Hi we've just moved into a rented house and the gas and electric is with npower. However while the gas is on a normal meter the electric is still a prepay meter which we don't want to be on as its more expensive. The landlord has said we can get it changed but how would we do this. Do you have to ring the supplier in this case npower and do they charge you in order to change it to a normal meter? We may also want to change from npower to possiblt e-on and in that case would we contact e-on to change the meter? Thanks for any help. Sarah.

lostsw

I have found this info online

Your first option is to consider reducing your energy bills by switching to a prepayment tariff with another energy supplier. Energy regulator Ofgem estimates that the average prepayment customer can save up to £100, even by staying on a prepayment meter but simply switching to a different supplier. So your switch could pay for itself in a year.

If that doesn’t appeal and you are still set on changing your meters, you will probably have to pay a fee for an engineer to come out and install a standard meter, and this can be quite expensive. E.ON (www.eonenergy.com) for example, charges £100 to swap meters, and you have to be a customer with them for 12 months before you can switch.

No supplier will change your meter for free, whether you are the original tenant of the house, or have just moved in. You may also have to pay a security deposit, as some suppliers will run a credit check on you, in case you run up any debt as a standard meter customer.

Though the up-front charge from your supplier may seem a lot, in the long run you’ll benefit from the cost savings on the new tariff options available to you.

So on the basis that you would not want to pay a fee, you might not want to change, therefore the option is to find the best prepayment tarrif. See moneysupermarket http://www.moneysupermarket.com/utilities/cheaper-gas-electricity.aspx?Source=MSSEMS to find the best deal. Check with Npower first of all about meter change charges and work out whether it is worth it. I don't think other companies can change it over. Once Npower change it, you may then be committed to stay with them for a certain period.

They don't make things easy, do they!!!

Huckster

Thanks for the help we're looking into the cost of changing the meters now.

Just to update we have now given readings and will be getting an account number then switching the meter. Npower aren't charging anything for the meter change and said to leave all we have to do is give 28 days notice. Quite impressed with them.