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Electric bill and standing charge.

(6 Posts)
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HattieTopper Wed 24-Jul-24 14:42:12

I was lucky enough to have had a two weeks holiday with our son and his family. Yesterday, I received an email asking me to send in a meter reading for the last four weeks usage, which I did.

I received my statement this afternoon and found my bill for usage was very low because all I had left on in the house was the fridge/freezer. My late husband was always careful and ensured everything was always turned off before we went away, he even turned off the water supply.

BUT, I find that the amount for the standing charge has come to more than the electric I have used.

It is ridiculous.

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keepingquiet Wed 24-Jul-24 17:15:57

This made me smile- when we went on our annual one weeks holiday my now late (and ex) husband used to turn off water, gas and anything else.
When we returned from a longer holiday in Australia the water pipes had frozen and I refused to sleep in the house until he had sorted it out.
Seems weird now looking back...

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fancythat Wed 24-Jul-24 18:29:30

I volunteer for an organisation. We dont use much electricity per year.
Our yearly bill is half made up of the electricity usage, and half the standing charge.

I had a look around recently the various companies, before agreeing to the current contract.
The standing charge was a bit cheaper, the nearer the company is to London.

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Merion Wed 24-Jul-24 18:35:31

Martin Lewis has been campaigning on this for a long time and Ofgem are now looking at it.

Ofgem has asked bill payers, suppliers, charities and consumer groups for their views on how an alternative system could work.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/11/energy-standing-charges-ofgem-review/

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HattieTopper Wed 24-Jul-24 18:39:55

keepingquiet

This made me smile- when we went on our annual one weeks holiday my now late (and ex) husband used to turn off water, gas and anything else.
When we returned from a longer holiday in Australia the water pipes had frozen and I refused to sleep in the house until he had sorted it out.
Seems weird now looking back...

My husband was in the building trade when we met in the early 60's and when we married he always turned everything off. He said it was because he had seen so many floods, fires etc. when people were away. We were never away during the winter so we would not have had burst pipes but even in summer, everything was turned off, taps opened up and drained. It took us ages to get out of the house, if he had had his way I would have had to empty the fridge/freezer but I put my foot down.

Even now when I go on holiday I turn everything off at the plug, I don't turn the water off or the fridge/freezer but the electric is turned off. Habits die hard.

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Jackiest Wed 24-Jul-24 19:19:49

Yes everyone is trying to reduce the electricity they use so the companies increase the standing charge so we still end up paying more.

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