Energy standing charges.

Today I've received a letter from my energy supplier informing me of the changes to my direct debit from 1st April.
Although the energy unit rate is virtually unchanged, the daily standing charge for electricity is going up by 60%, and gas by a whopping 120%!!!

Are all energy companies doing this?
Al.

Until April, I've been on a fixed rate with Octopus (electricity only as no gas here). The daily charge is 22.66 pence per day. That deal expires soon, and there's no fixed rate available. I'm being moved to their standard flexible rate, which has a slightly lower unit rate, but a huge 91% jump in the daily charge. 

As people cut down on their consumption, the supplier recoups by inflating the unavoidable fixed daily charge.

Grrrrr.....

Cymro

That's what annoys me Cymro. All this advice about switching off TVs at the plug, making sure phone chargers are not plugged in etc in order to save half a penny a day is wiped out by huge rises in unavoidable costs.
Al.

We are with OVO , letter last week wanting increase to direct debit and if I didn't increase it, they would do it themselves! It also showed me that if I were on their fixed deal I would save £75 over a year, I checked and no fixed deals available!  Daily charge also increased. Gas and electric together has risen from £135 per month to £230 and now to £252..

This is the reply form my supplier when I queried the increase in the daily charge …

Hi Niall, I hope you're well. When some suppliers ceased trading and their customers we're given to Ofgem to re-appoint a new supplier for them, we had to ensure that customers kept their previous credit balances as part of something called SOLR. The cost of doing this is being claimed back through the Price Cap standing charge which has had the biggest impact on standing charges in recent months. Energy suppliers use standing charges to cover costs such as:  maintaining the energy networks, wires, and pipes that carry gas and electricity to your home connecting your home to the energy network conducting meter readings. Unfortunately, the cost of maintenance has increased which in turn leads to a rise in the standing charge. Take care and have a nice day. Kind regards,  Joe Energy Specialist

Joe E.ON Next

Cymro wrote:Until April, I've been on a fixed rate with Octopus (electricity only as no gas here). The daily charge is 22.66 pence per day. That deal expires soon, and there's no fixed rate available. I'm being moved to their standard flexible rate, which has a slightly lower unit rate, but a huge 91% jump in the daily charge. 

As people cut down on their consumption, the supplier recoups by inflating the unavoidable fixed daily charge.

Grrrrr.....

Cymro

Totally agree … 

Ours is hardly changing.
According to EDF our annual electric bill will increase by £2.43 and annual gas decrease by £1.54 so an annual increase of £0.89 assuming same amount of usage as last year and no further price increases. 
So I may have to do four miles less in the motorhome this coming year to pay for it.

Latest update from E.ON … 

Standing charge increasing from 49.145 to 53.964
Unit rate decreasing from           33.830 to 32.811

The good news is my annual projected cost is set to decrease by £16.92