UK Home Energy Standing Charges Explained for 2025
Understanding standing charges on your home gas and electricity bills is essential if you want to cut your energy costs in 2025. This guide breaks down what they are, why you pay them, how much is typical, and how to make sure you are not overpaying.
What is a standing charge on your energy bill?
The standing charge on your home energy bill is a fixed daily amount you pay your supplier just for being connected to the gas or electricity network. You pay it every day you have a supply, even if you do not use any energy.
Think of it as the subscription fee that covers the basic costs of running and maintaining the network that brings power and gas into your home:
- Maintaining pipes, cables and local networks
- Reading and maintaining meters (including smart meters)
- Customer service and billing systems
- Government schemes and environmental charges
Your total bill is usually made up of two main parts:
- Standing charge – a daily fixed cost in pence per day
- Unit rate – the price you pay for each kWh of electricity or gas you use
Suppliers can set different standing charges for electricity and gas, and the amount can also vary by region and meter type (e.g. standard credit, direct debit, prepayment, Economy 7).
Standing charges in 2025 at a glance
- Fixed daily fee you pay just for having a supply
- Paid 365 days a year, even if you use no energy
- Separate standing charge for gas and electricity
- Varies by supplier, region and meter type
- Only part of your total bill – unit rates still matter
Tip: The right tariff depends on how much energy you use, when you use it and how long you will stay in your property.
How standing charges work under 2025 price caps
Ofgem, the energy regulator, sets a price cap that limits how much suppliers can charge most households on standard variable tariffs. The cap covers both:
- Standing charges (daily)
- Unit rates (per kWh)
Suppliers have some flexibility, so one company may choose a slightly higher standing charge and a lower unit rate, while another might do the opposite. The total amount you pay still depends on how much energy your household actually uses.
Important: The price cap does not cap the size of your total bill. It only caps the rates (standing charges and unit rates) that can be applied.
Typical standing charge ranges in 2025
Your exact standing charge will depend on your supplier, region and meter type, but typical ranges for 2025 are broadly as follows:
- Electricity: around 35p–65p per day
- Gas: around 25p–45p per day
That means some households can pay £250–£350 a year in standing charges alone before using a single kWh of gas or electricity.
If your standing charges seem far outside these ranges, it can be a signal to review your tariff and compare against other suppliers.
Example: annual impact of standing charges
For a typical dual fuel home in 2025:
- Electricity standing charge: 50p/day ? about £183 per year
- Gas standing charge: 35p/day ? about £128 per year
Total fixed cost: around £311 per year before you switch on a light or use any heating.
High standing charge vs high unit rate: which is cheaper?
Some tariffs offer a higher standing charge and lower unit rate, while others have a lower standing charge but higher unit rate. Choosing the best option depends on how much energy you use:
Higher standing charge, lower unit rate
- Better for medium to high usage households
- Once you use more than a certain number of kWh, the lower unit rate outweighs the higher fixed daily cost
- Can be cost-effective for larger families or homes with electric heating or lots of appliances
Lower standing charge, higher unit rate
- Better for low usage households
- Reduces the fixed cost when you are away a lot or only use small amounts of energy
- Can suit small flats, second homes, or people who are out most of the day
There is no universal “best” option. To find the right tariff for you, you need to look at your actual kWh usage over a year and compare total annual costs, not just the standing charge.
Do any home energy tariffs have no standing charge?
Zero standing charge tariffs used to be more common, particularly for second homes or properties that were rarely used. In 2025 they are much harder to find, but they do still exist in limited cases.
If you do see a “no standing charge” tariff, remember:
- The unit rate will usually be significantly higher to make up for the lost standing charge income
- They can work for very low usage properties such as holiday homes or vacant properties
- For normal households, they are often more expensive overall
Always run the numbers using your annual kWh usage to compare the total yearly cost before choosing a zero standing charge tariff.
Why standing charges vary by region
Even on similar tariffs, two households in different parts of the UK may pay different standing charges. This is because network and policy costs differ from region to region.
