Prepayment meters costing Brits dearly
People with prepayment gas and electricity meters are paying over the odds for their power, new figures reveal.
According to energy watchdog Ofgem the average prepayment meter customer could save £100 a year on the cost of their energy by moving provider.
This is far higher than the average £60 a year customers who pay by direct debit can save.
"Prepayment meter customers should take advantage of the competitive market if they are to see further falls in their energy bills," said Ofgem chief executive Alistair Buchanan.
"Our research shows that by changing supplier they can save on average around £100. But in some regions this can be as great as £170 per year."
"Customers should consider whether they would not be better off paying for their energy in another way, but if they prefer budgeting with prepayment meters then they also need to look closely at the many special deals suppliers are offering prepayment meter users.
"Switching supplier is easy and there are big savings available for prepayment customers."
Research from Ofgem shows prepayment meters are typically used by households on low incomes who find them useful for budgeting.
Karen Darby, of comparison service SimplySwitch.com said this group should look to move to cheaper deals sooner rather than later.
"We urge consumers to be proactive and ask their energy supplier to change their prepayment meter to a standard credit meter," she said.
"This will not only mean lower bills, but will also leave them free to switch to a different supplier. As long as the customer isn't more than £100 in debt, their energy supplier should be able to replace their meter for free within a couple of weeks."
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