Resident's energy supply categorised as a business

Sausage_dog_2

Hi, my neighbours and I, consisting of 6 houses, have an electricity supply for our outside lighting and electric gate. The supply is categorised as a business so I don't think we are getting a very good rate as we pay more than 50% standing charge as our energy use is very low. I'm wondering if our bill would be much lower if we could get a standing charge free rate if we were categorised as a normal residential supply as it seems unfair that we are paying business rates. Does anyone have any experience of this kind of issue and know how I would go about changing this? TIA

bengalknights

Does it have its own meter and address?

If so nothing to stop you using comparison sites.

Robin9

What unit rate and standing charge are you paying ?

Rates for domestic and business are quite similar but you pay vat @ 20% on business.


Ring around the suppliers -

I had a business supply for security lighting in a block of flats and found i could halve my bill.

Sausage_dog_2

It has it's own meter and the address is 6 houses so it doesn't work in any online forms. I think the standing charge is around £10 per month and electricity usage is only about £5 per month. It's not much so never seems worth the hassle. I just don't like how you can't just use comparison sites for business supplies, it feels like you are being sold over the phone and you haven't got all the information in front of you.

Cardew

Who pays the bill?

Sausage_dog_2

We split it 6 ways between the houses, the communal area is privately owned by us, so there's no business involvement.

footyguy

Sausage_dog wrote: »

We split it 6 ways between the houses, the communal area is privately owned by us, so there's no business involvement.

Only the person who is named on the bill is liable to the suppier to pay it.

So what name and address is used?
We don't need the personal details, but is it a home owner at their home address i.e. one you you 6, or someone else.
If someone else, what is their realtionship with you 6?

footyguy

Sausage_dog wrote: »

Hi, my neighbours and I, consisting of 6 houses, have an electricity supply for our outside lighting and electric gate. The supply is categorised as a business so I don't think we are getting a very good rate as we pay more than 50% standing charge as our energy use is very low. I'm wondering if our bill would be much lower if we could get a standing charge free rate if we were categorised as a normal residential supply as it seems unfair that we are paying business rates. Does anyone have any experience of this kind of issue and know how I would go about changing this? TIA

Yes, it would seem a zero standing charge tariff would be beneficial based on what you say.
Economy 7 would probably also help, especially if the lights are on all night (rather than only come on via a sensor)

Have you asked the account holder to see what they can do?

footyguy

Sausage_dog wrote: »

It has it's own meter and the address is 6 houses so it doesn't work in any online forms. I think the standing charge is around £10 per month and electricity usage is only about £5 per month. It's not much so never seems worth the hassle. I just don't like how you can't just use comparison sites for business supplies, it feels like you are being sold over the phone and you haven't got all the information in front of you.

How does that work then? Does the postman rip it into 6 and push 1/6th through each door??? :rotfl:

Sausage_dog_2

I am the named account holder and the bills come to me but the supply address is say '1-6'. If it was just my address how would they distinguish it from my individual home electricity supply? That's why it wouldn't work in comparison sites so I guess I would always have to go via phone but I don't think we should be classified as a business that's all. I guess I will have to specifically ask for standing charge free rates if they exist for businesses.

Robin9

I am not aware of any zero standing charge tariffs in the business/commercial markets.