Ecotricity Explains: Standing Charge
Press enquiries
If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please contact our Press Office by email at [email protected]
For all other general enquiries, please call 0345 555 7100 or email [email protected].
There are two main components to an energy bill â€� your unit price and standing charge. The first is pretty self-explanatory, but the latter is a bit more complex, so we get a lot of questions which we wanted to answer all in one place.ÌýÌý
First up, what is standing charge?ÌýÌý
Standing charge is a flat rate charged per day, regardless of how much energy you use. That means it’s still applicable even if the property is empty. It’s also charged separately for gas and electricity.ÌýÌý
Do all suppliers charge it?ÌýÌý
Most suppliers do, but there may be some suppliers who have tariffs which don’t have standing charge. Instead, they’ll generally charge more on their price per unit to make up for it â€� or they defer the cost to other tariffs instead.ÌýÌý
What does it cover?ÌýÌý
Broadly speaking, standing charge covers the cost of maintaining the supply of energy to your home or business â€� it's like line rental for phones. It includes the cost to take meter readings, support government social and environmental schemes, and paying for the upgrade and maintenance of the gas and electricity grid network.ÌýÌý
Is standing charge more expensive on a smart meter?Ìý
Your meter type might affect your tariff, but it doesn’t affect standing charge. For example, if both you and your neighbour are on our Green Variable tariff, and one of you has a smart meter whilst the other has a traditional credit meter, your standing charge would be the same. However, if you were on our new 1-Year Fixed EV tariff with a smart meter and your neighbour was on the Green Variable tariff with a traditional meter, your standing charge might be different. You can find more details of our available tariffs here.ÌýÌý
Why is standing charge more expensive in some areas?Ìý
As standing charge covers the cost of maintaining the energy supply network, it varies depending on the cost to deliver energy in your area. As a result, more highly populated areas like London may have lower standing charges as the network is more developed and there are more meter points to carry the cost.ÌýÌý
Our customers are helping to build a greener Britain, as we use the profits from their bills to build more sources of green energy. Ready to join them? to Ecotricity today for a greener tomorrow.
Similar articles
10 climate change facts you can’t afford to ignore
Global warming is showing no sign of slowing down. Human activity is pushing temperatures higher than ever before, with the risk of a tipping point from which we can never recover getting closer by the minute.
More
How Smart Meters Work - A Simple Guide
Having a smart meter installed will help you monitor your energy use, but how does it work, and why is it good for the environment? »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp’re here to help answer this.
More
May's positive climate news
News about the climate is often doom and gloom. It’s important that we know how our collective actions are often causing harm to our planet, but there are individuals that are doing a lot of good work too!
More