The 4.5 million people who pay for their energy by using a prepayment - or Pay As You Go - meter have been waiting with bated breath for their £66 cost of living payment to arrive.
Because different energy companies are paying the first instalment of the £400 energy rebate scheme on different dates, confusion has reigned as families try to budget for the weeks ahead. Every household will receive the money - paid in six separate payments of £66 or £67 from October to March next year, but the type of prepayment meter you have and the energy company you use will affect how your get the discount
In general, homes with traditional prepay meters - which need to be topped up using a card or key fob- will receive their vouchers by post and those who have smart prepayment meters - which can be topped-up over an app or online - will receive their rebate directly to the meter.
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But each energy supplier also has the freedom to decide how and when it will apply the discount, which has lead to concerns on social media as some families have already received their credit while others are still waiting. Although the rebate was intended for electricity meters, some suppliers are also splitting it across electricity and gas.
To clear up the confusion, we've complied a list of when and how each energy company is planning on paying the rebate.
British Gas
Smart prepay meters: Rebate will be paid as a credit directly to your electricity meter by the fifth working day on the month.
Traditional prepay meters: You should receive your vouchers in the post by the 11th working day of the month, which can be redeemed at the Post Office where you top up your electricity key. Some customers may receive the voucher via text or email which will contain a barcode to scan at the Post Office to redeem the value of the discount.
Bulb
Smart prepay meters: Discount will be credited to your electricity account within the first 10 days of each month.
Traditional prepay meters: You will receive a discount voucher via email or in the post within the first 10 days of each month, which is redeemable at Post Office branches.
E.ON and E.ON Next
Smart prepay meters: The discount will be automatically credited to your meters in the first week of each month. The value of the voucher will be evenly split between your gas and electricity meters.
Traditional prepay meters: You'll get a voucher or special action message (SAMs) in the first week of each month, issued via text, email or post. The vouchers can be redeemed at local Post Office branches.
EDF Energy
Smart prepay meters: The discount will be automatically credited to your electricity meter in the first two weeks of the month.
Traditional prepay meters: You'll receive a Post Office voucher within the first two weeks of each month to redeem when you top up, however EDF has confirmed that if your energy account is in debt, the discount will help to clear this first.
Octopus Energy
Smart prepay meters: Dual fuel customers will get the payment split between your electricity and gas meters during the first week of the month.
Traditional prepay meters: You will be sent vouchers that you can redeem as top-up credit at your local Post Office branch within the first week of each month.
Ovo Energy (including Boost and SSE)
Smart prepay meters: Discount will be sent straight to your electricity smart meter as a credit in the first week of each month.
Traditional prepay meters: A voucher will be sent in the post during the first 11 working days of the month, which can be used to top up either your gas or electricity meters, or both at a PayPoint shop.
Scottish Power
Smart prepay meters: The rebate will be credited to your electricity meter during the first week of the month.
Traditional prepay meters: Customers will receive a voucher in the first two weeks of each month, which can be added to electricity and gas meters at PayPoint stores.
Shell Energy
Smart prepay meters: If you have a dual fuel account, each monthly payment will be split equally across your electricity and gas meters in the first five working days of each month.
Traditional prepay meters: You'll receive a voucher by post, within the first 11 days of the month, which you can redeem at any PayPoint, Payzone, or Post Office branch. The money can be split between your electricity and gas meters.
Utilita
Smart prepay meters: Rebate will be added as credit to your electricity meter but Utilita has not issued the date yet.
Traditional prepay meters: Vouchers will be issued for you to redeem in PayPoint shops., but again, no date has been released.
Utility Warehouse
Smart prepay meters: Payments will be sent remotely to your electricity meter at the beginning each month.
Traditional prepay meters: You'll receive a voucher by post within the first 11 working days of the month, which you can redeem at any PayPoint counter.
Now read:
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- Thousands more to get £400 energy rebate including tenants who pay all-inclusive bills
- Money changes due to hit your pocket before Christmas
