supplier. Some meters are different 10am-10pm 9am-9PM etc, but the code of conduct states meters should not go off in the hours of darkness. Please NOTE this only applies from credit to emergency credit! If you have used all your Emergency Credit then you will lose supply!

Ben



p.s. I read in an earlier post that it also works at weekends it does NOT.