What rates are you being offered by your provider at the moment?

pochase

@Davedipster
Your logic is correct and you worked it out correctly using the estimated figures.

It would be better if you used your real usage figures, but for an idea what the percentage increase is, it is ok.

Spint

I'm looking at BG's Fixed May 23v2 offer.

16th June is the offer's deadline.

How come the standing charge per day is increased as well?

Isn't that a bit cheeky? Surely only the unit rate per kWh should change?

funny.money

Spint said:

I'm looking at BG's Fixed May 23v2 offer.

16th June is the offer's deadline.

How come the standing charge per day is increased as well?

Isn't that a bit cheeky? Surely only the unit rate per kWh should change?

I noticed that as well,  and unfair on some as EDF's offer doesn't increase the standing charge....... with regard to that,  I've read online this morning something about Ofgem reducing the standing charge,  this has started me thinking yet again whether I did the right thing in fixing,  any views on this news?

si_74

Each person needs to take into account their own usage levels before deciding I think. I am a higher than average user at about 9000kwh for electricity and 16000 for gas. An electric car and two teenage kids ensure that!

So for me the potential gain for fixing now, even with the EDF £300 exit fee should I wish to get out, is worth it in my opinion. The same can be said of the standing charge, it makes up a relatively small part of my yearly bill and up, down or stay the same then it probably wouldn't dictate my decision.

If I was lower usage then the calculation may give me a different result with regard to fixing now or taking my chances with the October price cap.

stuarta99

funny.money said:

Spint said:

I'm looking at BG's Fixed May 23v2 offer.

16th June is the offer's deadline.

How come the standing charge per day is increased as well?

Isn't that a bit cheeky? Surely only the unit rate per kWh should change?

I noticed that as well,  and unfair on some as EDF's offer doesn't increase the standing charge....... with regard to that,  I've read online this morning something about Ofgem reducing the standing charge,  this has started me thinking yet again whether I did the right thing in fixing,  any views on this news?

Just noticed that as well that Ofgem are going to look at 'trimming' the standard charge.  Will make those of us that have fixed out of pocket compared to SVR

genesis59

Just an observation of a "stealth increase" charge. Since 1986 (I keep records ) the calorific value of my gas has averaged around the high 38s to low 39s. The last few years it's been around 39.2-39.3. The bill from the last month I noticed the value had risen to 39.8! Only twice has it been at that level since 1986, September 2015 and October 2016. Not a massive increase but it seems coincidental and as someone once said Every Little Helps (the utility companies, not customers). I bet even Martin never noticed that.

QrizB

Spint said:

How come the standing charge per day is increased as well?

Isn't that a bit cheeky? Surely only the unit rate per kWh should change?

For tariffs that aren't their standard variable one, suppliers are free to set whatever unit rates and standing charges they choose. Its then up to you to decide whether you want to accept their offer, or not.

stuarta99 said:

Just noticed that as well that Ofgem are going to look at 'trimming' the standard charge.  Will make those of us that have fixed out of pocket compared to SVR

Any adjustments Ofgem make will be to the split between unit rates and the standing charge on their capped variable tariff. It won't affect existing fixed rates and is unlikely to change the value of the cap.

genesis59 said:

Just an observation of a "stealth increase" charge.

If the calorific value of gas falls, you are charged less for each cubic metre. If it rises, you are charged more.

It has no effect on the price per kWh or on the bottom line of your bill and cannot be described as a "stealth increase".

pochase

stuarta99 said:

funny.money said:

Spint said:

I'm looking at BG's Fixed May 23v2 offer.

16th June is the offer's deadline.

How come the standing charge per day is increased as well?

Isn't that a bit cheeky? Surely only the unit rate per kWh should change?

I noticed that as well,  and unfair on some as EDF's offer doesn't increase the standing charge....... with regard to that,  I've read online this morning something about Ofgem reducing the standing charge,  this has started me thinking yet again whether I did the right thing in fixing,  any views on this news?

Just noticed that as well that Ofgem are going to look at 'trimming' the standard charge.  Will make those of us that have fixed out of pocket compared to SVR

1. they are looking into it, and they have acknowledged already that moving parts of the standing charge into rates will punish people who are forced to use a lot of energy, so they want to do a "fair" solution, whatever that means.

2. it will take a while, they are hoping they will make a decision for this winter. To be ready for the October cap they would need to be done late July to integrate the changes into the new cap. Not really the Ofgem speed.

3. If they reduce the standing charge, they have to increase the rates. You might be out of pocket if you are a low energy user, you might be a winner if you already have a high energy bill.

4. This thinking about the standing charge is nothing new and has not come up in the BBC interview yesterday for the first time. In their BEIS select committee report on 24th of May you find already 

Equally, we have heard concerns from consumer groups around charges. Therefore, we will review the allocation of the SOLR levy between standing and volumetric charges to ensure they are fair for all consumers, and will be coming forward with our thinking very soon.

Note that they are only talking about the SOLR part here. 

Here is the link to the 1 minute interview

https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1534790272118317056

As usual there is a lot of misinformation

- up to £1 standing charge, the maximum is 90p for a prepaid customer in an expensive region
- reports people who have already disconnected from the grid because they cannot pay the standing charge. But they can pay the disconnection charges?
- many people pay standing charges. It should by now everybody who pays them.

basketcase

Think I lost a post, so apologies if this is a duplicate.

I was with Pure Planet and transferred to Shell Energy.

I can't see that Shell are offering any new tariffs at all.

Or am I just looking in the wrong place?

stuarta99

@pochase a bit like the 5p fuel cut