Home energy guide
Standing charges explained
A standing charge is a fixed daily fee for being connected, whether you use any energy or not. At the current cap, electricity and gas together come to about £308 a year before you've boiled a kettle.
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Work out your own numbers with the tariff calculator →
What you pay just to be connected
Under the current cap, the daily charges for electricity and gas together add up to about £308 a year, before you've boiled a single kettle. That's roughly £200 for electricity and £108 for gas (GB averages, direct debit, 1 October–31 December 2026).
See the numbers
| Per day as charged | Per day with 5% VAT | Per day before VAT | Per year as charged | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 54.83p | 57.57p | 54.83p | £200.13 |
| Gas | 29.68p | 29.68p | about 28.27p | £108.33 |
| Both | 84.51p | £308.46 |
Electricity has no VAT from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 (Ofgem); gas includes 5% VAT. Regional charges vary around these averages.
What it pays for
Costs that don't depend on how much you use: the networks that bring energy to your door, suppliers' running costs and some policy costs. Ofgem sets the maximum as part of the cap.
Why it stings low users most
If you use little, the standing charge is a big slice of your bill. For a small flat it's about a third of the electricity bill; for a big user it's closer to an eighth.
See the numbers
A flat using 1,500 kWh a year pays about £395 in units at 26.32p and £200 in standing charge. A home using 5,000 kWh pays about £1,316 in units, so the standing charge is only 13%.
Ways to pay less
- Ditch gas altogether. If a heat pump replaces your gas boiler and you cook with electricity, removing the gas supply saves about £108 a year. Ask your supplier about any disconnection charge first. See our heat pump tariffs guide.
- Compare total cost, not just unit rates. Some tariffs swap a lower standing charge for higher unit rates, which can suit low users.
- Pay by direct debit. The cap differs by payment method, and direct debit is usually cheaper than paying when billed.
Two-rate tariffs
Economy 7 and similar tariffs sometimes have a higher standing charge. In Jersey, for example, it costs about £16.50 a year more than the single-rate tariff. See Economy 7 vs smart tariffs.
See the numbers
Jersey Economy 7 daily service charge 28.73p against 24.21p on General Domestic (including GST).
Guernsey and Jersey
- Guernsey: the Super Economy 12 standing charge is £89.35 a quarter from 1 July 2026 (no VAT or GST), about £357 a year.
- Jersey: from 1 March 2026, the General Domestic single-phase service charge is 24.21p a day including 5% GST (about 23.06p excluding), about £88 a year.
Compare the islands in our Guernsey and Jersey tariffs guide.
Solar, batteries and standing charges
Solar and batteries cut the units you buy, but not the standing charge, unless you go fully off-grid, which is rarely practical or cheap. Include it when working out savings in the solar calculator and the battery calculator.
Check yours
Your bill shows your standing charges and unit rates. Pop them into the tariff calculator, and read the price cap explainer to see how they're set.
Moving home
Standing charges start the day you take over the supply, even if the place is empty. Between tenants or mid-renovation, budget about 84.51p a day for electricity and gas, roughly £25.70 a month.
Prepayment and other ways to pay
Ofgem sets different cap levels for different payment methods. On prepayment or pay-when-billed, your standing charge may differ from the direct debit averages above. Your bill or supplier app shows what you actually pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standing charge in October 2026?
At the 1 October–31 December 2026 cap, the GB average is 54.83p a day for electricity (no VAT) and 29.68p a day for gas including 5% VAT (28.27p without VAT), on direct debit.
Can I avoid the standing charge?
Not while connected. You can remove the gas standing charge by disconnecting gas if you no longer use it, and compare tariffs on total cost.
Do Guernsey and Jersey have standing charges?
Yes. Guernsey's Super Economy 12 has £89.35 a quarter; Jersey's General Domestic service charge is 24.21p a day including GST.
Why is my standing charge different from the average?
Caps vary by region and payment method.
Related guides
- EV tariff vs the price cap: break-even
- The energy price cap explained: October to December 2026
- Economy 7 vs smart time-of-use tariffs
- Fixed vs variable energy tariffs: how to decide
- Guernsey and Jersey electricity tariffs compared
- All home-energy calculators
Sources (checked 27 October 2026 unless stated)
- Ofgem: price cap 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026 (published 26 Aug 2026): standing charges and VAT
- Guernsey Electricity: tariffs from 1 July 2026 and Guernsey Gazette tariff notice: Super Economy 12 standing charge
- Jersey Electricity: General Domestic, Economy 7 and Domestic Tariffs Explained (1 March 2026): service charges
- Gas disconnection charges: not verified
- Bill shares: our calculation