Gas bill and standing charge.

I blame the government that privatised energy.

It seems to me that the energy companies are taking money left, right and centre.
I can't disagree with that.

I think they're making as much as they can before fossil fuels are phased out.

The standing charge element of my water bill is a significant part of the cost, also, BigBopper, and seems set to rise even more in the future.
Allira, I, too, have wondered whether the demise of the meter reader might represent a saving in our utility costs. Sadly, it seems not.

Allira

This explains it:

www.ofgem.gov.uk/get-energy-price-cap-standing-charges-and-unit-rates-region#:~:text=Electricity%20and%20gas%20standing%20charges,-The%20standing%20charge&text=It%20is%20a%20cost%20set,government%20social%20and%20environmental%20schemes.

Well I have not seen any gas works happening for many years so I wonder where the money is going, how do we have proof that the money taken in standing charges are used at all but are just perks for the energy companies.

We managed without standing charges all those years ago so why are they charging us now.

The statement states, Gas usage.......Standing charge...............VAT 5%.

Daylight robbery.

Allira

It covers the cost of supplying your property with gas and electricity, plus some is a charge which should be invested in renewables.

It's also supposed to cover the cost of meter readings but many people have smart meters now so perhaps the charge should be reduced.

How do you heat your water? Do you use an immersion heater in the summer? Would it be cheaper to use your gas boiler?

I have duct air central heating so no boiler, I have an immersion heater that I turn on every three days and my shower is heated at source.

I agree, the charges should be reduced for people with smart meters.

My energy bills are very reasonable to be honest so no complaint about that just having to pay standing charges for when I never see a gas engineer or roadworks for gas anywhere. Where does the money go. It is ridiculous that the standing charge comes to nearly the cost of a months electricity usage.

When we married in 1967 there were no standing charges at all so what has changed, we pay enough in high charges for gas and electricity so why can't the standing charge come out of that instead of a separate bill also not forgetting the 5% vat on top of the bill. It seems to me that the energy companies are taking money left, right and centre.

This explains it:

www.ofgem.gov.uk/get-energy-price-cap-standing-charges-and-unit-rates-region#:~:text=Electricity%20and%20gas%20standing%20charges,-The%20standing%20charge&text=It%20is%20a%20cost%20set,government%20social%20and%20environmental%20schemes.

It covers the cost of supplying your property with gas and electricity, plus some is a charge which should be invested in renewables.

It's also supposed to cover the cost of meter readings but many people have smart meters now so perhaps the charge should be reduced.

How do you heat your water? Do you use an immersion heater in the summer? Would it be cheaper to use your gas boiler?