How to Get Emergency Electricity for Your Business

For the remaining around 4 million customers in the UK who get their electricity via a prepaid meter, the question of what to do when the money runs out is a very real one. Prepayment meters are no longer much more expensive than standard meters by default, but with a 10% cost increase coming on the 1st October and colder weather coming, the answer for some would be emergency electricity. 

Emergency electricity is provided by your energy supplier when you run out of credit on a prepayment meter. Prepayment meters allow you to pay for your gas and electricity in advance. There are many reasons why this could be the case. It could be that you’ve been sick or otherwise unable to get your credit paid. You might be awaiting payment yourself. In these situations, emergency credit prevents the electricity from being cut off.  

Understanding Emergency Electric

Emergency credit is effectively an ‘overdraft’ on your prepaid meter. Should you have one, you should always keep a regular eye on how much is being used. Emergency electricity credit can be activated for most prepayment meters when your credit amount reaches a certain low amount. Your energy supplier will likely provide up to around £5 to £10 of emergency electricity supply; just enough time to put some money on your key. Some operators will not disconnect over bank holidays, weekends, and evenings. You can check your supplier’s specific policies on their website. 

How to Get Emergency Electric

If you have a prepaid meter, you should regularly monitor your usage and remaining credit amount. For most prepayment meters, emergency electricity credit can be activated when your credit amount reaches 50p or less. As with an overdraft, this must be paid off the next time you top up your credit. You’ll have to pay the emergency electricity credit back before you can use it again.

Emergency Electric Top-Up Options

The exact way you top up your meter will depend on its specifics. Traditionally, this would be done at a Post Office or a shop with the Payzone logo. Payment is made with a key that you plug into the meter, registering the payment that you’ve made. Increasingly, though, there are other, more convenient options available to some pre-paid meters, such as online top-up methods through websites and mobile apps. 

How Long Does Emergency Electric Last?

Of course, the amount of time that emergency electricity lasts will depend on your energy use. Certain appliances, such as washing machines, tumble dryers, and heaters, can drain electricity very quickly, while others use a relatively small amount.

You can save on electricity by not running your more energy-hungry appliances, keeping lights switched off, and unplugging anything on standby that is not being used. But you should know that such a small amount will not last very long, perhaps as little as a day, so you should address the matter as soon as possible to ensure your power doesn’t cut out altogether. 

Managing Your Electric Emergency Credit

The best way to prevent yourself from getting into a pickle with a pre-paid meter is to ensure that it’s always well stocked. You may choose to put a large amount on it on the day that you get paid, for example. It’s best to keep a regular eye on your meter. By checking it daily, you can get a rough idea of your daily usage. Only use your emergency credit when you have to. Some suppliers may charge emergency credit at a higher rate. 

Are There Any Additional Fees for Using Emergency Electric Credit?

There are no additional fees for using emergency credit, but you should add the cost of what you used onto your next payment to clear that amount. Although no fees are charged, electricity used in emergency credit may be charged more. 

There are some people for whom prepaid meters are the best option. Those who are paid irregularly may not want to worry about having a certain amount of money in their bank account as an inevitable fate. But if you have one and want to change, there may be no better time to, with prices set to rise in October and the winter months coming. It could well be to your benefit to make that switch now!