Standing charge for gas and electricity

cx6

I don't - I only have a mobile ! However, I am with the OP on this one and have been for quite a long time.

If there was one standing charge amongst all suppliers then all you would have to do is compare unit prices to know which is the cheapest - exactly, in fact, like filling up your car. No-one has to calculate if it is better to go to Shell charging £x forecourt charge plus £y a litre or BP charging £a forecourt charge plus £b a litre

Having a common standing charge would, of course, be far too easy and a bit of obfuscation is much better.

Thrugelmir

Chacha17 said:

I think you're thinking on a different level to me.  At least if I buy a loaf of bread I know what I'm buying and there's no standing charge for delivery.

You are buying a finished product. That may well started initially with imported grain from Canada. You've no idea as to the unit cost per loaf to end up with a wrapped product on the supermarket shelf. 

user1977

cx6 said:

I don't - I only have a mobile !  

Same principle whether your "line" physically exists or not! And mobile tariffs become even more tricky with different inclusive minutes/data etc.

Sandtree

cx6 said:

I don't - I only have a mobile ! However, I am with the OP on this one and have been for quite a long time.

If there was one standing charge amongst all suppliers then all you would have to do is compare unit prices to know which is the cheapest - exactly, in fact, like filling up your car. No-one has to calculate if it is better to go to Shell charging £x forecourt charge plus £y a litre or BP charging £a forecourt charge plus £b a litre

Having a common standing charge would, of course, be far too easy and a bit of obfuscation is much better.

And I am sure landlords with empty properties would love the fact they are now fee free and not contributing anything to the upkeep of the system. Telephony has gone the other direction though, increase the standing charge and bundle more in it.

Personally think there are enough calculators out there to help people who struggle working out which is cheaper so not really obfuscation but more that in different scenarios different providers may be better. Having choice is a good thing in my book rather than I having to pay more because next door only live in their flat for 3 months of the year so others would have to pick up the lost revenue from the standing charge. 

mksysb

Chacha17 said:

Can anyone explain how an existing supplier can have different rates of standing order supply?  If I stay on the current tariff it’s at one rate but if I take up their offer the standing charge escalates. Why? Shouldn’t there be some kind of regulation for all standing charges irrespective of supplier? 

Because it gives you a choice, if you are a low user, a lower standing charge with higher rates would suit you, but a high user would prefer a higher standing charge and lower rates

born_again

cx6 said:

I don't - I only have a mobile ! However, I am with the OP on this one and have been for quite a long time.

If there was one standing charge amongst all suppliers then all you would have to do is compare unit prices to know which is the cheapest - exactly, in fact, like filling up your car. No-one has to calculate if it is better to go to Shell charging £x forecourt charge plus £y a litre or BP charging £a forecourt charge plus £b a litre

Having a common standing charge would, of course, be far too easy and a bit of obfuscation is much better.

But not everyone is supplied by the same company, 10 in the UK. Hence why you are asked for your postcode when looking to change/compare costs.
So these suppliers might have different charges.

https://www.energy-uk.org.uk/find-out-who-your-energy-company-is.html

ThumbRemote

I have seen the term 'confusopoly' used to describe how standing charges and units rates apply, as they mainly serve to prevent like-for-like comparisons across suppliers.