A review and identification of persistent and emerging prepaid electricity meter trends

The expanding prepaid electricity meter market is globally characterised by innovation and change. In this article we track persistent and emerging trends in the prepaid electricity market for households. To do this, we review important literature noting the benefits and challenges of prepaid meters overtime. We find two forms of trends – namely the persistent and emerging trend – that currently characterise the prepaid meter related literature and market. The persistent trend in literature and the market is the proclivity to echo the savings on electricity and improved budgeting as important benefits for prepaid metered households. However, a fundamental emerging trend is also identified, wherein it is shown that the past decade there has been an intensifying interest of scholarly literature challenging the notion of prepaid meters and its effect thereof, particularly among indigent households. We therefore primarily recommend that there be a development of prepaid electricity meter regulatory mechanisms geared towards protecting vulnerable households.