Beating the gas & leccy rises!

DenBo_4

I am on gas and electric prepayment meters, and today I decided that every time I buy gas & electric, if I can I would buy some extra(say £5 a time)and also whenever I have a couple of spare quid in my purse I would top up the cards. I reckon this way - due to savings made elsewhere (anyone seen the don't throw waste away - use it! challenge)I could get myself stocked up with "cheaper" gas and electric, if I can I intend to try and get enough on my meters to last all next winter.

Sorry if it's in the wrong place................

freyasmum

Will that work? Because I think it automatically goes up on the meter; therefore it doesn't matter when you buy it?

Sorry about all the questions, I know someone will be along who actually knows what they're talking about, but that's what I thought happened

Tashja

My meters update automatically so I wouldn't be able to "stock" it

T xx

Trow

It's when the electricity is used that matters - not when it is paid for - sorry!

Olliebeak

But it will still help you by stocking up credit on your meter so that in the winter months you won't have to find the 'extra cash' for the meter - just make sure that you continue to monitor how much you are using on a regular basis and not just over-use because you know that 'the leccy won't run out' on you.

Good Luck. It's tough with prepayment meters - I know,I've been there myself with both the gas and the leccy. It's certainly not fair that when you are on your uppers and having to live like that, that they charge you a higher rate for what you do use!

I'm now in a 3 bedroomed house (using gas central heating and hot water) and on a yearly payment scheme by DD (gas and electric with same supplier). I pay less per month than I did in a 1 bedroomed flat (only using the gas fire and hot water!) on two prepayment meters.

DenBo_4

I'm gutted, I thought I had got British Gas well and truly beaten! Well, I suppose I shall still just get more gas n leccy, so that when it goes up I will have some credit stored. Bah, we just can't win against these utility robbers, er sorry, I mean utility giants.

Olliebeak

DenBo wrote: »

I'm gutted, I thought I had got British Gas well and truly beaten! Well, I suppose I shall still just get more gas n leccy, so that when it goes up I will have some credit stored. Bah, we just can't win against these utility robbers, er sorry, I mean utility giants.

If you're willing to pay a bit more in the summer months, would you not be better off on an annual payment plan. That's where they work out your annual consumption, divide the cost by 12 and you pay one twelfth each month. It does mean that you HAVE to make the payments in the summer months (when you hardly use the gas/electric) but is very helpful in the winter months when your consumption is actually higher. Last year, I actually had my payments reduced by my supplier (PowerGen/Eon) - because they had over-estimated what I would use in a year - new tenant in a new property and a new client!

DenBo_4

Ollibeak, thanks for the post, but I prefer the prepayment meter way, if I have no money to buy gas I just use less (or none). If I am feeling flush one week I buy a bit more,in the summer I use barely any gas but I will still get it on my card, put it in the meter and stock up for winter. Also this way if I keep stocking up it gets to a point where I don't have to pay for gas and leccy maybe for several weeks - I love those weeks!

piglet29

DenBo wrote: »

Ollibeak, thanks for the post, but I prefer the prepayment meter way, if I have no money to buy gas I just use less (or none). If I am feeling flush one week I buy a bit more,in the summer I use barely any gas but I will still get it on my card, put it in the meter and stock up for winter. Also this way if I keep stocking up it gets to a point where I don't have to pay for gas and leccy maybe for several weeks - I love those weeks!

We have prepayment meters and do exactly the same!! It is a good idea because as you have said, if you are short one week you know you havent got to find the money for gas and lecky for that week as you will have enough stocked up, and can use the money for something else you need instead.:T

Kaz2904

I remember the days when we used to put £30 a month on the gas and have no heating or hot water for a week. The flat we lived in was like an ice box so cold!

squeaky

Hi all,

I'll move this post across to the utilities board which would be a more appropriate home for it, and I'm sure that someone there will be able to point you to any relevant information on BG's site.

Not to mention comparative costs between prepayment meters and direct debits.

Good luck