A Scottish energy charity is urging households with a prepayment meter for energy and gas to redeem their fuel vouchers.

The reminder comes as the expiry dates loom for the first energy rebate vouchers.

Advice Direct Scotland, the charity that runs the national energy advice service, is calling for households to take urgent action if they have not received their vouchers.

Almost one in five households in Scotland use prepayment meters for their gas or electricity.

READ MORE: Amazon plant that recruited seasonal staff from Glasgow to close

According to the charity, over 1000 queries related to the Uk Government's Energy Bill Support Scheme poured in over the final few months of 2022.

While most households will have £400 deducted automatically from their electricity bills in six instalments or have money added to their accounts, those with top-up meters need vouchers to access the discount.

Vouchers worth £66 were sent out by post to prepayment meter customers from the start of October last year as the first instalment of the support scheme.

Depending on the supplier, some customers may have received an SMS text or email.

Households with smart prepayment meters will be credited directly in the first week of each month.

As the prepayment vouchers are only valid for 90 days, those sent out in October are due to expire.

READ MORE: 'We tried': Cost-of-living crisis forces closure of popular cafe and wine bar

To make sure you don't miss out, Advice Direct Scotland recommends checking unopened mail for missed vouchers and checking with energy suppliers.

Customers can contact Energy Advice Scotland if they have any difficulty getting through to suppliers or to resolve any issues.

Energy suppliers can reissue lost or expired vouchers until the scheme closes on June 30, 2023.

Colin Mathieson, the spokesperson for Advice Direct Scotland, said: “With the recent rise in energy prices and more on the horizon, it is vital households get the support they’re entitled to.

“Energy companies should reissue vouchers that haven’t been received and check customers are getting support in the most suitable format – be it text, post or email.

“We would urge any households in Scotland who have a prepayment meter to check whether they have been sent a voucher and use it, and also to keep an eye out for the following vouchers when they arrive.

“If haven’t received your vouchers, you should get in touch with your energy supplier or Advice Direct Scotland’s advisers.

“If you aren’t sure if your supplier has your correct contact details, get in touch with them and check, otherwise they won’t be able to tell you how to access the payment.

“Right now, we have qualified advisers ready to provide free, practical support to anyone in Scotland through the energyadvice.scot service – and we can also help any customers having difficulties reaching their supplier.”

The team can be contacted on 0808 196 8660 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm), or through www.energyadvice.scot.