GreenSquare's energy advisors are on a mission to ensure residents using older-style token prepay meters aren't paying more than they need to - following changes to the law last year.

The success of a campaign led by the National Housing Federation has resulted in hundreds of thousands of housing association tenants no longer being charged higher prices for their energy just because they pay upfront via prepay meters. All of the gas and electricity suppliers have now removed their premiums and this has saved prepay customers well over £150 million.

But in order to be charged at the the new lower rate customers must ensure their meter has been re-calibrated or replaced. Where the customer has a modern key meter, the supplier can update the meter remotely so that the new rates are charged from the appropriate date, without physically accessing the meter. However, where there is an older token meter in the home, the supplier will need access to the property to manually update the meter with the new rates.

Energy advisor Marc Brooker explains: "Most people who use prepayment meters say they want to carry on doing so as it helps them avoid debt and better manage their spending.

"Unfortunately we have found that many energy suppliers have been slow to respond on this and are still meeting residents who aren't benefiting from the changes introduced last year. So we are advising that anyone with a token prepayment meter checks whether their meter is up-to-date and charging at the new lower rates."

Contact Westlea Repairs Helpline on 01249 466100 to find out more.

Advice is also available online from Consumer Direct.

And anyone worried about paying their heating bills or in need of some easy-to-understand advice on how to save energy can call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99.

[published online 8/2/11]