Why are Octopus increasing their standing charge by almost 10%?

Jemma01

My standing charge remains the same, though I really would love to participate in the lower sc trial ofgm was on about last month. I hardly use gas, I pay more standing charge than unit!!

IMG_20260330_085128.jpg

bristolleedsfan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81942612#Comment_81942612

Dual fuel minimum usage policy will likely rule out many very low users.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2026/02/low-or-no-standing-charge-update/

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81942615#Comment_81942615

i'm certain that if it would save me any money, I wouldn't be eligible 😆

Chrysalis

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81942615#Comment_81942615

It is an interesting requirement, although I expect its designed to expel empty second homes from the tariffs.
EON's requirement highlights that people with dumb smart meter's need a higher level of urgency as they get locked out of various options.

bristolleedsfan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81943525#Comment_81943525

I use hardly any gas would not qualify for EDF criteria - taken from link posted earlier.

EDF	You must use at least: - 666 kWh of electricity a year and; - 2,836 kWh of gas a year

silverwhistle

Similar issue here: 2100 kWh of gas in 2025 but my solution will be to install an A2A heat pump which will be cheaper than a A2W wet system using radiators.

Spoonie_Turtle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81943646#Comment_81943646

Which presumably will reduce your gas standing charge to 0 with the supply capped, and you can't get much lower than that!

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81942612#Comment_81942612

well I asked Octopus and this is what they said……

"At the moment, we don’t have the option to directly enrol customers into this trial from our side. However, I recommend keeping an eye on any communications from Ofgem or your supplier about eligibility and how to participate"

tfhnota

Octopus have said summer start and will have minimum usage as well but not defined yet. With the current mess of oil shortages highly unlikely to be a good deal on the unit rate front. Have the other companies published their unit rates and minimum usage for the low s/c tariffs yet? Totally anti-green and no incentive to go for things like plug-in solar. Government has said may be some help in the autumn but only for households with low total income - they do not have the intelligence to enforce a zero s/c tariff for low income households and then make up the difference if usage is below a certain limit, which would be Green and nicely targeted, as the lower income households tend to cut right back on energy usage. Presumably they will have finally updated the tax database so they can actually see household income, which the energy company could then "ping" for confirmation when someone applies for such a tariff, or whatever variation they come up with.

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81945638#Comment_81945638

The standing charge is not "anti-green", it is a rational, sensible charge reflecting the base cost of maintaining the grid and the connection to the premises, with the unit rate reflecting the cost of the energy itself.

What you are proposing in having a low/zero standing charge tariff for low income households is just arguing for subsidy/social tariffs which are never a good idea, if those on benefits cannot afford their bills then the method already in place, benefits, should be used to cover that cost. That is however why Universal Credit is rising 6.2% on 6th April.

If you want to be "green" then we need full ToU tariffs with variable pricing based on generation costs.