Exorbitant Standing Charges affecting Solar Panel decisions

Bogeyk

This might be a bit naive as I have only started to think about installing solar panels.   It seems British Gas is more than doubling my standing charge.  So if I stuck with them and had solar panels I would still be stuffed even if I reduce my dependency on them with the electricity I generate.  So I guess the answer is to select a supplier with lower standing charges. 

Gerry1

You're unlikely to find anyone with a lower standing charge, and even if you did they probably wouldn't accept you as a new customer.

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

Bogeyk said:

This might be a bit naive as I have only started to think about installing solar panels.   It seems British Gas is more than doubling my standing charge.

Fortunately, they've doubled your unit rate too, so solar panels make twice as much sense.

• In April 2021 you were (probably) paying around 14p/kWh for electricity. 1000kWh generated by solar and then used would have saved you £140.
• In April 2022 you are (probably) paying 28p/kWh for electricity. 1000kWh generated-and-used will save you £280.
  

Section62

Bogeyk said:

This might be a bit naive as I have only started to think about installing solar panels.   It seems British Gas is more than doubling my standing charge.  So if I stuck with them and had solar panels I would still be stuffed even if I reduce my dependency on them with the electricity I generate.  So I guess the answer is to select a supplier with lower standing charges. 

You could go completely off-grid.

What you are hoping for is effectively the up-side of cheap solar, without paying the costs associated with a grid supplying you when the sun isn't shining.  There's only one realistic way of doing that - pay the costs of establishing your own off-grid energy security.

Ally_E.

So instead of £61 a year on standing charge you'll be paying £168? That's a huge increase percentage wise, but thinking about the amount of £££ you'll be saving by using solar, I think it's not too bad at all.