Over one million British Gas customers are set to benefit from decline in their bills after the supplirt brought forward a pre-payment meter change.
The supplier said that prepayment meter customers will now pay as much as direct debit customers for gas and keep the same discount for electricity prepayment meters. The change, which was implemented by the company on Saturday, allows the average customer getting both gas and electricity from the prepayment meter to be £59 better off per year.
It comes after the Chancellor announced earlier this month that suppliers will be forced to get rid of the "prepayment penalty" where customers on such meters paid more for their energy bills than those paying via direct debit. While British Gas enforced the new rules early, other suppliers have until July to implement it.
Read more: DWP payment dates for first month of tax year - including benefits and Cost of Living bonuses
It means that the average household's savings, not adjusting for less energy use in the warmer months, will save a little under £15 over the three extra months. British Gas has approximately 1.24 million prepayment meter customers, of which 158,000 only have electricity meters and will not benefit from the change.
Chris O’Shea, the boss of British Gas owner Centrica, said: “We know that more help is needed for prepayment customers and we support the Government’s decision to lower prepayment prices to the same level as direct debit customers. We wanted to do more to support this group of customers by introducing this change as soon as we could so British Gas prepayment customers will benefit immediately.”
Read next:
Manchester mural celebrating Paul O'Grady defaced within days of being created
The £4-a-go swimming pool in Greater Manchester with ripster slide, rapids, wave machine and more
The best restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this April
“I wouldn’t be an actor if it wasn’t for Oldham Coliseum," says Christopher Eccleston
