Standing Charges

Alfie2020

I am currently on a good tariff with Scottish Power which is due to end 31 August.  I am looking for a new tariff/provider but although I can find unit prices that are comparable, and in a couple of cases marginally lower, it is the standing charges that are killing it.  All I have found so far have an electricity s/c that is over twice that I currently have.  I've not spoken to Scottish Power yet, just checking out the market.  Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions.

MP1995

Alfie2020 said:

I am currently on a good tariff with Scottish Power which is due to end 31 August.  I am looking for a new tariff/provider but although I can find unit prices that are comparable, and in a couple of cases marginally lower, it is the standing charges that are killing it.  All I have found so far have an electricity s/c that is over twice that I currently have.  I've not spoken to Scottish Power yet, just checking out the market.  Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions.

Like taxes you cannot escape the standing charges unless you can go off grid.

Sounds like you have had a good deal and escaped most of the high price hooha so it's back to reality with a bump in regards to standing charges.

BarelySentientAI

Alfie2020 said:

 Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions.

Accept that this is what standing charges are now.

Only exception are the tariffs that hide it in a massively increased price for the first couple of units each day.

bristolleedsfan

Alfie2020 said:

I am currently on a good tariff with Scottish Power which is due to end 31 August.  I am looking for a new tariff/provider but although I can find unit prices that are comparable, and in a couple of cases marginally lower, it is the standing charges that are killing it.  All I have found so far have an electricity s/c that is over twice that I currently have.  I've not spoken to Scottish Power yet, just checking out the market.  Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2024/06/edf-energy-launches-new-tracker-tariff/

molerat

bristolleedsfan said:

Alfie2020 said:

I am currently on a good tariff with Scottish Power which is due to end 31 August.  I am looking for a new tariff/provider but although I can find unit prices that are comparable, and in a couple of cases marginally lower, it is the standing charges that are killing it.  All I have found so far have an electricity s/c that is over twice that I currently have.  I've not spoken to Scottish Power yet, just checking out the market.  Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2024/06/edf-energy-launches-new-tracker-tariff/

Eon Next could be cheaper as they take the £50 off the unit price at average user - higher user = higher saving - whereas EDF is a fixed £50.

bristolleedsfan

molerat said:

bristolleedsfan said:

Alfie2020 said:

I am currently on a good tariff with Scottish Power which is due to end 31 August.  I am looking for a new tariff/provider but although I can find unit prices that are comparable, and in a couple of cases marginally lower, it is the standing charges that are killing it.  All I have found so far have an electricity s/c that is over twice that I currently have.  I've not spoken to Scottish Power yet, just checking out the market.  Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2024/06/edf-energy-launches-new-tracker-tariff/

Eon Next could be cheaper as they take the £50 off the unit price at average user - higher user = higher saving - whereas EDF is a fixed £50.

Says that within link I posted which you quoted. 

wrf12345

I am okish on Agile until March but will not be paying the current s/c on electric unless I can reduce costs elsewhere to compensate, have already got rid of the TV licence and minimised electric usage so overall outgoings are pre-inflation, Utilitia Energy would work on electric but the first two units of gas are four to five times the standard rate, presumably to compensate for the months when people don't use gas, and that would be a killer despite having cut down on the gas usage to three months a year. I might have to be ruthless about changing energy companies to max out the savings. I am on Smart meters so in theory it should be easy. The lost of the £300 winter fuel allowance will also have to be factored into my calculations and recovered in some manner, as yet unknown - that was going towards my mini solar project. The ultimate solution is not to go off grid but to join the hordes leaving the country but will see what our new chancellor does in the Autumn.

MP1995

wrf12345 said:

I am okish on Agile until March but will not be paying the current s/c on electric unless I can reduce costs elsewhere to compensate, have already got rid of the TV licence and minimised electric usage so overall outgoings are pre-inflation, Utilitia Energy would work on electric but the first two units of gas are four to five times the standard rate, presumably to compensate for the months when people don't use gas, and that would be a killer despite having cut down on the gas usage to three months a year. I might have to be ruthless about changing energy companies to max out the savings. I am on Smart meters so in theory it should be easy. The lost of the £300 winter fuel allowance will also have to be factored into my calculations and recovered in some manner, as yet unknown - that was going towards my mini solar project. The ultimate solution is not to go off grid but to join the hordes leaving the country but will see what our new chancellor does in the Autumn.

How many are leaving the country then I though migration was 100k or so and steady for many years.

bob2302

MP1995 said:

How many are leaving the country then I though migration was 100k or so and steady for many years.

In the year when there were 1.4 milion visas for legal migration, 0.7 million left, leading to the figure of 0.7 million net migration - that's what the BBC said anyway.

Alfie2020

Thanks all.  Yes have been better off than some over the worst of the crisis (by luck), just can't see how they can justify the standing charges.  Like others have said the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance is going to be a killer.  My dad is 86, has various conditions and feels the cold so needs to keep the heating on. Will have to see how it pans out but don't know where the extra money will come from.

MP1995

Alfie2020 said:

Thanks all.  Yes have been better off than some over the worst of the crisis (by luck), just can't see how they can justify the standing charges.  Like others have said the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance is going to be a killer.  My dad is 86, has various conditions and feels the cold so needs to keep the heating on. Will have to see how it pans out but don't know where the extra money will come from.

Time to look after the parents (where pride allows),I know they sacrificed for us.