A standing charge is a fixed amount you pay for each day you're connected to gas or electricity, whether you use any energy or not. It's on your bill as pence per day, separate from the unit rate you pay per kWh.
What it pays for
It covers costs that don't change with how much you use: the networks that carry energy to your home, keeping your meter working, and some of your supplier's running costs. A share of government schemes is included too.
Why it's different where you live
Electricity standing charges vary by region, because network costs differ. Areas with long cables to fewer homes, or more expensive networks to run, pay more per day.
Under the current price cap, the electricity standing charge ranges from 42.92p a day in London to 67.66p a day in Merseyside and Northern Wales. Over a year that's £156 against £246, before you've switched anything on.
Source: Tariff Tracker (regional figures from Ofgem's price cap) Cap period from
When it matters most
If you use little energy, the standing charge is a big part of your bill. Someone in a small flat might pay more in standing charges than for the energy itself. In that case, a tariff with a lower standing charge and a slightly higher unit rate can work out cheaper.
If you use a lot, the unit rate matters more. Try the calculator on the home page to see how the split changes with usage.
Can you avoid it?
Not if you stay connected. Some suppliers offer tariffs with a lower or no standing charge, usually with a higher unit rate. If you have both gas and electricity but rarely use gas, check whether the gas standing charge is worth paying at all.
Sources
Wording checked . Rules change, so check the linked sources before you act.