Prepaid meters

Electricity to go

 

Prepaid meters – also known as ‘pay-as-you-use’ meters – allow you to buy as much or as little electricity as you need.

Press play

A simple guide to your prepaid meter.

How to check your balance

 

 

Understanding emergency credit 

 

 

 

Understanding friendly credit

 

 

Ways to top up your meter

 

You can securely top up online. All you need is two ID numbers: one for your house (NMI) and one for your meter (serial number).

If you don’t know your NMI number call us on 1800 522 262. You can find the meter serial number underneath the barcode next to the keypad on your meter. It is an eight-digit number following the two-letter code 'PN'.

Remember to select the 'remember my details' option so they are saved for next time.

Online payments are accepted with Visa and MasterCard.

Top up online now

Simply fill in our credit application form. Then send it to customercare@jacananergy.com.au, and we'll do the rest.

Buying your Jacana Energy prepaid electricity credit is easy. Simply take your swipe card to your local participating retailer to purchase credit in store.

There is a large range of epay retailers accredited to sell Jacana Energy electricity credit across the Northern Territory. 

  1. Present your swipe card to the retailer.
  2. Pay for the amount of credit you want to add to your meter, using any payment method the store accepts.
  3. The retailer will swipe your card in an epay terminal.
  4. The terminal will print a receipt with a unique 20-digit reference number. You will need this number if manual top up is required (see ‘manual top up’).
  5. The amount of credit you purchased is automatically sent to the meter at your home.

Note: The swipe card does not carry cash. It is only an ID for the prepaid meter which enables the top up transaction.

Once you have purchased your top up credit in store, you will be issued with a receipt showing a 20-digit transaction number which is unique to your payment. If when you get home the credit has not automatically been added to the meter, you can add credit manually using the meter's keypad and your 20-digit transaction number.

  1. Press A
  2. Key-in the transaction number
  3. Confirm by pressing B

The meter will then show if the entry was accepted or rejected. You can also contact us on 1800 522 262 for further assistance.

We can send two replacement cards and advise you how to top up in the meantime. Please contact us on 1800 522 262.

Replacement cards are charged at $20 for the set through express post from Darwin. Please allow up to 3 days for postal delivery. If your property is managed by a tenancy/housing support organisation, your tenancy officer may be able to assist in getting your new cards.

Your questions answered

When moving to a property with a prepaid electricity meter, contact Jacana Energy on 1800 522 262 to arrange a set of swipe cards. Your first set of new cards will be free and future replacement cards will come at the cost of $20.

Your two swipe cards are linked to the meter at your house and cannot be used to top up any other meter.

When you go to a store to purchase your electricity credit, present one of your swipe cards to the retailer. They will process your payment, swipe your card and the credit will be automatically sent to your meter. 

If the previous tenant has left their cards behind you can also use these directly. You will need to contact us on 1800 522 262 to update the information linked to the card in our system with your details.

If you are moving into a property that has a new prepaid meter and you don’t yet have a swipe card, please contact us on 1800 522 262 to make arrangements.

If you are moving to another home with a prepaid meter, you can take your swipe card(s) with you. Make sure you let us know so we can link your swipe card to the meter at your new home. If you keep using the card without telling us you have moved, you will continue to top up the meter at your old address.

If your new home does not have a prepaid meter, please leave the swipe card(s) behind for the new resident. Remember to let us know you are moving out so we can update the details to the new resident. Please contact us on 1800 522 262 to update your details.

Please contact Power and Water first on 1800 245 092 to assess the fault, safety and availability of the power supply. Depending on the cause of the fault/damage, the meter replacement may incur a charge. If it is chargeable, you or your tenancy officer will have to contact us on 1800 522 262 to organise the replacement of the meter and payment of the associated cost.

Please contact us on 1800 522 262 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm) so we can assist you. We can send you a replacement card at the cost of $20 per set, and inform you about how to top up in the meantime.

When you top up in store, the amount is automatically sent to your meter. If there is a communication problem between the shop and your meter, the system will keep trying until it is successful. You can also apply the credit manually.

The 20 digit transaction number on your receipt is unique to your payment. To add your credit manually, press A, key in the transaction number, then press B. The meter will then show if the entry was accepted or rejected. Contact us on 1800 522 262 if you need further assistance.

Please make sure you have enough credit to keep key appliances such as your fridge and freezer running while you’re away.

You can find a participating store near you to top up your digital prepayment meter.

Information in your language

 

Access audio files and written translations in languages other than English.

Check out this guide to your new prepaid meter and swipe card in Arabic.

Check out this guide to your new prepaid meter and swipe card in Chinese.

Check out this guide to your new prepaid meter and swipe card in Greek.

Check out this guide to your new prepaid meter and swipe card in Indonesian. 

Check out this guide to your new prepaid meter and swipe card in Portuguese.

Check out this guide to your new prepaid meter and swipe card in Swahili.

Check out this guide to your new prepaid meter and swipe card in Thai.

Check out this guide to your new prepaid meter and swipe card in Vietnamese.

Please note: Prepaid meters are not available to registered Life Support customers.