Standing Charges

Astria

Mstty said:

oldnerd82 said:

Thanks folks. I didn't appreciate that standing charges fund the SOLR process

Of which I thank you for saving my £33 credit from Symbio👍

Didn't help me as I was £190 in debt, they quickly sold it to EDF though

wild666

oldnerd82 said:

I am a low energy user. Why am I expected to pay over £250pa in Standing Charges, before I've even flicked a light switch?

At a time when everyone's bill is going through the roof how can the energy companies justify these extra fees, or are they just profiteering? and are there any tariffs available without standing charges, or with nil standing charges?

That's why I say the SC should be divided by the average usage and applied price per kWh. Many don't agree especially high users of those who only use electric. 

Phlik

wild666 said:

oldnerd82 said:

I am a low energy user. Why am I expected to pay over £250pa in Standing Charges, before I've even flicked a light switch?

At a time when everyone's bill is going through the roof how can the energy companies justify these extra fees, or are they just profiteering? and are there any tariffs available without standing charges, or with nil standing charges?

That's why I say the SC should be divided by the average usage and applied price per kWh. Many don't agree especially high users of those who only use electric. 

That's because that would be the least fair way to go about it. Low users are not subsidising other users when everyone pays the same standing charge, we all should foot the bill equally for the solr process, green levies, smart meter roll out and network upkeep regardless of how much energy we use. Removing the standing charge and adding the cost to the unit price would mean everyone else subsidises the low users.

Liberal

It might have been discussed many times already on different threads but the main response from many is shut up ... you can't do anything... its part of the SOLR process... just live with it.
We have so many companies going bust because of privatisation and too many companies.  Government could do something. Get rid of standing charges and government pays. Nationalise the lot of them. Actually allow people to pay for they actually use. Now there's an idea

GingerTim

And we would then pay the standing charge through taxation - robbing Peter to pay Paul.

nottsphil

Phlik said:

. Removing the standing charge and adding the cost to the unit price would mean everyone else subsidises the low users.

That's exactly how it should be. Or don't you believe there's a climate emergency? 

[Deleted User]

Liberal said:

It might have been discussed many times already on different threads but the main response from many is shut up ... you can't do anything... its part of the SOLR process... just live with it.
We have so many companies going bust because of privatisation and too many companies.  Government could do something. Get rid of standing charges and government pays. Nationalise the lot of them. Actually allow people to pay for they actually use. Now there's an idea

How to unpick this? Nationalising energy suppliers would cost the taxpayer £Bns. The Government has to compensate shareholders at an above the market rate for the loss of their investment.The French Government is in negotiations with EDF about the purchase of the c.15% of EDF that it doesn’t own: the offer on the table is £8Bn.

Nationalised suppliers would not necessarily offer cheaper energy. Look at how it has worked out for the not-for-profit suppliers: they have lost Council taxpayers £Ms.

Yes, you are correct. Standing charges which include such things as social discounts (WHD, boiler grants); SoLR failure costs etc could go into general taxation. The Government would then have to raise taxes to pay for these charges. We would end up with a very complicated system.

‘Paying for what they actually use’ - I get a statement of account every month based on actual meter readings. Charges are raised using these readings. If you don’t like monthly DD payments based on estimated annual usage, then you should switch to a variable DD payment.

Ultrasonic

nottsphil said:

Phlik said:

. Removing the standing charge and adding the cost to the unit price would mean everyone else subsidises the low users.

That's exactly how it should be. Or don't you believe there's a climate emergency? 

I do believe there is a climate emergency but don't believe there is anything wrong with the current, perfectly logical, standing charge system. And I say that as a low energy user.

wrf12345

If the govn wanted to nationalise energy they could just let them go to the wall and pick up the pieces for pennies. Standing charges can and should be incorporated into the overall rate and there is no reason why the govn can't cap a lower rate for the first £20 of gas or electric use each month, to encourage lower gas and electric use (this would cut an annual £400 bill to say £50 for ultra low users but put about ten percent on to the cost of people ruining the planet by using too much).

[Deleted User]

wrf12345 said:

If the govn wanted to nationalise energy they could just let them go to the wall and pick up the pieces for pennies. Standing charges can and should be incorporated into the overall rate and there is no reason why the govn can't cap a lower rate for the first £20 of gas or electric use each month, to encourage lower gas and electric use (this would cut an annual £400 bill to say £50 for ultra low users but put about ten percent on to the cost of people ruining the planet by using too much).

That is what they did. We are not paying out to failed suppliers. The SoLR payments are to cover the cost of supplying energy to the customers of these failed suppliers plus the cost of consumer credit protection.

Millions of PV solar owners would wholeheartedly support your proposal. Beware of unintended consequences.