Post Office and Payzone secure long-term contract with Utilita

Post Office and Payzone have won a contract with Utilita, the specialist Pay As You Go Smart Energy supplier.

The contract provides customers with a Utilita smart quantum Gas or Talexus electricity meter the option to top up their gas and electricity at any of the 24,000 combined Payzone stores and Post Office branches.

Utilita is one of the UK’s leading Smart PAYG Energy suppliers with more than 800,000 customers, all of whom can now pay their energy bills and top up their meters in Payzone stores and Post Office branches nationwide.

Post Office and Payzone said the addition of the Utilita service is expected to drive additional footfall and basket spend for retailers, as new and repeat customers come in store to pay selected bills. The new contract also expands on the range of bill payment services already offered to customers.

The long-term contract with Utilita also marks a period of acquisition for Payzone, following recent partnerships with Bulb, E.ON Next and energy provider Jersey Electricity.

“We are very pleased to welcome Utilita on board to make paying bills easier for thousands of people across the UK. Utilita is the latest energy contract acquisition and we look forward to announcing many more in the coming months,” Simon Lambert, Commercial Director for Payzone Bill Payments Limited, said.

“Utilita is one of the big eight energy suppliers and we’re pleased to be improving the lives of customers, Postmasters and Payzone retailers with this latest partnership for energy bill payment solutions.

“This is an exceptionally challenging time for families, individuals and vulnerable people across the country as energy prices continue to climb. We must not forget that millions of people rely on cash to budget, save and survive, and many more people will turn to budgeting with cash as energy bills become more burdensome on their finances.

“Our Post Office branches and Payzone stores provide a convenient location to pay bills or top up energy cards using cash as well as enabling customers to complete other everyday banking transactions involving cash.”

Ashley Milne, Chief Financial Officer for Utilita, added: “While digital channels are now the preferred method for top ups, 30 per cent are still made in store. Our partnership with Payzone means our customers can now top up in any Payzone store or Post Office branch.

“We already had great national coverage but with this new partnership our customers will have more choice when topping up, making our service even more convenient for our customers.”