What To Do If You’re Using Prepayment Meters In 2026

Top up smarter to stay in control this winter: build a small buffer, top up before cold snaps/weekends and keep your meter/top-up details and supplier contacts easy to access

Check and activate emergency credit/friendly hours and contact your supplier promptly to ask for extra support or reduced repayment rates, especially if anyone in your household is vulnerable.

Help is available if you can’t afford to top up. LEAP can provide one-to-one advice and may be able to issue emergency fuel vouchers (including in Scotland) to help households stay warm and safe.

If you use a prepayment meter, winter can feel like you’re constantly watching the credit tick down. As well as reaching out to LEAP, here are a few small habits that can make topping up less stressful.

If you only do three things…

Top up before a cold snap or weekend, so you’re not caught out when it’s harder to get to a shop or get help
Know your suppliers’ emergency and “friendly hours” options. They can keep you on supply overnight, on weekends and on bank holidays.
If you can’t afford to top up, ask for help early. Your supplier must offer support, and LEAP may be able to help with fuel vouchers too.

Do a quick “Meter Check” before cold snaps

A five-minute check now can save a lot of panic later.

Know what you’re using: key/card meter, or smart prepay via app/in-home display. (Smart meters often handle “friendly hours” automatically, but check your supplier’s rules.)
Keep your top-up info handy: take a photo of your meter number/PayPoint barcode (if you have one) and store supplier contact details in your phone.
Build a small buffer: even £5-£10 extra, when you can, helps protect you from suddenly running out overnight.

Don’t let standing charges quietly eat your credit

Standing charges apply daily, even if you barely use energy, and can pull your meter into debt if you don’t top up for a while. That’s why small, regular top-ups can be a winter lifesaver.

If your balance seems to disappear faster than expected, it might be paying back:

standing charges
debt repayments set on the meter
emergency/friendly credit used earlier

LEAP also has a helpful explainer on standing charges (and what you can control.)

If you can’t top up (or your supply has gone off)

Step-by-step:

Check the meter screen to see whether emergency credit or friendly credit is available and how to activate it.
Try a small top-up if you can (even a few pounds can restore supply while you arrange longer-term help).
Contact your supplier straight away and ask specifically about:

emergency credit
friendly hours credit
temporary/extra support credit
lowering debt repayment rates if they’re set too high

If someone in the home is vulnerable, ask about the Priority Services Register (PSR) [open in new tab] for extra support.

LEAP Fuel Vouchers: Emergency help when you’re struggling

If you’re on a prepayment meter and you can’t afford to top up, you may be able to get a fuel voucher (usually sent as a code by text/email/letter) that you can use to add credit.

LEAP’s Financial Assistance Scheme may be able to provide fuel vouchers of up to £150 for eligible prepayment households. We’re continuing to issue LEAP fuel vouchers in 2026, with delivery now including Scotland.

Remember your winter “top-up” habits

When every top-up counts, focus on the changes that give the biggest comfort:

Heat the person, not the whole home (layers, hot water bottles, throws)
Only heat the rooms you’re using and keep doors closed
Reduce damp and mould risk by drying clothes in a ventilated room, and avoid drying directly on radiators

Need one-to-one help?

LEAP can help you understand your meter, cut costs safely, check what support you’re entitled to and, if you’re in a fuel crisis, fuel vouchers may be available. You can apply online via LEAP’s application form.