Meters & how you pay
Keypad meters: what nobody tells you
Keypad (pay-as-you-go) meters are far more common here than in the rest of the UK, and there's a myth that you're stuck with whoever installed it. You're not. Several suppliers compete for keypad customers, and the discounts are real.
You can switch on a keypad
Switching is a supply change, not a meter change — in most cases the meter stays exactly where it is and your new supplier reprogrammes it. No digging, no engineer taking your wall apart.
Emergency credit isn't free money
It's a loan. When you next top up, part of your payment clears the debt first, which is why a £20 top-up sometimes feels like it vanished. Top up a little more often and you'll avoid the sting.
Watch the standing charge tick over
Your daily standing charge keeps counting even when you're away, so a week's holiday can leave you in emergency credit when you get home. Leave a bit of credit on before you go.
Direct debit is usually cheaper — but only if it suits you
Monthly direct debit deals are normally a few percent cheaper than keypad rates. That said, if the keypad is what keeps you in control of your spending, that control has real value. Compare both and decide with your eyes open.
If you ask us
Don't let anyone tell you keypad customers can't switch. You absolutely can, and it usually takes about ten minutes.
Using less helps. Paying less per unit helps more.
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