Advice Please Pre Pay Vs Billing quarterly

richviking

I have just moved onto my house and am paying for both Gas and Electricity on prepay meters.

We have spent this month £30 Gas & £30 electricity already.

Is this over the odds and do you feel I would benefit from not having the meters. Or is this just the norm with it being a heavy usage month.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Ken68

Credit meters are cheaper,richv...and a discount is usually given for paying by direct debit.
Ebico are the only providers that charge the same for prepayment as for credit. However no discounts are given, and have straightforward bills, with a no tier structure. Economic for low users.
If moving best to change meters before.
Always subject to credit check of course.
P.S....if you know your annual consumption, from where you lived before, put it into a comparison site, like Energyhelpline. So much depends on size of property, and other factors. Welcome to the board. If you post more details, lots of help available.

richviking

Thanks for the welcome and advice Ken.

This is my first property so im a bit naive as ive nothing to compare my usage to.

I know that the winter months are going to be pricier just wasn't sure how much to expect.

millymollymandy2K7

Have you checked to make sure there was not an outstanding debt which may be getting paid back via the meter? If there is your supplier can arrange an appointment for a wipedown to remove a previous tenants debt. I think with alot of suppliers now the actual cost of the electric/gas is no more expensive with a prepayment meter but you will always have a standing charge, except with Ebico, and as Ken also rightly said you won't get any discounts or airmiles, nectar points or whatever your supplier offers.

olly300

millymollymandy2K7 wrote: »

. I think with alot of suppliers now the actual cost of the electric/gas is no more expensive with a prepayment meter .

With some suppliers it still is more expensive to have a prepayment meter simply because there are so many different tariffs around. The best thing to do is swap to being billed quarterly* and if you can't do that switch prepayment suppliers so you get a cheaper rate.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/jun/27/utilities.utilities

*Before you chose a firm find out who has the most complaints so you can avoid them.

richviking

Thanks Olly that article was exactly what I needed to make my miind up.

Im gonna get on and sort making the change.

Cheers everyone for your advice.