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any tarriffs out there with zero standing charge?

shaggy
shaggy Posts: 1,035 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
I'm renovating a couple of homes which are probably going to be empty for 6-12 months. There is very little or no gas/elec usage because of this.

I do not want to be paying standing charge on something when I will either not make any use out of (i.e. no gas usage at the moment).

So basically I want to know are there any tarriffs / suppliers out there offering zero standing charge tarriffs as this would suit me better at least in the short term.

Thanks.
«13

Comments

  • Ebico for gas, Green Energy for electric..high tariffs though
  • lee111s
    lee111s Posts: 2,987 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'm with Scottish power and the tariff I'm on has no standing charge.
  • Unless you are an uber low user, don't be fooled with NSC vs non~NSC, all companies charge more or less the same price per unit - always was - always will be. For an example the SP [2014 figures] mentioned in #3 has a stepped tariff that charges a higher rate for the first block of units used per quarter and a lower rate for all remaining units used per quarter, in this case unless you use less than 670kWh you actually pay :

    - 7.524p for the first 670kWh used per quarter / gas, and 3.898p for all remaining kWh
    - 22.854p for the first 670kWh used per quarter / leccy, and 12.052p for all remaining kWh

    In the case of the O/P, take the advice offered by sacsquacco
    Disclaimer : Everything I write on this forum is my opinion. I try to be an even-handed poster and accept that you at times may not agree with these opinions or how I choose to express them, this is not my problem. The Disabled : If years cannot be added to their lives, at least life can be added to their years - Alf Morris - ℜ
  • Nada666
    Nada666 Posts: 5,004 Forumite
    lee111s wrote: »
    I'm with Scottish power and the tariff I'm on has no standing charge.
    The Scottish Power tariff is only for those (like the OP) who are actually using nothing. It is not suitable for those with active but low consumptions - cheaper alternatives are available for them.
  • Nada666
    Nada666 Posts: 5,004 Forumite
    Note that if you are starting work in six months (at the start of winter) and you will be using heating and power tools you may want to consider First Utility's 2016 fix. It has a standing charge of only £10 per year (yes, 'year', not 'month'). Compare the Ebico and others prices for your postcode and consider that option.
  • shaggy
    shaggy Posts: 1,035 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks for the replies. The gas is currently disconnected and unlikely to be used for a few months yet. There is a little electricity used and the average quarterly Elec bill before British gas started charging standing charge was less than £50.
    Am iI better off taking the advice in post 2?
  • Rhenser
    Rhenser Posts: 69 Forumite
    shaggy wrote: »
    I'm renovating a couple of homes which are probably going to be empty for 6-12 months. There is very little or no gas/elec usage because of this.

    I do not want to be paying standing charge on something when I will either not make any use out of (i.e. no gas usage at the moment).

    So basically I want to know are there any tarriffs / suppliers out there offering zero standing charge tarriffs as this would suit me better at least in the short term.

    Thanks.

    Consult a comparison site. At the end of the day, surely you want the cheapest overall price don't you, rather than how they charge.

    You may find the comparison site will not allow you to input 0kWh per year for your gas, so use 1kWh per year for the calculation :)
  • Rhenser
    Rhenser Posts: 69 Forumite
    shaggy wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies. The gas is currently disconnected and unlikely to be used for a few months yet. There is a little electricity used and the average quarterly Elec bill before British gas started charging standing charge was less than £50.
    Am iI better off taking the advice in post 2?

    What do you mean by disconnected?

    If you have a meter, then its connected and you will be charged for the supply to the property at the tariff rate.

    If you don't have a meter, then your supply is probably disconnected and you should not be charged. A charge may apply to be re-connected.
  • Rhenser
    Rhenser Posts: 69 Forumite
    edited 6 April 2014 at 1:12PM
    Unless you are an uber low user, don't be fooled with NSC vs non~NSC, all companies charge more or less the same price per unit - always was - always will be. ...

    - 7.524p for the first 670kWh used per quarter / gas, and 3.898p for all remaining kWh

    :huh:

    For me, I can buy gas for as little as 3.3075p/kWh (Daligas) to as high as 5.4075p/kWh (Ebico). These prices include VAT @ 5%

    That's over a 60% difference in unit price.
    Daligas, like most suppliers, also apply a standing charge; with Ebico there is no standing charge.

    Sainsburys energy charge 5.418p/kwh and have a standing charge on their Fixed Price March 2018 tariff.
  • shaggy
    shaggy Posts: 1,035 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Rhenser wrote: »
    What do you mean by disconnected?

    If you have a meter, then its connected and you will be charged for the supply to the property at the tariff rate.

    If you don't have a meter, then your supply is probably disconnected and you should not be charged. A charge may apply to be re-connected.

    Sorry I used the wrong word. We have gas but all appliances and boiler is not connected at the moment
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