TOP MARKS FOR TOP-UPS

Thanks to smart meters, renters who prepay for energy can now top up their accounts anytime, anywhere

As winter arrives and you want to feel cosy at home, it can be a real headache finding time to top up a prepay meter when you need to. That’s where a smart meter in prepay mode can really come in handy compared to a traditional prepay meter. When your credit is running low, there is no need to have to face the wind and rain to top up. And the good news is that even if you’re renting, you should be able to get one fitted if you haven’t got one already.

Kelly George, 44, from Plymouth, Devon, says: “Whenever I was running low on gas and electric, you could guarantee it would be dark and raining and I’d have to trudge to the shops. “Even worse if it was late and the shops were shut. “Since having my smart meter installed in prepayment mode, I don’t need to leave the house and can easily top up any time, day or night, from the comfort of my sofa.” Like analogue meters, smart meters in prepayment mode measure the gas and electricity you use, and you pay in advance for energy. Ceri Hallett says being able to top up her smart meter by phone has made life much easier. Ceri, 29, who rents in Cardiff, says: “I’ve got the app on my phone and I can top up in a matter of seconds – it’s literally the click of a button. “I’ve had the smart meter in prepayment mode for about 18 months and it has made a huge difference to our lives. I used to stop everything, get my coat on and head off to the shop when I noticed it was running low, which was a huge inconvenience. “Once I’ve topped up on the app, the electricity goes on immediately and the gas within half an hour. “Not only is it easy to top up, but the smart meter display makes it easier for budgeting too. I can see how much I’ve spent and if it’s high one day, we can use it to try to find ways to save energy. It’s a win-win.”

The smart meter display can show your available balance (figures for illustrative purposes)

“A smart meter display gives you a much better idea of what energy is being used and when”

“I can top up any time, day or night, from the comfort of my sofa”

The smart meter display allows you to see how much energy you are using in near real time, making it easier to get budgets under control. In a shared house, smart meters for prepay customers are a great way to help everyone see how much energy is being used when, and allocate the cost sharing accordingly. “I rent a room in a two-bed flat that I share with my flatmate,” says Lauren, 31, from Northamptonshire. “We didn’t know each other before I moved in. We’re effectively strangers who live under the same roof and, for ease, we just split all bills 50/50. “However, my flatmate works from home, so he uses a lot more energy than me. “I work from home only once a week and am away most weekends. “A smart meter display gives you a much better idea of what energy is being used and when, so we reviewed what we were spending and now he pays a larger share of the energy bills in a way we both felt was fair.” Over time, a smart meter in prepay mode will give you an idea of how much credit you might need each month. If you rent and the energy bills are in your name, you can arrange to have a smart meter installed. But it’s a good idea to let your landlord know before requesting yours from your energy supplier. Even if your bills are included in your rent, it’s worth asking your landlord if they’d be happy for you to get one. Seventy-two per cent of landlords recently surveyed by Smart Energy GB said they’d be happy to have one installed in their property.

Smart meters for prepay customers at a glance…

What is a prepay smart meter? Smart meters in prepay mode, sometimes known as “smart pay as you go”, measure the amount of gas and electricity you use. Customers pay in advance for their energy. Why does it make topping up easier? Unlike traditional prepayment meters, which can only be topped up at shops, smart meters allow you to top up online or via app, phone or text, as well as at shops. Government or energy supplier support can be added to the meter automatically, without needing a voucher through the post. For example, when the Energy Bills Support Scheme ran from October 2022 for six months, credit could be put automatically onto a smart meter for those who had them installed, at the start of each month. How does it work? Each smart meter is connected to a secure network and sends readings to the energy supplier. The smart meter display shows how much energy you are using in near real time.

Find out more about smart meters for prepay customers* at smartenergygb.org

*Consumer action required. Eligibility may vary

Life is easier for Kelly since having her smart meter installed

Get a smart meter

Find out more about smart meters for prepay customers* at smartenergygb.org

Get a smart meter