Prepayment Meter Electric

Adviceuk3

Obviously we are all worried about our energy bills. However could someone advise here I am aware that a key prepayment meter can hold up to 255.00 at any one time and also the key can hold up to 255.00.

Let's say for instance the meter is rammed up to 255.00 before the price increase and 255.00 is put on to the key prior to the increase how will the energy providers distinguish what to charge given your on a PAYG rate?

All I assuming is the bill would be adjusted to what they think you may should have been charged.

Your thoughts on this? What would happen? And worse case sceanrio???

[Deleted User]

Hi,

think I read on other thread that when you top up meter after the new prices take affect, then your prices will change then, might be wrong.

Adviceuk3

It's a weird one. I think personally not sure when you use the key again it would transmit the meter reading to the supplier and they would charge you portionally from previous meter reading to the new one. So net effect you would be in debit if I am thinking correctly.

Gosh they haven't half got you over the barrel even if you pay more now but use after April also.

Adviceuk3

Anyone else can advise? As considering it but have nasty feeling come when all the credits taken off the key and meter the new meter reading would be sent to the supplier and actually cause a debt. As the meter is not running parallel with the bill?

Adviceuk3

Just had a look around it seems they would still charge with an estimate reading of the meter at the new rate on the bill so when you top up next would have a debit to pay. Think answered my own question

Curiousgirl1

I thought a meter key could only hold £49 max & the meter £249 but could be different for each company. I believe the info is transferred when the key is charged but unsure if there is a time limit when the key needs to be inserted. If you top up the meter to the max before the prices change, then you will be charged old prices until that runs out and in theory when you put the key in the meter nothing should change until you charge the key again. Bills for pp meters tend to be for info only & are rarely accurate as the data is usually well behind. There is no harm in asking your energy company how it would work to see what they say. 

wild666

When I had a pre payment meter the prices increased on the date in question and not after the credit bought before the increase ran out was charged at the new price. 

MWT

wild666 said:

When I had a pre payment meter the prices increased on the date in question and not after the credit bought before the increase ran out was charged at the new price. 

Then it would have to be a smart meter, or old enough for it to have been a coin meter where the rate was changed manually.

With the key type meters the rate is only updated when you pay for a top-up after the change date and load that top-up into the meter.

Adviceuk3

The issue is the bill isn't it? I am aware regardless it's prepayment that people still recieve a bill? Wouldn't they estimate if not received a reading what it would be and then charge the new rate onwards?

You can top up in 49.00 amounts but maximum the key can store is 255.

Curiousgirl1

Adviceuk3 said:

The issue is the bill isn't it? I am aware regardless it's prepayment that people still recieve a bill? Wouldn't they estimate if not received a reading what it would be and then charge the new rate onwards?

You can top up in 49.00 amounts but maximum the key can store is 255.

I wouldn’t worry about bills if you have a PP meter. They are rarely accurate & an energy company doesn’t have the time or resources to go through them & recalculate whether what you’ve paid matches what you’ve used