You pay 55p a day before
you use a single thing.
There's a charge on your energy bill that has nothing to do with how much energy you use. It's called the standing charge. It's been going up every year.
📋 What is a standing charge?
It is a daily fee charged by your energy supplier just for being connected to the grid.
Gas and electricity each have their own standing charge. Combined, most homes pay around 89p a day.
That adds up to about £328 a year. before you boil a single kettle.
📈 Have they always been this high?
No. Standing charges have gone up over 60% since 2021.
Energy companies say it covers the cost of maintaining pipes and wires. Critics say it hits people who use less energy hardest.
There is some pressure on Ofgem to reform this. It is moving slowly.
💡 Can you avoid it?
Unfortunately no. everyone connected to the grid pays it.
What you can do is earn money back from your usage, which effectively offsets the standing charge.
A typical FlexMyPower household with an EV and a heat pump earns £415 to £935 a year. That covers the standing charge with plenty left over.