Martin Lewis: Why are energy standing charges so high? What can be done

DE_612183

jaceyboy said:

I try my best to be energy efficient, my hot water hasnt been on in a couple of months, my solar pv runs my solar hot water in the day and I use little in the evening, but I still have to pay £0.75 odd per day to the energy boards, I call that profiteering when someone is trying to live off the grid..

but you aren't off the grid - if you were you wouldn't be connected and therefore would not have any standing charges.

The fact that you are not off grid, means you have to pay for the grid - same as everyone else who is connected to the grid.

jaceyboy

DE_612183 said:

jaceyboy said:

I try my best to be energy efficient, my hot water hasnt been on in a couple of months, my solar pv runs my solar hot water in the day and I use little in the evening, but I still have to pay £0.75 odd per day to the energy boards, I call that profiteering when someone is trying to live off the grid..

but you aren't off the grid - if you were you wouldn't be connected and therefore would not have any standing charges.

The fact that you are not off grid, means you have to pay for the grid - same as everyone else who is connected to the grid.

I know im not off the grid, my point is im trying to be energy efficient yet being stopped by doing so by high standing charges, I dont need telling im not off the grid thanks

MattMattMattUK

jaceyboy said:

I try my best to be energy efficient, my hot water hasnt been on in a couple of months, my solar pv runs my solar hot water in the day and I use little in the evening, but I still have to pay £0.75 odd per day to the energy boards, I call that profiteering when someone is trying to live off the grid..

You misunderstand the meaning of profiteering and you are not trying to live off-grid, you are trying to reduce your costs. If you were off-grid you would not be paying the standing charges because you would not have a grid connection that the standing charge is there to pay for. 

jaceyboy said:

DE_612183 said:

jaceyboy said:

I try my best to be energy efficient, my hot water hasnt been on in a couple of months, my solar pv runs my solar hot water in the day and I use little in the evening, but I still have to pay £0.75 odd per day to the energy boards, I call that profiteering when someone is trying to live off the grid..

but you aren't off the grid - if you were you wouldn't be connected and therefore would not have any standing charges.

The fact that you are not off grid, means you have to pay for the grid - same as everyone else who is connected to the grid.

I know im not off the grid, my point is im trying to be energy efficient yet being stopped by doing so by high standing charges, I dont need telling im not off the grid thanks

You are not being stopped from being energy efficient by the standing charges, you want to pay less money, there is a different.

jaceyboy

Yes I want to pay less by using less, why should we be penalised by standing charges, its wrong, use more fuel pay more simples

Spoonie_Turtle

jaceyboy said:

Yes I want to pay less by using less, why should we be penalised by standing charges, its wrong, use more fuel pay more simples

Is that not how it works already?  If you are not paying less by using less then you're not actually using less.

Unless you mean 0, in which case that's not just 'less' but specifically 0.

It is possible to pay 0 (or even less than 0) if your solar exports outweigh your grid imports plus the standing charge.

Edit: and if you get paid for exports, being connected to the grid is what allows that, hence paying the standing charge.

QrizB

jaceyboy said:

Yes I want to pay less by using less, why should we be penalised by standing charges, its wrong, use more fuel pay more simples

That is literally how it works now.

Use less, pay less. Use more, pay more.

However, if you want a grid connection, you pay for the grid connection. If you don't want one, get it disconnected and you won't have to pay a penny.

MattMattMattUK

jaceyboy said:

Yes I want to pay less by using less, why should we be penalised by standing charges, its wrong, use more fuel pay more simples

You are not being penalised, you are paying for what you have, a connection to the energy network/grid. 

Hurleyboy

In my case it's more the unit rate.  When my fixed tariff ends this Saturday 15th July Octopus will automatically place me on their flexible tariff.  Electric unit rate will be 32.81 and gas 10.24 p/Kw compared to the MSE average of 30.11 and 7.51 pKw. 

MattMattMattUK

Hurleyboy said:

In my case it's more the unit rate.  When my fixed tariff ends this Saturday 15th July Octopus will automatically place me on their flexible tariff.  Electric unit rate will be 32.81 and gas 10.24 p/Kw compared to the MSE average of 30.11 and 7.51 pKw. 

Rates vary by region, the flexible rate will be the priced cap for your region, at the moment there are currently no cheaper options without moving to a TOU tariff. 

Gerry1

Hurleyboy said:

In my case it's more the unit rate.  When my fixed tariff ends this Saturday 15th July Octopus will automatically place me on their flexible tariff.  Electric unit rate will be 32.81 and gas 10.24 p/Kw compared to the MSE average of 30.11 and 7.51 pKw.

What's the source of your Octopus info?  Sounds out of date.