Budget Direct Debit (regular monthly payments): how credit and debit works

Ever wondered how you can pay the same for your energy every month, even though you use lots more energy in winter?

The simple answer is that we divide your expected energy costs for the year ahead by 12. This gives you 12 equal monthly payments.

But this means your monthly payments are higher than your energy use in the summer – and lower than your energy use in winter.

This is why you see credit and debit on your account at various times during the year.

How your credit and debit can change through the year

If your Budget Direct Debit first started in spring or summer, you'll see credit grow over summer, and shrink over winter.

If your Budget Direct Debit first started in autumn or winter, you'll see debit grow over winter, and shrink over summer.

Either way, your Direct Debit payments should have covered your energy use by the end of your Direct Debit year.

How we keep your monthly payments on track

What we do with any credit or debit left over at the end of the year

If you've paid too little or too much at the end of your Direct Debit year, we simply roll your credit or debit into your next payments.

Or we give you an automatic refund if you have £150 credit or more (as long as we got a meter reading ahead of your end-of-year review).

Please log in to our help centre

You'll find answers for your type of account in our help centre for account numbers that start with 'A'. 

You just need to log in or sign up to MyAccount first – this is where you'll find your help centre.

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Ever wondered how you can pay the same for your energy every month, even though you use lots more energy in winter?

The simple answer is that we divide your expected energy costs for the year ahead by 12. This gives you 12 equal monthly payments.

But this means your monthly payments are higher than your energy use in the summer – and lower than your energy use in winter.

This is why you see credit and debit on your account at various times during the year.

How your credit and debit can change through the year

If your Budget Direct Debit first started in spring or summer, you'll see credit grow over summer, and shrink over winter.

If your Budget Direct Debit first started in autumn or winter, you'll see debit grow over winter, and shrink over summer.

Either way, your Direct Debit payments should have covered your energy use by the end of your Direct Debit year.

How we keep your monthly payments on track

What we do with any credit or debit left over at the end of the year

If you've paid too little or too much at the end of your Direct Debit year, we simply roll your credit or debit into your next payments.

Or we give you an automatic refund if you have £150 credit or more (as long as we got a meter reading ahead of your end-of-year review).