Prepaid electricity

bitemarx

Hi,

I recently moved into a property that has prepaid electricity and gas meters. I was worried about the usage and the costs intially until this morning a couple of sales guys from NPower dropped by to promote..um..NPower.
However, when I mentioned that I have prepaid meters, they stopped their pitched and said that it's the cheapest option available!

Just wondering if anyone can verify this? Is it, indeed, the cheapest option for power and gas?

Thanx!
Mukesh

SwanJon

Usually it's not cheaper as it costs more for the supplier to run, but there can be exceptions.
Online plans are usually the cheapest.

g0biin

Can anyone tell me where to buy the prepaid cards? at the moment the real estate sells them to my for 9£s a card I want to find out if that is a good price?

mummytofour

g0biin wrote: »

Can anyone tell me where to buy the prepaid cards? at the moment the real estate sells them to my for 9£s a card I want to find out if that is a good price?

Sorry, I am not sure I understand you, are you in the uk? Do you live in a house/flat?

moneymultiplier

Even I have a prepaid meter for Elecy (there is a square button on the meter and it shows the prices as 10.xx for Tier1 and 4.xx for Tier2)..Guess this is indeed the cheapest..I was about to switch to a normal credit meter, but seems like prepay is far more cheap ;-)!

SwanJon

Do you buy paper tokens to put in the meter?
If so, it is possible that your meter hasn't been programmed with recent (2-3 yrs) price changes.
Be careful - some companies are chasing customers for the difference, some are chasing for a capped amount, and others aren't chasing at all - who are you with?

moneymultiplier

There is an electronic key which I can get recharged and insert into the meter, so the credit from the key gets transferred to the meter...

Joyful

Can I suggest you go to your suppliers website and check out what your rates should be? These figures seem too good to be true that I think there may be a problem. Irrespective of what is says on your meter you will still be billed on the correct tariff for your area. If there is a discrepancy unfortunately it's you that has to pay. What area are you in and with what supplier?

moneymultiplier

Ok, I shall check on the website as well..I am about to receive a new key in a few days as I had just called up my supplier in the day and they told me that they would be issuing a new key (as I was using the old tenant's key).

I was going by the rates that are displayed when I press the square button on the meter and it gives various info..Didn't bother to actually go by the actual units consumed and the amount I should be charged for those units.

Shall be careful and check it up..

--qt--

Hello,

I have never had 'billed' Electric. Although I have encountered prepay 'key' metres...
I use £25 monthly... One bedroom flat, washing machien, electric night storage heating and electric boiler tank thing... I am in Full time Employment but I don't use the electricty sparesly at all... laptop TV router and modem are powered pretty much all the time Im in =- ]

Surely its cheaper than being billed ? I know that EDF Energy have just dropped there prices by 5 % from 1st of April on prepay.

You can go to compare the market and choose 'Energy' Tab I cant post the link as a new user...

That website allows you to make your own choice and compare the market lol.