Need a zero standing charge tariff - do they exist

J_B

Tenants have moved out - house needs a major refurb so will be empty for 3/4 months.

Who offers a zero standing charge as there will be minimal electricity use and the gas is turned off

TadleyBaggie

I only there was an MSE article on this:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/electricity-standing-charge/

powerful_Rogue

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/electricity-standing-charge/

Looks like Utilita still offer a zero standing charge tariff.

mmmmikey

IIRC Utilita only offer pre-payment meters, not sure if that is an issue for you, or if there's a catch like minimum contract length. Be great if you could update your success (or otherwise) of finding a zero or low standing charge tariff.

Perhaps "Plan B" could be to switch to Octopus who offer a £50 joining bonus if you get a referal code from a friend which would go a long way towards covering the standing charge while the property is empty.

J_B

Ebico are one on the MSE List and a) have a £50 per fuel leaving fee and b) charge 20p per day standing charge per fuel

Utilita can only offer an online quote on prepay which needs a new meter. DD needs me to phone, a job for next week methinks

Brie

I've been told that there can be an issue if there's a prepayment meter and the tenant (you or whomever) doesn't want that once someone is in place in the home.  Friends moved into a place with one and it took about 9 months to have it changed to a normal meter.  Would that change the savings being sought?

EssexHebridean

If the meters are smart ones then the change to credit from prepayment is simple and can be done remotely by the supplier. 

Of course these days prepayment is also frequently cheaper than credit! 

wrf12345

you might be able to ghost it, the tenant leaves and tells the energy company but you don't sign up and just ignore the begging letters until a new tenant moves in... doable in the old days not sure if it is now, with multiple databases available to all and sundry.

TheElectricCow

wrf12345 said:

you might be able to ghost it, the tenant leaves and tells the energy company but you don't sign up and just ignore the begging letters until a new tenant moves in... doable in the old days not sure if it is now, with multiple databases available to all and sundry.

Quite possibly the worst advice that could be given - the OP would still be entirely liable for any debt incurred during that time and then also loses the benefit of being able to choose a tariff with the lowest standing charge or having any proper oversight of the bills. The charge doesn’t stop applying if you just ignore it and would still need to be paid one way or another.

Unless you are seriously suggesting that the OP intentionally defrauds the next tenant to move in and provides entirely false information to the supplier about who was responsible for the property in the unoccupied period? That’s definitely even worse advice.

TheMilkmansDad

Daft daft question, but is the major refurbishment likely to require electric to be used? Power tools are fairly big hitters on energy useage……

teaselMay

As above I'd expect a refurbishment would use more than my household normal usage. Months where I do a lot of DIY are my most expensive months electricity wise. It's probably worth just using what's there for 3 months in terms of the effort required and what you'd save. No standing charge but a consequent higher unit price and then running lots of power tools may well make it more expensive