E.ON Next Pay-As-You-Go: Top-Up & Prepayment Meter Guide

Prepayment meters help customers pay for their energy before they use it. This makes it easier to control energy usage and costs. With E.ON Next Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG), you can add money to your meter. You can also get emergency credit and switch to a credit meter if you qualify.

How Do E.ON Next Prepayment Meters Work?

E.ON Next prepayment meters work on a pay-as-you-go system. This means you add credit before you use gas or electricity. These meters help customers keep track of their budgets. They also help avoid big surprise bills.

Key Features of E.ON Next Prepayment Meters

• Energy is paid for upfront – You can only use the energy that you have paid for.
• No monthly direct debit required – There is no need to think about automatic payments from your bank account.
• Emergency credit available – If you run out of money, you can use an emergency credit to keep your energy supply off.
• Standing charges still apply – A daily charge will be taken out, even if you use very little or no energy at all.

Tip: If you run out of credit at night or on weekends, friendly hours make sure your gas supply and electricity supply keep working until you can top up next time.

How to Top Up Your E.ON Next Prepayment Meter

E.ON Next has several easy options for you to add credit to your prepayment meter. This makes it simple for every customer.

1. In-Person Top-Ups

You can load money onto your gas card or electricity key at:

• Payzone Outlets – You can find these at many local shops in the UK.
• PayPoint Locations – These are located in newsagents, supermarkets, and convenience stores.
• Post Office Branches – You can add money at a post office outlet using your electricity key or gas card.

Tip: If you are a new tenant or the previous occupier has left an old prepayment meter, you should contact E.ON Next customer service. This will help make sure that it is set up correctly with your details.

2. Online & Smart Meter Top-Ups

You can easily add money to your meter using Smart Pay As You Go (Smart PAYG) if you have a smart meter.

How to Top Up Online

• E.ON Next Online Account – You can log in and add money with your debit card or bank info.
• E.ON Next App – Get the app for fast and simple top-ups.
• Auto-Top Up Option – Enable automatic payments to make sure you never run out of credit.

Good to Know: There is often a minimum payment needed for online top-ups. Please look at your E.ON Next account for the most recent prices and payment limits.

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Emergency Credit: What to Do if You Run Out of Credit

If you forget to add money to your prepayment meter on time, you can use emergency credit. This will help make sure your supply keeps running.

How to Activate Emergency Credit

• Gas Meter: Put in your gas card and hit the red ‘A’ button to turn on emergency credit.
• Electricity Meter: Put in your electricity key and press the blue button to unlock emergency funds.
• Smart Meters: You can get emergency credit through your meter display or the E.ON Next app.

Important: The emergency credit amount will be taken out automatically from your next top-up. This will happen alongside any unpaid debt amount or overdue repayment plan payments.

What If Emergency Credit Runs Out?

If you do not add money to your meter in a reasonable time frame, it may turn off. To get your power back:

1. Make sure to add enough money to your meter for:
   • Any emergency credit you have used
   • Your standing charges
   • Any repayment for debt
2. Put your gas card or electricity key into the meter.
3. Press the activation button (red ‘A’ for gas, blue for electricity) to start the supply again.

Tip: If you find it hard to pay your energy bills, you can get independent advice. Reach out to the Text Relay service or other groups that offer mental health support.

Understanding Standing Charges & Debt Repayments

Prepayment meters take money out even if you are not using energy. These charges pay for important costs. They help maintain your supply and pay back any money you owe.

1. Daily Standing Charge

Every energy customer, even those with prepayment meters, has to pay a daily standing charge. This charge is a fixed amount. It helps cover the costs of:

• Keeping your gas and electricity supply – This keeps your home linked to the national grid.
• Network costs – This pays for things like maintaining infrastructure, meter readings, and admin for suppliers.
• Government programs – This helps fund programs, like the Warm Home Discount, and efforts to save energy.

Good to Know: The standing charge is added each day, even if you use less energy or go away on holiday. If you don’t add money to your meter often, the standing charge will keep building up. This could lead to debt on your meter.

How Much is the Standing Charge?

The daily standing charge changes based on the tariff and the kind of meter you have. Starting from October 2024, common standing charges for E.ON Next prepayment are:

Tip: If you change to a credit meter, you might discover a plan with a lower standing charge.

2. Debt Repayments on Prepayment Meters

If you have a debt, your prepayment meter will take some money from each top-up to pay it off.

How Does Prepayment Debt Repayment Work?

• You pay back your debt in parts – The meter takes a set percentage from each top-up.
• Debt payments happen automatically – You don’t have to plan the repayments yourself.
• The more often you top up, the faster your debt is paid off – If you top up regularly,paying back the debt gets faster.

