Evaluation of the benefits of a fully re-programmable two way prepayment system

The use of electronic token operated prepayment metering has become the norm, within the UK, for power system customers with a poor record of payment, or those living in temporary accommodation. The lower cost of use and increased security, compared with coin operated meters, has contributed to the rapid increase in these meters. Eastern Electricity, a division of Hanson plc, is the largest public electricity supplier within the UK and covers eastern side of the country. Eastern Electricity took the decision to operate two different electricity prepayment systems some years ago, and decided that the time was right to examine the financial case for consolidation onto a single system. For this reason it was decided to carry out a pair of trials to evaluate the new prepayment systems that were on the market. The results of these trails are described by the author.