Radio controlled power line carrier system

A radio controlled power line carrier (PLC) device (10) includes a PLC transceiver (13) and a radio (12), typically a GSM transceiver. A method of transmitting data includes wirelessly transmitting data to a device, and transmitting the received data from the device to a controlled device (26) using a PLC method. A method of prepaid metered control of services such as lighting, interactive television services, and home or personal alarm gateways includes wirelessly transmitting credit to a prepayment meter and the meter controlling the services using PLC method. In one embodiment, the radio is housed in a sealed prepayment meter, in another a coupler to a mobile phone is provided in the prepayment meter.