Deals with low standing charges?

Beaker99

I live in a little, well insulated, efficient house. My energy bills are pretty low as a result.

My current deal comes up next month, but I've noticed from some searches I've been doing that standing charges are now typically 18-20p per day - up from my present 7p per day. As i don't use much energy this is a massive hike for me.


Has anyone else seen this - or do you know of any deals with a low standing charge for low users such as myself?

Any help or guidance greatly appreciated!

molerat

Standing charges are only of any relevance to zero usage customers. The only thing that matters is the total annual cost based on an accurate estimated annual kWh use figure.


Anyway in answer to your question, no, there are no "special" deals for low users. You just need to pick out the best deal for you.

bristolleedsfan

Beaker99 wrote: »

- or do you know of any deals with a low standing charge for low users such as myself?

!

https://ebico.org.uk/energy-plans/ - has a Zero/No S/C plan, what Molerat says is correct

Talldave

Molerat is spot on, unless your consumption is suddenly going to become zero, standing charges are irrelevant. The cheapest deal is the cheapest deal based on your annual consumption. Of course if that annual consumption was to vary significantly, the cheapest deal might change.

As a contrasting example I'm in the middle of a switch from a supplier with a standing charge of 26p to one with a standing charge of 42p, but I shall be saving £456 over the year.

Beaker99

Someone need to explain this one to me then!

My current tarrif froma year ago is about 3p/kWh for gas and 17p/kWh for electric with a standing charge of 7p/day on both.

Most new tarrifs seem to be 3 p/kwh for gas and 17-18p/kWh for electric, standing charges 20-28p/day standing charge.

It looks like across the board, standing charges are up by a lot and the unit price hasn't dropped!

wakeupalarm

Due to the price cap energy bills have increased significantly since last year.

You can look at a comparison sites to find the best deal for you or post your annual usage figures along with what area of the country you are in and I'm sure someone here will able to help.

bristolleedsfan

Beaker99 wrote: »

Someone need to explain this one to me then!

My current tarrif froma year ago is about 3p/kWh for gas and 17p/kWh for electric with a standing charge of 7p/day on both.

Most new tarrifs seem to be 3 p/kwh for gas and 17-18p/kWh for electric, standing charges 20-28p/day standing charge.

It looks like across the board, standing charges are up by a lot and the unit price hasn't dropped!

Will vary from area to energy ; Rates quoted for U/P are single fuel/variable rates

Utility Point Gas ( I with them Gas only, cheaper than Bulb)

Unit Rate 2.9055p per kWh Standing Charge 13.86p per day


Utility Point - Electricity

Unit Rate 14.1755p per kWh Standing Charge 14.88p per day



BULB - I with them for Electricity

Unit rate 13.430p per kWh

Standing charge 20.44p per day


BULB - GAS

Unit rate 3.530p per kWh
Standing charge 20.44p per day


Those who join via a referral /cashback link get a Bill credit which pays standing charge for period of time. x 2 if get Bill/sign up credit splitting Fuels between two companies that are cheaper for different fuels. :beer:

pooch

Beaker99 wrote: »

I live in a little, well insulated, efficient house. My energy bills are pretty low as a result.

My current deal comes up next month, but I've noticed from some searches I've been doing that standing charges are now typically 18-20p per day - up from my present 7p per day. As i don't use much energy this is a massive hike for me.


Has anyone else seen this - or do you know of any deals with a low standing charge for low users such as myself?

Any help or guidance greatly appreciated!

It depends on how you define low.

As others say, you really want the lowest overall cost (but unlike others, I would say that should include all details of the tariff including the standing charge)

The lower your usage, the more significant becomes the level of the standing charge.

Consult a comparison site to find the best deal.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity/

If you are seeking a zero standing charge tariff, then Ebico are perhaps the best known (but perhaps not the cheapest) supplier to offer such a tariff. Look for their Ebico Zero Green Fixed (currently v3) tariff.
As the name suggests this also has the benefit of being a green tariff, with electricity certified as being sourced from UK based wind and solar generators.

Better still, if you use the MSE Cheap Energy Club to compare, you can filter the results to show only those suppliers & tariffs that do have a zero standing charge, if that is what you prefer. And then you can make your choice.

matelodave

As others have said energy prices have risen due to the price cap and your energy bill will be the product of your consumption in kwh, multiplied by the amount you use plus the standing charge.

You need to do the sums to work out whether its cheaper to have a higher standing charge and a lower tariff or a lower s/c and a higher tariff. There's not usually a great deal of difference if you are an average user but it can be if your consumption is significantly higher or lower than average.
(for instance, 1p per day s/c costs me an extra £36.50 a year but a penny per kwh is worth £72)

Ebico have a zero standing charge but it's compensated by a high tariff rate which cancels out any benefit unless you are an extremely low user. It's the overall cost that's important rather than the individual bits.

Put your annual consumption into a comparison site and see how much it will cost you (ignore savings) or do your own calculations.

pooch

The only other supplier coming up for me presently with a zero standing charge tariff is Utilita. Their tariff is available as either electric only or dual fuel (not gas only)

Also their tariff is based on dual rates that used to be popular quite a few years ago. i.e. you pay x/kWh for initial units and y/kWh thereafter.
This may be better suited depending on your level of usage.

Note: This is a variable tariff, and I think I read recently that utilita were changing it soon; reducing the initial units qty, but increasing the cost (they say it should be even better for most users, but obviously not if you were an absolute zero usage customer), so check direct with them the latest plans if interested as I don't think the Cheap Energy Club reflects these planned changes yet.

Talldave

Doing your own sums is fairly labour intensive and involves getting the right figures (inc vat or ex vat etc).

There's no need to get stressed doing it though because that's just what comparison sites do. Use a few to compare (I found a uswitch exclusive deal not available elsewhere, so a good job I included them in my list of sites).

Always uncheck the "only show deals we can switch you to" as that may well hide deals that just don't offer kickbacks to the site. Once you've used a few sites you'll probably spot the best deal appearing at the top of most sites.

If you're looking for the best deal for gas and electric, do run single fuel checks and see whether separate suppliers would be cheaper (it is for me at present). Annoyingly, comparison sites don't appear to have a "separate deals would be cheaper " warning when you're looking at dual fuel prices.

And don't get hung up on the standing charge, it's just a part of the cost and you're probably more interested in the total bill?