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> That when we started implementing prepaid electricity meters: you estimate how much you will consume over the course of a month, you buy those kWh on a monthl

> That when we started implementing prepaid electricity meters: you estimate how much you will consume over the course of a month, you buy those kWh on a monthly basis These are a really old idea, there were coin operated electricity meters in the UK many years ago, in the 'everything is analog' era. https://www.google.com/search?q=uk+electricity+meter+coin&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=ALeKk03bpaRomkhovB_nwtOnorJVM-m_tw:1616141191838&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjbqpWN87vvAhVGK80KHacjCeEQ_AUoAXoECBYQAw&biw=1680&bih=953&dpr=2 https://www.google.com/search?q=uk+electricity+meter+coin&cl...

mattmanser 6y ago
Were? They still exist, my mate has one. It got so full over lockdown he had to whack it to fit more pound coins in. Also, every now and then he moans about finding enough coins in this day and age. I think most of those sort of meters are now prepay cards in the uk, but the coin ones still exist.
- mnahkies 6y ago
  Interesting I wasn't aware of coin operated traditional meters. Modern prepay meters in the UK can be topped up from your phone, or by entering a code if it fails to reach the meter. Your friend should see if they're are to get a smart meter installed, it should be free though not all suppliers install smart prepay meters AFAIK
  - gadders 6y ago
    30 odd years ago, I had the intermediate version where it was an electronic "key" that use put money on by paying at corner shops.
    - secondcoming 6y ago
      This is still the case today. It's a total pain in the arse trying to find an open shop that can top-up at 11pm
      - mnahkies 6y ago
        You shouldn't need to top-up that late in the evening - friendly credit should be applied in most cases after 8pm, caveat elec only and it will shutoff at 8am Although some older models don't have this Ref https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360019836271-If-you-run-out-of-credit-on-a-top-up-prepay-meter https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360019836271-If-yo...
  - mattmanser 6y ago
    Yeah, I keep telling him, but it's up to the landlord and he's one of the starving-artist types who doesn't want to rock the boat in case he decides to put the rent up :).
babayega2 6y ago
Indeed. In our country you just pay over your mobile phone (using USSD) and you get in return a token that you can type in the electricity meter and you've finished loading electricity for the next months

mattmanser 6y ago

Were? They still exist, my mate has one. It got so full over lockdown he had to whack it to fit more pound coins in. Also, every now and then he moans about finding enough coins in this day and age. I think most of those sort of meters are now prepay cards in the uk, but the coin ones still exist.

mnahkies 6y ago
Interesting I wasn't aware of coin operated traditional meters. Modern prepay meters in the UK can be topped up from your phone, or by entering a code if it fails to reach the meter. Your friend should see if they're are to get a smart meter installed, it should be free though not all suppliers install smart prepay meters AFAIK
- gadders 6y ago
  30 odd years ago, I had the intermediate version where it was an electronic "key" that use put money on by paying at corner shops.
  - secondcoming 6y ago
    This is still the case today. It's a total pain in the arse trying to find an open shop that can top-up at 11pm
    - mnahkies 6y ago
      You shouldn't need to top-up that late in the evening - friendly credit should be applied in most cases after 8pm, caveat elec only and it will shutoff at 8am Although some older models don't have this Ref https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360019836271-If-you-run-out-of-credit-on-a-top-up-prepay-meter https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360019836271-If-yo...
- mattmanser 6y ago
  Yeah, I keep telling him, but it's up to the landlord and he's one of the starving-artist types who doesn't want to rock the boat in case he decides to put the rent up :).

babayega2 6y ago

Indeed. In our country you just pay over your mobile phone (using USSD) and you get in return a token that you can type in the electricity meter and you've finished loading electricity for the next months