Gas/Elec - Standing Charges

holly876dog

How do you know if you are better off paying for standing charges on gas&elec? How can one work this out. I assume you pay more per unit of gas&elec if you don't pay a standing charge. Or do you have to pay no matter what? I am on duel fuel with powergen on line and total annual bill is around £360 (I guess 240 of this=gas). Any help appreciated.

Cardew

The standing charge is recouped by charging more for some units(obviously the first used) Typically this is to first 225 units each quarter for electricity and 1,143 units each quarter for gas. After that the charges are normally the same.

The charges are structured so if you use the full amount of units(225/1,143) it works out the same as a standing charge.

Therefore the only people likely to gain from no standing charge are those with very low consumption in any particular quarter. For instance I have a little used annex with a separate gas & electricity supply so I gain by not having the standing charge.