Factors that can influence your standing charge include:
- Local electricity distribution and gas network costs
- Rural vs urban areas and distance from generation
- Historic infrastructure investment in your region
You generally cannot change region-based charges without moving home, but you can choose a supplier and tariff with a lower standing charge within your area.
Prepayment, direct debit and smart meters
Your standing charge can also vary depending on how you pay and what meter you have:
- Prepayment meters often have slightly higher standing charges due to extra infrastructure and administration
- Smart meters can help suppliers reduce costs over time, which may be reflected in competitive tariffs
- Direct debit payment usually offers lower overall prices than paying on receipt of bill
If you are on a prepayment meter, it can be worth asking your supplier if you can switch to a credit meter and pay by direct debit to reduce costs.
How to find your standing charges on your bill
Your energy supplier must clearly display your standing charges on your bill or online account. To check yours:
- Look for the tariff information box on your bill or statement
- Find the line that shows "Standing charge" for electricity and for gas
- The amount will usually be shown in pence per day (p/day)
- Your bill will also show how many days are being charged and the total standing charge cost for that period
Example of how it may appear on your bill:
- Electricity standing charge: 52.00p/day for 90 days ? £46.80
- Gas standing charge: 33.00p/day for 90 days ? £29.70
If anything is unclear, your supplier has an obligation to explain your charges in plain language.
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How to reduce the impact of standing charges on your bill
You cannot remove standing charges completely on most tariffs, but you can reduce how much they affect your overall energy spend.
1. Choose the right tariff structure
If you are a low user, a tariff with a lower standing charge and slightly higher unit rate may be better. For higher usage households, focusing on a lower unit rate can save more over the year.
2. Avoid unnecessary dual supplies
If a property is empty or rarely used, consider whether you really need both gas and electricity active. Each active supply adds its own standing charge.
3. Pay by direct debit
Many suppliers offer their most competitive tariffs to customers paying by monthly direct debit. While the standing charge itself may not be dramatically lower, your overall rates usually improve.
4. Improve your home’s efficiency
The standing charge is fixed, but the more efficiently you use energy, the more your average cost per kWh (including standing charges) comes down. Consider:
- LED lighting throughout your home
- Draught proofing doors, windows and chimneys
- Upgrading loft and cavity wall insulation
- Installing a programmable thermostat and smart controls
5. Check eligibility for support schemes
Some households can reduce their overall bills through support such as the Warm Home Discount or energy efficiency grants. While these do not remove standing charges, they help offset your total costs.
Frequently asked questions about standing charges in 2025
Do I pay standing charges if I use no energy?
Yes. As long as your home is connected to the gas or electricity network, you will almost always pay standing charges, even if you do not use any kWh during the billing period. The charge covers the cost of keeping your supply available.
Can my supplier waive standing charges?
Suppliers normally cannot simply remove standing charges on standard tariffs, because they are built into the tariff structure and regulated by Ofgem. However, you can sometimes switch to a different tariff with a lower standing charge, or occasionally a tariff with no standing charge but a much higher unit rate.
Why did my standing charges increase in 2025?
Standing charges can shift when Ofgem updates the price cap or when network and policy costs change. In recent years, suppliers have also had to recover some of the costs linked to supplier failures and wider system changes, which has contributed to higher standing charges.
Are standing charges the same for every supplier?
No. Different suppliers set different standing charges (within the limits of the price cap for relevant tariffs). That is why it is important to compare both standing charges and unit rates when reviewing your options.
Can I avoid paying two standing charges on a dual fuel tariff?
Not usually. Dual fuel simply means you get gas and electricity from the same supplier, often with a small discount. You will still have one standing charge for gas and one for electricity because they are separate networks.
Do standing charges apply to smart meters?
Yes. Standing charges apply regardless of whether you have a traditional or smart meter. Smart meters can, however, help you see exactly when and how you use energy, making it easier to reduce your consumption and find the best tariff for your usage pattern.
Check if you could pay less for energy in 2025
Standing charges are only one part of your bill. Let us help you review your full home energy costs and find a tariff that fits your usage.
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