Smart prepayment meters: Helping you stay in control of your energy
The worry for a lot of people with prepayment meters is that they will run out of credit and with that, go off supply. They dread the ‘low credit’ warning late at night when the shops are closed, a problem millions of households know all too well.
A smart prepayment meter can change that. You get near real-time data and flexible top-up options so no more dashing to the shops before they close.
What's a Smart Prepayment Meter?
A smart prepayment meter is the next generation of energy meter. You still top-up before you use any energy, however unlike traditional prepayment meters that use a physical card and key, there are more convenient ways to add credit to your meters as you can top-up a smart meter via an app, text message or online. Smart meters also come with a handy in-home display (IHD) that shows your credit balance in near real-time, helping you avoid running out of credit unexpectedly.
How to Budget with a Smart Prepayment Meter?
A smart prepayment meter gives you more control in managing your energy budget. You can monitor your energy usage with your IHD to see where you are using the most energy, so you can then make informed decisions on ways to reduce your usage and over time, save money.
Here’s how you can us a smart prepayment meter to manage your energy costs:
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Track High Usage
- Your IHD will show data on where you’re using the most energy and how much you’re using each day. Pay attention to where those spikes in usage are and adjust how you use appliances such as ovens, washing machines and showers.
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Set a Daily Budget:
- Track your daily usage charges and set a budget to help you stay on track.
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Top Up Instantly:
- You can use a mobile app top-up instantly when your credit is running low.
Simple Top-Up Methods for a Modern Home
One of the biggest benefits of a smart prepayment meter is the freedom and convenience of topping-up. You’re not tied to shop locations or opening hours.
Most suppliers, like E, make it easy for you to top-up via a mobile app, online or via text message so you can top-up from the comfort of your home or, on the go. You can even set alerts to warn you when your credit is running low, so you know to top-up.
REGISTER INTERESTFAQ's
No, smart prepayment meters are not more expensive. Due to the ease of topping-up and the ability to track what energy you’re using and when, households find that they actually save money.
A traditional prepayment meter requires you to top-up using a key or card at a physical location, such as a PayPoint or Payzone outlet. With a smart prepayment meter, you can top-up via a mobile app, online or via text message so you don’t even need to leave your home. Smart prepayment meters also come with an in-home display (IHD) which allows you to track your energy usage in near real-time to see where you’re using the most energy.
Yes. If you have a smart meter installed, it can usually be switched between a prepayment tariff and a credit tariff remotely, without the need for an engineer visit. You'll need to contact your supplier to discuss your options.
No, you don’t need Wi-Fi as a smart meter uses its own secure wireless network to communicate with your energy supplier.
If you have a SMETS2 meter, the second generation of smart meters, then these are designed to work with any energy supplier.