Using a Keypad Meter

Close up of keypad Similar to buying top-ups for a mobile phone Keypad meters are ideal for those who prefer to budget weekly. Customers with Keypad meters get 2.5% discount off the standard rate and can buy top-ups from many local agents or over the telephone 24 hours a day.

If you are interested in a Keypad meter please call our Customer Helpine at 08457 455 455 (8am-8pm, Mon-Fri & 9am-1pm Sat)

How do I buy electricity top-ups?
Buying Top-ups online using your Debit Card.
Buying Top-ups over the telephone using your Debit Card.
Buying Top-ups from a local agent.
How do I register Credit?
What do the display messages mean?
How can I reduce the amount of electricity I use?
What happens if I lose my receipt?
What happens if I am unsure whether I have keyed in the Powercode
What happens if my credit is low?
What happens if my credit runs out?
What happens if my emergency supply runs out?
Full list of keypad displays

How do I buy electricity top-ups?

When your meter is installed we will give you a Keypad plastic card which you will need to buy electricity. You can buy top-ups in several different ways

Buying Top-ups online using your Debit Card.

You can buy Top-ups online using your Debit Card and your keypad plastic card.

Buying Top-ups over the telephone using your Debit Card.

Call our Customer Helpline at 08457 455 455 - before you call please make sure you have your special Keypad plastic card, your Debit Card and a pen and paper. When you call:

You will be asked to enter the 19-digit Premise Number from the front of your Keypad plastic card and the amount you wish to buy.
You will then be asked for your Debit Card details. If all your details are correct you will be given a special number called a Powercode.
Please write the numbers of this Powercode down carefully. If you wish this PowerCode can be sent to your mobile phone as a text message, free of charge.
Simply key this number into your keypad and the amount of electricity you have bought will be credited to you.

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Buying Top-ups from a local agent.

You will need to take your Keypad plastic card with you to your local agent.

The agent will swipe your plastic card through a terminal and will give you a receipt for the amount of electricity you have bought.
On the receipt will be your unique 'PowerCode' number
Simply key this number into your keypad and the amount of electricity you have bought will be credited to you.

How do I register Credit?

Simply key the '*' button and enter your 'Powercode' number carefully.
If you make a mistake key the '*' button to backspace until the mistaken number is deleted and then key in the rest of the PowerCode.
Then key the '#' button. A message will be displayed.

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What do the display messages mean?

ACCEPTED - You have keyed the 'PowerCode' number correctly. The amount of electricity you have bought will appear followed by the word 'Account' and then by the amount of credit you now have.
REJECTED - The meter has rejected the 'PowerCode' number. This will be followed by a message telling you why the number has been rejected.
DUPLICATE - This means you have already keyed in this 'PowerCode' number. Wait until the message clears, key the '*' button and then key in the correct 'PowerCode' number. (If you key button '4' you can see the last 5 'PowerCode' numbers used.)
INCORRECT - You have keyed the 'PowerCode' number incorrectly. Wait until the message clears, key the '*' button and then key in the correct 'PowerCode' number.
WRONG TAR - Our tariffs are reviewed annually in April. You did not key in your special 'tariff change' number to update the rate at which your electricity is charged. Key the '*' button and then key in the special tariff change number. Now key the '*' button again and re-key the last 'PowerCode' number bought.
CREDIT HI - You have too much credit in the meter. Simply keep your 'PowerCode' number in a safe place until you have used up some credit. Then key the '*' button again and key in your 'PowerCode' number.
ERROR - There has been a delay of more than 20 seconds between keying-in each digit. Please key the '*' button again and re-key your 'PowerCode' number. (Repeat this process should the message 'Error' appear again on the display.
KBLOCK - This means that your 'PowerCode' number has been rejected at least 5 times in a row. Wait until the message clears, and then re-key in your 'PowerCode' number.

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How can I reduce the amount of electricity I use?

Pressing button 1 your Keypad tells you the number of days credit left, based on the last week's usage. This is just a guide as you may use more or less electricity week by week. REMEMBER when your meter is first installed it will be one week before this display is accurate.
Pressing button 2 your Keypad gives you information on how much electricity you use in £ and pence over the last day, week or month(s).
Pressing button 6 your Keypad also tells you what electricity you are currently using in kilowatts allowing you to work what each appliance uses.
Using the above information you can hopefully better understand how much electricity you are using and when. You can take steps to reduce how much you are using. For some energy saving tips please click here.

What happens if I lose my receipt?

Please keep your receipts in a safe place.
Should you lose your receipt before entering the 'PowerCode' number into the Keypad, please ring our Customer Helpline at 08457 455 455 and we will re-issue the 'PowerCode' free of charge.
If you prefer you can get the agent where you bought the Top-up to re-issue the 'PowerCode' free of charge.

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What happens if I am unsure whether I have keyed in the Powercode

Key the 'PowerCode' number into the Keypad. If the message REJECTED appears followed by DUPLICATE, this means the 'PowerCode' number has been used before.
OR you can see the last 5 Powercodes already entered by pressing the '4' button. Each 'Powercode' keyed will appear in groups of 5 digits.
Each time you press the '4' button it will display the next group of 5 digits.
By keying the # button you can move backwards through each group of 5 digits.

What happens if my credit is low?

When your credit reduces to £1 (£2 for Economy 7) you will hear a low-volume warning sound for two minutes.
Press any button to turn the sound off.
The sound will be repeated every thirty minutes until a button is pressed. However it will not sound between 10pm and 8am.

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What happens if my credit runs out?

You can buy a Top-up from one of our many agents with long opening hours or by Debit Card over the telephone.
You will automatically get £1 emergency supply once you press a button to turn off the warning sound.
If you have not pressed a button to turn off the warning sound your supply will switch off. Should this happen simply key any button and your emergency supply will come on after a few seconds.

What happens if my emergency supply runs out?

We provide 'Friendly Credit' to give you enough time to buy a Top-up. If your emergency supply runs out during the week after 4pm the supply will not go off until 8am the following day. If your emergency supply runs out after 4pm on a Friday the supply will not go off until 8am the following Monday. Remember the next time you buy electricity, the amount of Friendly Credit used will be deducted from your balance.

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The full list of Keypad Displays

Key 1 Credit time left in days.
Key 2 Previous days/weeks/month(s) costs.
Key 3 Unit rate cost and number of units used at those rates.
Key 4 The last five 'PowerCode' numbers entered.
Key 5 Total money entered into the meter.
Key 6 Electricity presently being used (in kilowatts or £ and pence).
Key 7 Standing charge repayment rates per day (NONE AT PRESENT).
Key 8 Peak electrical demand (in kilowatts) over the last 24 hours and the time it occurred.
Key 9 Total units of electricity used (kilowatt-hours).
Key 0 Display Test / Time and Date.
Key 0 To acknowledge low credit buzzer and activate emergency credit.
Key * Before entering 20 Digit Code.
Key # After entering 20 Digit Code.

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