Standing charge calculator for UK energy bills
Check the fixed daily part of your bill before you challenge the total. This is useful when the bill covers a long period or the standing charge looks too high.
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Standing charge calculator
How to use the result
If the fixed charge is correct but the total bill is still high, the problem is usually usage, billed days, unit rate, estimates or direct debit logic. Do not challenge standing charge alone unless the daily rate, region or billed days look wrong.
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Checking the standing charge line
| Period | Electricity at 57.19p | Gas at 29.04p | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| A day | £0.57 | £0.29 | £0.86 |
| A week | £4.00 | £2.03 | £6.04 |
| A month (30 days) | £17.16 | £8.71 | £25.87 |
| A quarter (91 days) | £52.04 | £26.43 | £78.47 |
| A year | £208.74 | £106.00 | £314.74 |
Compare the relevant row with the standing charge line on your bill. If they do not match, it is one of three things: your region's rate differs from the GB average, your payment method is capped differently, or the day count is wrong.
The day-count check worth doing
Line up your last four bills and write down the start and end date of each. The periods should run consecutively with no overlap. A day charged on both the end of one bill and the start of the next is 57.19p each time on electricity — small, but it usually indicates a broader billing-period problem, and it is easy for the supplier to verify.
Standing charges by region
The regional spread is almost entirely in the electricity standing charge, which is why two households using identical energy can be £95 a year apart on this line alone.
| Region | Electricity p/kWh | Elec standing p/day | Gas p/kWh | Gas standing p/day | Typical year dual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands cheapest | 25.10p | 53.60p | 7.19p | 28.78p | £1,805 |
| North West | 26.13p | 47.61p | 7.24p | 29.17p | £1,818 |
| West Midlands | 25.33p | 59.71p | 7.27p | 29.06p | £1,844 |
| London | 26.35p | 44.78p | 7.50p | 29.52p | £1,845 |
| Eastern | 26.38p | 53.94p | 7.26p | 28.70p | £1,849 |
| Northern (North East) | 25.22p | 64.29p | 7.28p | 29.15p | £1,859 |
| Yorkshire | 25.31p | 64.38p | 7.27p | 29.12p | £1,861 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.42p | 57.55p | 7.23p | 29.22p | £1,862 |
| Southern | 26.42p | 49.70p | 7.53p | 28.53p | £1,865 |
| Southern Scotland | 25.85p | 64.17p | 7.23p | 29.24p | £1,870 |
| South East | 26.67p | 54.45p | 7.39p | 28.63p | £1,873 |
| South Wales | 26.33p | 57.84p | 7.42p | 29.30p | £1,882 |
| South West | 26.39p | 57.89p | 7.48p | 28.68p | £1,889 |
| Merseyside, North Wales & Cheshire dearest | 27.66p | 70.76p | 7.28p | 29.42p | £1,950 |
| GB average (Ofgem headline) | 26.11p | 57.19p | 7.33p | 29.04p | £1,862 |
Direct debit rates for 1 July to 30 September 2026, including VAT. Checked 20 August 2026. Prepayment and standard credit are capped differently. Find your region from the first two digits of your MPAN — see price cap rates by region.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standing charge?
It is the fixed daily amount on an energy bill, separate from usage measured in kWh.
Why does standing charge matter?
A longer billing period can make the fixed charge look like an error even when the daily rate is correct.
How do I calculate my standing charge?
Days in the billing period times the daily rate in pence, divided by 100. A 91-day quarter at the GB average electricity rate of 57.19p is £52.04. It should match the standing charge line on your bill to the penny.
My figure does not match the bill. What now?
Three usual causes: your region's rate differs from the GB average, your payment method is capped differently, or the days billed are wrong. Check the billing period dates on consecutive bills for overlapping days.
Do I pay standing charges on an empty property?
Yes. About £26 a month across both fuels at average capped rates, whether or not anything is switched on.