I personally like the system. It enables me to keep track every day of the units used and know if anything funky is going on. No surprise bills at the end of the month. Personally I've had trouble with power running out. Each "season" (which really electrically speaking is just whether you're using the air conditioner at all, only during the afternoons or all day and night) we figure our average usage, and then we know about what date we're going to be running out. We just keep it marked on a calendar along with all the other important stuff, like when the dogs had their flea treatment, when the water filters need to be changed, when the air cleaner pre-filter needs to be washed, etc. Just part of grown-up life.

The only annoying thing to me is the cards. They're often crappy quality and sometimes they fail to take the charge at the bank, or they fail to disgorge it into your meter. That's a big pain. 

We only "top up" gas, water and electricity is just charged from an account, specifically our landlords account, and ever couple of months she will text the amount and we will add it to the rent payment. 

I find it completely retarded to have to go get gas. Some of the older buildings around here just have gas flowing. The good thing about the gas is that we can read the meter ourselves. Water and power meters are not accessible to us so no way of checking this. 

The concept of running out is awful and you know it will happen on a cold day, during a typhoon, just as the wife is showering so you are forced to fight the weather and get to the gas company which would then be closed due to the weather. 

Of course the system prevents our usage from running amok, but it also seems like society distrusts us and treats us like children. (and here I could go on to talking about pre-paid phone cards)

it really surprises me after living in america, how china avoided the us postal service monopoly of power, prepaid probably saves a lot of bills being mailed and poor people having to put up a deposit to have utilities turned on that they may never get back.

not a fan of the system but i can see the efficiency of doing it this way.

I've had both.. and I prefer getting a monthly bill. I don't have to worry about going out to top up, I can pay my bills online, and there's not the issue of going to pay the bill and finding the place closed (especially during holidays - and more especially during LONG holidays!) Nor do I have to worry about losing a card, or having it die on me. Nor, of course, having to constantly check how much I've got left...

I like it. if I am using too much in the summer or winter months, I know quickly and know to cut back. If I didnt have this system, im sure I would use way more than I should/need.

It depends in which city you live. Some cities use bills, which is more convenient for avoiding being in the dark in the middle of the night or out or water in the middle of your shampoo . If you can pay online, it's even better. However, if it's your landlord who handles the bills, there are chances that he/she might overcharge you, unless you see the bills

I'd rather use top-up cards though, since it's me who has control over the amenities. Instead of waiting for the electricity or water to run out, what I do is top up the machines and then go to the office downstairs to top-up the cards. I then keep the topped-up cards in my drawer until the electricity/water runs out and repeat the same process.

this is what ive been doing in london for years, some energy companies give you the option to do this, once a month when i can top up this card and it can be done in many places, post office, some supermarkets, news agents, same thing for my gas and electricity