Prepayment meter - cost of electricity

[CommaChameleon7]

I moved into a HA property last year which has a pre payment meter.
Since I topped up at the beginning of the month the meter seems to be eating the pounds!
I thought prices for prepayment customers were supposed to be down 20% but I seem to be going through approx £6 of electricity a day despite being at work 40h per week!

Am generally quite careful with energy usage and haven't changed my routine or bought any energy guzzling devices. Am at a loss to work out why my energy usage has gone up!

Anyone else experiencing similar?
My supplier is Scottish Gas who are impossible to get hold of on the phone and even less willing to help prepayment customers if you are lucky enough to get through

How big is your house and how many children?

Has your usage (KH/h/Cubic metres) gone up significantly?

AIUI pre-pay meters can be set to recover arrears. When that happens a proportion of each top-up is going to reduce arrears.

Assuming no arrears of your your own is it possible that those of a previous occupant are being recovered?

Have you got it switched into your own name? If not then it's likely you could be paying someone else's arrears off.

I'm in a two bed flat with my 11y DD.
No arrears.

Power seemed to stretch further during the winter! The £66 energy grant covered my for a months usage over winter but I've had to top up by £40 this month and can't understand why.

I think I'll try Scottish Gas again - am on their waiting list to have a smart meter installed, have been since March 22!

Smart meters are ok but I'd definitely look into changing supplier. I'm in a 2 bed flat with dh and 10mo son and we only use max £3 a day with SSE. Shop around as £6 is high

How much electricity are you using each day? Does the cost and usage match?

Turn everything off and see if the dial still moves. Could you have an immersion heater or electric heater switched on that you've forgotten about?

If Scottish Power are useless then switch, even if the price is the same if you go somewhere where you'll get a smart meter quicker (I got one within a couple of weeks of asking with octopus) and are easier to get on the phone then it's worth it. Also look for one with an online account and live chat which can be quicker than phoning and easier especially when they can write figures down rather than having to listen and transcribe them.

To be clear, how much electricity means how many units. Check this as well as the £6, which I agree is very high in summer.

Don't forget the standing charge op seems to be what's more for top up meters.

I'm on one as it was here when I moved in and the other night ours dropped by £3 overnight when we were all in bed 😱

I did online chat after looking at my app to see usage and was told it sometimes falters but will then settle so I'm keeping a close eye on it now.

Do you have the usage app?

Thanks for the tips all. Will have a look into changing supplier. It's a pretty old meter with no app and I've been on the waiting list for a new one for a year.

Is it an all electric property? If so how is your water heated?

Similarly do you have an electric shower? And how many times is it on per day?

You need to get a notepad and take meter readings at a few points each day. I'd try and include before and after showers and a before bed and first thing reading. Make a note of the meter reading and the amount of credit.

If there is a problem with the meter you'll need evidence anyway (I.e if your meter is going up 2kwh but your credit down by £5 something is amiss). If it's not then regular readings will identify the spike and potential culprit.

@Calmdown14 thanks for the tips. I'm still getting used to the prepay. Always had a credit meter in the past!

I'm on a prepayment meter and it has slowed down a little this month so guessing the price change has made some difference for us.