Example of Debt Repayments

Let’s say you have a debt balance of £80 and you plan to pay it back at a rate of £5 each week. If you add an extra £20 each week, your available balance will be:

• Top-up amount: £20
• Standing charge deduction: £4.20 (£0.60 for each day of electricity, over 7 days)
• Debt repayment deduction: £5
• Remaining credit for energy use: £10.80

Tip: If you find it hard to pay your debt, reach out to E.ON Next. You can talk about a repayment plan that fits your budget. You can also apply for help from the Next Energy Fund.

How to Reduce Debt & Standing Charge Costs

• Keep adding to your meter, even if you are not using a lot of energy.
• Change to a cheaper plan – Some prepayment plans have lower fees.
• Get a smart meter – A smart prepayment meter lets you manage repayments better.
• Ask for financial help – Programs like the Warm Home Discount can help lower your costs.

Friendly Hours: Avoiding Disconnections

If you run out of credit when it’s not working hours, your meter will keep your supply on. It will stay on until you can refill it.

• Friendly Hours for Electricity: 6 pm – 9 am in winter and 7 pm – 10 am in summer.
• Friendly Hours for Gas: Supply runs during the evenings and on weekends.

Tip: Any energy you use during friendly hours will be taken off your next top-up.

Switching from Prepayment to a Credit Meter

If you want to stop using a prepayment meter, you can switch to a credit meter. Then, you can pay with direct debit.

Eligibility Requirements:

• There is no debt on your meter.
• You need a credit check approval from E.ON Next.
• A smart meter installation is required.

Tip: A credit meter helps you pay over time. This gives you more stability than prepayment meters.

Financial Support for Prepayment Customers

E.ON Next provides several payment support options for their most vulnerable customers.

• Next Energy Fund – Aids customers who have trouble paying high energy bills.
• Warm Home Discount – A £150 cash back for eligible prepayment customers.
• Government Energy Grants – Offered to those who get benefits or disability support.

Tip: Reach out to Relay UK or visit the Relay UK website for help if you struggle with hearing or speaking.

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How to Reduce Prepayment Energy Costs & Switch to a Cheaper Tariff

Lowering your energy costs can help you manage your budget better. It keeps your home warm and powered. Here are some ways to reduce your bills, make your energy use more efficient, and find a good deal using Free Price Compare.

1. Use a Smart Meter to Track Energy Use

A smart prepayment meter lets you keep track of how much energy you use. It also lets you add money online. This means you do not have to go to a local shop or a post office outlet.

• See energy use live – Check your energy use right away on your smart meter display.
• Control spending better – Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly use to manage your budget.
• Easy top-ups – With Smart Pay As You Go (PAYG), you can add money through an app instead of using a gas card or electricity key.

2. Compare Prepayment Energy Tariffs & Switch for a Better Deal

Energy prices can change a lot between different energy suppliers. Changing your supplier can often lead to lower rates per unit or lower fixed charges.

• Use Free Price Compare – You can easily check different prepayment meter tariffs in the UK.
• Find tariffs with lower standing charges – Some suppliers have lower daily charges for prepayment meters.
• Switch at the right time – To avoid exit fees, switch when your contract ends.

3. Apply for Government Discounts & Support Schemes

If you are having a hard time with energy bills that you pay in advance, you might be able to get help from government programs.

• Warm Home Discount – Customers who qualify can get a £150 discount on their electricity bills.
• Next Energy Fund – E.ON Next customers in financial trouble may get extra support.
• Priority Services Register – Customers who are vulnerable can get more help with their energy accounts.

4. Reduce Energy Consumption & Lower Your Bills

Making little changes in how you use energy can greatly lower your costs.

• Get energy-efficient appliances – Change to A-rated appliances to use less electricity.
• Change heating settings – Lower your thermostat by 1°C to save up to 10% on heating bills.
• Turn off appliances on standby – Unplug electronics that you don’t use to save £50–£80 each year.
• Use energy-efficient bulbs – LED bulbs use 90% less energy than regular bulbs.

5. Switch from Prepayment to a Credit Meter

If you can switch from a prepayment meter to a credit meter, you may find lower prices. A credit meter allows you to pay using direct debit, which can help spread out the costs.

• No need to add money yourself – Your bills will be taken out automatically.
• More choices for rates – Fixed rates are usually cheaper than prepayment rates.
• No more extra charges – If you don’t use energy, you won’t have a debt amount from anystanding charges.

FAQs About E.ON Next Prepayment Meters

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