Standing charges on energy bills

[HMSSophie]

I'm fuming and need perspective please.

Live alone and am a very low energy user. I used to pay a standing charge of £5.80 and my annual bill would be around £400 gas and electricity combined.

Then my energy supplier gave me a smart meter. My tarif changed at the 12 month period an now my standing charge is 50p a day. Fifty pence! That's 100% increase and around £180 a year just in service charge.

Is this usual? I've lived off grid for many many years and have only paid bills in the last two years. I'm appalled! It makes me want to cry, I feel so exploited!

It's probably worth looking at changing suppliers, they all have different standing charges. This is worth a read www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/electricity-standing-charge/

Are you sure? I have a smart metre and only pay for what I use. So in the morning there is no charge....it mounts up over the day as we use gas and electricity. (There is no default standing charge....) I do know what the minimum value is something like 4 p/p/hour electric for our cooker clock, Internet hub, TV and gubbins, etc etc This was the same at our old house so seems right to me.

What is your overall annual prediction? Is it higher or lower than before?

Does your supplier only have one tariff?

Why don’t you ring and change?

Just change suppliers or tariffs.

It's normal for bills to increase once you get out of your initial contract or promotional period. That's why it's recommended to shop around each year and change suppliers.

Standing charges maintain the network.

If you’re not happy look into switching suppliers.

My smart meter records my sc every morning.

I have looked at changing and everyone has really high standing charges maybe I was just lucky in my first package.
I wish I just paid for what I use but I can't find a supplier who will do that for me. Bloody hell :(

There used to be a supplier that did that, but the unit charge was much higher & although we’re low users the monthly cost would’ve been higher.

Are you using money saving expert energy club?. They have the cheapest deals.

My supplier had standing charges of 19.x pence a day for both gas and electricity I pay £5.48 and £5.84 a month (plus vat) and then my usage!!

My standing charges are 20.88p for electricity and 16.80p for gas
Tariffs without a standing charge will be likely to have a higher charge per unit of energy

Change supplier and/or tariff
Stop fuming and crying and do something about it

electricity does not arrive by unicorn - it needs infrastructure and staff. The standing charges pay for some of that. You aren't being exploited, you are receiving a utility that you must pay for.

when a fix ends, you go onto the pricey 'variable' tariff in the hope that you won't notice or take any action. 60% don't and they pay for the rest of us. Up to you which group you are in.

Spend 10 mins on a comparison engine to find a new tariff. Fix now as prices are only going one way.

I don't think there are any 'no standing charge' tariffs now, and as someone notes they only result in higher unit costs. It all has to be paid for somehow.