Standing Charges

Old_Jack

Please be aware that the standing charges, gas and electric, for example on gas 4572 KWH per year, require checking. I have found with two suppliers that they have attempted to charge for more units than those contracted. In some cases it may only be a small amount but it's your cash adding to corporate profit and also to state taxation through VAT. Check and check again ,keep rolling totals of these units over 365 days from the start of your contract.

Rusty!

Standing charges are normally applied daily, without any reference to kw/h used?

Old_Jack

Not all "standing charges " are collected as a sum of money. It very often is re-packaged as a number of KWH per year. It's still a form of standing charge. Gas usually is 4572 KWH/Ann or 1143 KWH/ qtr. Electric can be 225 KWH/qtr (based on only day units) or 900KWH/Ann. Suppliers may vary.

Fire_Fox

You don't mean standing charges, you mean two tier rates.

KimYeovil

It is entirely reasonable to label service charges that are paid using a two tier tariff a standing charge.

But, OP, which supplier (other than the usual suspect*) have you had trouble with? (And are you sure you were not confused by a change in price?)

*nPower

Old_Jack

Thanks for your replies but Fire Fox dress it as you will it is still a fixed annual charge based upon a set number of units times the rate applicable at the time, if the units are wrong then overcharging takes place.
Kim the other supplier was NPower who attempted to charge for 50% more units than contracted. Changes in price do not affect the contractual units charged to meet standing/service only the amount paid for that service.

Old_Jack

A reply from ScottishPower informs me that their year is 360 days? so each quarter is 90 Days. If this isn't a way of swelling profits then I don't know what is. I wonder if U Switch use this "fact" in their calculations. How many more suppliers are using this dodge? More to the point how many customers are aware of the suppliers "quarter".

harriett21coventry

hi i recieved a bill of n power for 6 months saying my gas was £544.69p this is over christmas from 27th september to 3rd march. but i dont understand how my bill is this high as my central heating is my only gas and its only on 3 hours a day. i have rang n power but they are no help.

every time i ring they give me different amounts for my bill in 2 different conversations my bill went up by £50 in half an hour.

i dont know where i stand as to what to do about this bill. does anyone else think this is high

KimYeovil

harriett21coventry wrote: »

hi i recieved a bill of n power for 6 months saying my gas was £544.69p
[...]
does anyone else think this is high

No. Not particularly.

harriett21coventry

this gas bill works out 108 a month i dont understand how 2 people living in a house can spend this much on just gas this isnt even my electric and we both work so arent here in the day.

and the difference between my last meter readin to this one is 348 so how do they get a figure of £544

KimYeovil

It'll be more like 3 months at £150 and 2 months at £50. Once the weather turns cold the dials start whizzing round. Were the 3 hours the whole house or one room? One evening session or did you have it on mornings as well? Did you only have it on 3 hours weekends?