Prepaid meters have become very popular today and many people use them for electricity and gas. This is a plan that means that consumers pay for energy before using it. It works in the same way that prepaid mobile phone services work, so when you run out of credit you need to recharge, otherwise your gas or electricity supply is cut off.
Different energy companies offer different types of prepaid meters, with key meters being one of the options you have. These are meters that come with keys electronically encoded specifically for your meter and have your rate information. There are also smart card meters, which work by downloading information about energy use and sending it to your provider when you recharge. Token counters are the third type of prepaid counters even though they are slowly disappearing in some areas. Some use cards, while others allow you to buy tokens directly from your mobile wallet to continue enjoying the energy.
The advantages
Prepaid gas and electricity have the advantage of managing your energy use. When you pay for energy that you can afford at that particular time, you can limit your use to last as long as you want.
Meters let you know when you are misusing your energy, so you can easily devise measures that reduce your consumption. They make it even easier for homeowners to know how efficient new and existing appliances are so they can make any necessary changes.
The prepaid option saves you unexpected high bills. This is because you only use what you have paid for and therefore you don’t have to worry about bills at the end of the month.
They save you estimates that can end up overcharging you. This is because prepaid meters do not require any meter reading to be billed.
You can still take advantage of the rates if you have a compatible prepaid meter. It simply means that you can determine your prices depending on when you decide to use your electricity.
The disadvantages
Most prepaid meters are flat rate, which means you pay the same for electricity and gas regardless of what time you use them. It is a plan that, therefore, can be more expensive in terms of energy supply.
Meters can sometimes be uncomfortable because you need to be vigilant and have credit at all times to avoid disconnections when you least expect it. This means that you need to have everything in order even when you are sick to avoid disconnections.
The advantages of prepaid meters outweigh the disadvantages and it might be a good idea to consider installing them. Some energy companies are now phasing out old meters and adopting prepaid meters, and you can easily make a switch if you think they are the best option for your energy needs at home.