Standing Charge Savings Calculator

Calculate how much you pay in standing charges alone. Compare zero standing charge tariffs.

Last updated: April 2026 · Source: Ofgem — Energy price cap

Annual Standing Charges

£340.51

£28.38/month — paid even with zero usage

Zero standing charge may cost more

Higher unit rates offset savings

Disclaimer

This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

How It Works

Standing charges are daily fixed fees that appear on your energy bill regardless of how much energy you use. The average standing charge is approximately 61.64p per day for electricity and 31.65p per day for gas under the Ofgem price cap, totalling around £340 per year before you use a single unit of energy.

Some suppliers offer tariffs with lower or zero standing charges, compensating with slightly higher unit rates. These tariffs benefit low-usage households (small homes, holiday homes, properties with solar panels) who use less energy than average. High-usage households may pay more overall on zero standing charge tariffs.

This calculator compares your current standing charge costs against tariffs offering lower or zero standing charges. By entering your actual consumption, it shows whether switching to a low-standing-charge tariff would save or cost you money. The breakeven point depends on your usage — below a certain threshold, zero standing charge wins.

Example: Low-usage household (solar panels installed)

  1. Current standing charges: (61.64p + 31.65p) x 365 = £340.51/year
  2. Current unit costs: 1,200 kWh elec x 24.5p + 8,000 kWh gas x 6.76p = £834.80
  3. Zero standing charge tariff (elec 28p, gas 7.5p):
  4. New unit costs: 1,200 x 28p + 8,000 x 7.5p = £936.00
  5. Saving on standing charges: £340.51
  6. Extra unit cost: £101.20
  7. Net annual saving: £239.31

Source: Ofgem — Energy price cap

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Standing Charge Savings Calculator do?
Calculate how much you pay in standing charges alone. Compare zero standing charge tariffs. All calculations are performed in your browser using official UK rates and thresholds.
Does this reflect the current energy price cap?
This calculator uses representative energy prices. The Ofgem energy price cap changes quarterly — check Ofgem's website for the latest cap level applicable to your region and payment method.
Can I save money by switching tariff?
Potentially yes. The energy market offers various fixed and variable tariffs. Use a comparison site authorised by Ofgem (such as Ofgem's own comparison tool) to check if switching could save you money.