WTF? Electricity standing charge

[Wessexheavytreader]

I’ve just received an email from Bulb to say my electricity standing charge is going from 24p per day to 43p! I had expected the unit charge to go up (it has) but the standing charge seems such a steep hike. Is this happening with other energy companies too?

Yes, that’s in line with the changes to the price cap. A lot of people who don’t pay much attention to these things are going to be very surprised, especially as all the newspaper articles about cutting bills by reducing usage don’t take this fundamental increase into account at all.

I've just had the same. Seems very unfair as I use very little electricity.

Yes, we are with Shell (not through choice) and have had an email about a similar rise. Our bill is estimated to go up by £700 a year. I do not have a spare £700 a year!

Yes.

Your new standing charge is around £13 a month instead of £7 - so an increase of £6 a month.

The standing charge increase is barely noteworthy. Its the new unit charges which will devastate people.

Yes we had something similar from British Gas who we are with. Also estimate our bill to go up £700 a year and I have no idea how we'll afford it.

By the way, you CANNOT be a “savvy shopper” and switch your way out of this. The variable rate (price capped tariffs) are in almost every case the cheapest currently available.

I got an email for fils bulb account earlier, his is going up to 50.141p a day.

These are the average price cap rates coming in in April

Yep, the price cap has nearly doubled the standing charges. All variable rates will be doing similar.

Thank you for the replies. I was expecting an increase, but I suppose I was thinking more about the unit charge. I will be spending some time this weekend sorting out my budget!

I don’t understand how daily charge has doubled either surely that’s nothing to do with the unit cost? A large house with 5 bedrooms pays one charge next door it’s been turned into 5 flats and they all pay it.

I am with OVO and my standing charge is increasing from 25.66p to 51.62 - alk the energy companies seem to be doing the same, opportunist cunts, there is no justification for it! A rise in unit prices maybe, but virtually doubling the daily standing charge is nothing except greed and exploitation. I am also nearly £400 in credit and they won't refund it, so are earning interest with MY money. It stinks!!

Is a standing charge what you pay every day regardless? We have notice this week that when our smart meter hits midnight our gas reverts back to 0 but our electricity goes to 28p. I was going to call and complain but wasn't sure if this was standard to pay a set price every day

My smart meter goes back zero but my
Bill adds it on. I pay quarterly when I get the bill not in advance with DD.

@IDespairOfTheHumanRace .. that’s a very big leap in cost! Utter crap that they won’t refund your money either.
Yes @Polefairy that is the standing charge. So cutting use won’t change it.

You can get credit paid back they can’t refuse. This comes up on legal hour on LBC a lot if they refuse you take them to ombudsman this tells you how www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/check-if-you-are-owed-money-your-energy-bill more important now than ever if a company goes bust. You will get it back but can take a long time meanwhile they sit on millions.

We also have had an email from Bulb today about increasing prices. Attached is the prices they have sent us. Does everybody have different standing charge prices or is area dependant?

I've had nothing from British Gas... does anyone have info on the standing charge and unit charge they wouldn't mind sharing?

I’ve had the same email from bulb, but with yet another different charge…

Thank you for that information @Akire, very useful and I will persue it!

My British Gas said it’s going up 2p a day standing charge much better than electric doubling. Then about 40% increase in unit price. I don’t use much gas anywhere only for hot water or cooker. I’ve no idea how going manage the electric job still waiting hear what my hike from SEC will be.

Thanks
I get both from British Gas but fixed til June so just wanted a rough idea what may happen after then!

Here's mine from Bulb today. My understanding is your price is area dependant.

I had this same shock today. I couldn't believe the standing charge was doubling. Robbing greedy cunts.
I'm heating the house two hours a day. I'm so blessed to not be living in a cold part of the country. I 'joke' now saying I will put the heating on for an hour just to take the mould off. I can't do anything about the standing charge though 😕
How will people afford this?

Same here. Ovo energy.

Standard charge 28p to 43p and unit price up 5p per unit.