Electrical · Glossary
Standing Charge
A daily fixed charge on your electricity and gas bills covering grid connection, metering and supplier overheads — payable even if you use zero energy.
The standing charge is a daily flat fee on your energy bills, set independently from your unit rate. As of the Ofgem Q1 2026 cap, a typical Cornwall household pays around 64p/day for electricity standing charge and 32p/day for gas — about £350/year combined, payable regardless of how much energy you actually use.
Why does it matter for renewable customers? Going all-electric (heat pump + EV + induction hob) lets you cancel your gas standing charge entirely, saving roughly £115/year. Disconnecting the gas meter costs around £200 with most networks but pays back inside two years.
You cannot cancel the electricity standing charge, but you can choose tariffs with lower standing charges and higher unit rates if you are a low user, or vice versa if you are a high user (which most heat pump + EV households are). See our heat pump page for advice on going gas-free.