Four million uk households with prepayment meters urged to 'top up' now

MORE THAN FOUR MILLION CUSTOMERS ARE BEING URGED TO KEEP THEIR METERS TOPPED UP AS SUMMER HITS - BECAUSE YOU COULD RUN INTO PROBLEMS IF YOU DON'T. 09:32, 21 May 2025 A prepayment meter

warning has been issued in a summer warning to avoid shock energy bills. More than four million customers are being urged to keep their meters topped up as summer hits - because you could

run into problems if you don't. Citizens Advice warns that failing to do so could lead to unexpected deductions from their credit due to daily "standing charges" that continue

to accrue. The charity has issued an urgent warning for UK households via its Twitter, now X, page. It warned: "If you use a prepayment meter, keep topping up your gas account over the

summer months. Make sure you’re adding enough to cover your daily standing charges so you’re not hit with an unexpected bill this winter." READ MORE NEW UK PRIMARY SCHOOL DINNER RULES

WITH SOME STAPLES BEING 'BANNED' "If you turn off your gas central heating and stop topping up your gas meter over the summer months, then these charges will be waiting when

you next top up," Citizens Advice said. Citizens Advice said: "To avoid being stung by unexpected payments this winter, make sure you’re adding credit to your meter throughout the

summer so your standing charges are covered." Article continues below A spokesperson for Energy UK said: "If you were to switch these costs to the 'per unit' charges,

then those customers disadvantaged by the current system, such as low usage households, would benefit. "But other customers, who might be more reliant on energy or have a less

well-insulated home, could end up paying significantly more." Charlotte Friel, from Ofgem, said last week: "We're looking closely at how these tariffs will work in practice,

but everyone will need to carefully consider which option best suits their needs. "The costs included in the standing charge ultimately have to be paid. But while they may not save

everyone money, they will give people a choice, and greater control over their bills." Regulator Ofgem's new Price Cap came into effect on 1 April 2025, with prepay energy bills

rising by 6% on average. Under the new Price Cap, a typical household on prepay will now pay £1,803 a year. Yet what you pay depends on how much you use and where you live, according to

Money Saving Expert, the site from Martin Lewis, the BBC and ITV star. Article continues below Prepayment meters let you pay for your energy on a pay-as-you-go basis.