Abstract: A power metering apparatus provides utility services to a customer's facility when the customer prepays or makes other sufficient advance payment assurances. This apparatus is inserted between the utility company's delivery lines and the customer's facility. A utility service interagent establishes an account with a utility supplier for the provision of utility services to the customer's facility, with responsibility for payment and/or provision of utility services lying with the power interagent. When the customer desires utility services, the customer. submits prepayment by various means, such as (1) purchasing a payment card and locally presenting the card to the metering apparatus, or (2) providing prepayment or other payment assurances to the interagent via telephone, cable, internet, or another means, in which case the interagent sends machine-readable payment notification to the metering apparatus via telephone, cable connection, etc.