How to Clear Debt on Electric Meter

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

Are you worried about debt on your electric meter? We’re here to help. Every month, over 170,000 people use our site to find answers to their debt worries. We know that dealing with energy debt can be hard, but don’t be scared. We have lots of great tips and guidance for you.

In this guide, we will help you to understand:

What electric meters are and how they work.
How debt can build up on a prepayment meter.
How to clear the debt on your meter, even if it’s not yours.
Different ways to save energy and cut down your bills.
What help is available for people struggling with energy debt in the UK.

We also have advice on how to legally write off debt if things get too tough. Believe it or not, Citizens Advice reports a record number of people seeking help for energy debts, with almost eight million borrowing money to pay their energy bills in the first half of 2023.¹

We understand your worries, and we’re here to support you through this tough time. Remember, you’re not alone.

Let’s get you back in control of your energy debt.

Why is my prepayment meter in debt?

Prepayment meter arrears can arise for a number of reasons including:

At the time you began using an electric meter you already had an outstanding debt with an electricity company which has been transferred to the meter
You have received credit for electricity in an emergency situation and now have to pay it back
You have run out of credit
You have agreed to a repayment plan with your electricity company and have missed a payment so it has been added onto your meter as a debt
The debt is carried over from a previous tenant

In all cases, you can successfully clear the debt and get reconnected, even if you do not have the money to pay it.

There are ways to ensure that you can continue to receive electricity without too much worry. You can read more on this via our Prepayment Electric Meter Debt – 2022 Tricks article.

As always, it is important to remain in contact and transparent with the electricity company about your position, which leads me to the next step, which is finding the correct electricity company to get it sorted out.

How a debt solution could help

Some debt solutions can:

Stop nasty calls from creditors
Freeze interest and charges
Reduce your monthly payments

A few debt solutions can even result in writing off some of your debt.

Here’s an example:

Situation

Monthly income	£2,504
Monthly expenses	£2,345
Total debt	£32,049

Monthly debt repayments

Before	£587
After	£158

£429 reduction in monthly payments

If you want to learn what debt solutions are available to you, click the button below to get started.

Get started

So how do I clear debt on a prepayment meter?

Clearing energy debts is possible. You can clear the debt on your electricity meter, whether the debt is in mistake or not yours by contacting your supplier.

I suggest you ask for details on how to request a debt clearance.

Normally you will be able to visit your energy suppliers’ online page and make a request for a debt clearance there.

If you can’t find this information online, you can just call up your energy supplier and ask for information on:

– how to clear your meter debt, and

– whether there is a debt clearance form available.

In order to fill out the debt clearance form you should have:

Your meter serial number
The relevant meter readings
Information about any damage to your meter
Information regarding an error message that is displayed on your meter

Once you have these details jotted down, you can either fill out the debt clearance form or contact your electricity supplier directly.

Either way, the next step is for your energy provider to give you an RTI code.

This will be sent to the email address listed on the occupant’s account.

Once you have this code, head to your nearest PayPoint shop and ask for the code to be installed on a blank key.

You can then use the key to reset your meter.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

How do I find out who my electricity supplier is?

If you are unsure or don’t know which energy company is supplying your meter, you can find out who your electricity supplier is by contacting your energy network operator.

You can see who your energy network operator is via this page (just scroll to the bottom of the article where there is an option for you to enter your postcode).

There is also a map that shows who your energy network operator is, based on the region where you live, which provides the information at a glance.

Once you have found the information, I suggest you contact them by phone, email or post and ask them who your energy supplier is.

Thousands have already tackled their debt

Every day our partners, The Debt Advice Service, help people find out whether they can lower their repayments and finally tackle or write off some of their debt.

I’d recommend this firm to anyone struggling with debt – my mind has been put to rest, all is getting sorted.

Get started

Reviews shown are for The Debt Advice Service.

There is debt on my meter that is not mine, can you wipe it?

Yes, you can wipe a debt on your meter that is not yours.

Electricity debts tend to attach to properties and not individuals, so there is a chance that you may have a debt on the meter which isn’t yours.

If this is the case you can contact your supplier with proof of your move-in date (for example via a tenancy agreement) along with all relevant meter readings and they can sort this out for you.

Schemes that help to clear energy debts

There are schemes and grants available that could help you pay off a debt accrued with an energy provider.

I’ve listed several of them here:

I suggest you contact your energy provider to find out whether you qualify for a grant or scheme. Please take a look at the table below to learn more about the various energy debt solutions at your disposal.

Energy Debt Solution	How It Can Help Pay Off Your Energy Bills
Installment Plan	Pay in smaller and more manageable monthly amounts until the debt is cleared
One-Off Payment	Reduce debt, and possibly get a discount, by paying a lump sum
Appealing for a Bill Reduction	Get a reduction by providing evidence of errors in your energy bill or a detailed explanation of your situation
Negotiate Contracts	Ask for a temporary reduction in tariffs, a pause on payments, or a longer-term payment plan
Switch Providers	If your current energy tariff is too high, consider switching to a cheaper provider
Energy Supplier Hardship Funds or Schemes	British Gas Energy Trust EDF Energy Customer Support Fund OVO Energy Fund Scottish Power Hardship Fund npower Energy Fund E.ON Next Energy Fund
Government Grants and Schemes	Winter Fuel Payment Warm Home Discount Scheme Cold Weather Payments Local Council Support Child Winter Heating Assistance Breathing Space Scheme
Support for Alternative Fuels	If you utilise alternative fuels like oil, LPG, wood, coal, or biomass to heat your home, you may qualify for extra financial help. Speak to an adviser or check with your local council for potential grants or schemes.
Seek Advice from Debt Charities	Debt charities offer free advice and practical solutions – they can help you understand your options, negotiate, and set up payment plans with energy providers.

Debt resources available in the UK

If you’re struggling with your finances and worried about the future, I suggest you contact one of the leading UK debt charities.

UK Energy Debt Help is available.

Charities provide free debt advice which could help you through a difficult time.

Citizens Advice

StepChange

Debt Advice Foundation

National Debtline

Money Helper

What happens if I don’t pay my electric meter debt?”

Your provider could send the debt to a debt collection agency or they may apply for a CCJ to be registered against through the court.

What rights do I have if I can’t afford my electricity bill?

If your bills are too high and you can’t afford to pay, your supplier has an obligation to help you (regulated by Ofgem). They could create a payment plan. You could ask for emergency credit if you’re on a prepayment meter.

Can my electricity be cut off if I have debt?

If you don’t agree on a payment plan to settle your debt, your supply could apply to the court for a warrant to disconnect your supply. They must send you a notice of their intentions first.