Households with pre-payment meters could be shelling out around £700 per month to heat their homes when the cost of energy rises from October. Around four million customers use pre-payment meters in the UK.
People with pre-payment meters top them up themselves, paying for what they use in addition to a daily standing charge. Customers who use the pay-as-you-go method top up a key or card at a Post Office, PayZone or PayPoint before inserting it into the meter.
Those with smart pre-payment meters can top it up online or, in some instances, through their energy provider's app. Such households are likely to be hit the hardest by the rising cost of energy as they tend to have lower incomes than customers who pay for their energy via direct debit.
