Here in England most PoCos send out a bill every 3 months, with a variety of payment options. You can set up a direct debit with your bank so that the money is taken automatically, mail a check, or take the bill with its counterfoil into a bank or post office and pay cash. Most also offer a monthly direct debit plan for those who have trouble budgeting for the quarterly payments.
In my area, meter readers visit at 6-monthly intervals, with estimated bills for the intermediate quarters. For those still with internal meters (many, if not most), if nobody is home the reader leaves a "Sorry we missed you" card. You can then either: (a) wait until the reader returns a couple of days later, (b) read the meter yourself and either phone in the readings or leave the card in a window for when the reader returns if you won't be in, or (c) just let them estimate the bill.
On the interim estimated bills you also have the option of phoning in the actual readings if you wish, in which case you will get a revised bill soon after.
For homes with outside meters, obviously there is no problem for the meter readers on their 6-monthly visits. Some places now use telemetry so that the meters can be read by just driving along the street and logging the data.
We also have pre-paid card meters, commonly used in student accommodations and similar sorts of rented properties, or where somebody is not considered creditworthy enough by the PoCo.
Cards with values of £5 (about $9) upwards) can be bought in post offices and many local convenience stores. Inserting a card into the meter slot just adds that amount of credit to the meter, and when the balance hits zero, a contactor opens cutting off power.
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 02-02-2006).]
