Here are some letter styles that you may want to copy or adapt on the theme of scrapping the standing charge on UK gas and electricity bills. We suggest you write to your representative (MP), to Ofgem (the energy regulator) and to your gas and electricity supplier(s). We’ve prepared the letters in five different approaches – simply select the approach you feel most comfortable with and start from there…
A. Most closely aligned with our blog post article on livinglaudatosi.com
B. I value most data, evidence and logic
C. I value most relationships and feelings
D. I value most hope for the future and good news
E. I value most getting things done quickly
Happy letter writing!
A. Most closely aligned with our blog post article on livinglaudatosi.com
Write to your representative. In the UK you may find this site very useful for finding your MP, how to contact them and how they would like to be addressed.
Dear <MP>,
Gas and Electricity Standing Charges
It is summer and it feels like costly winter fuel bills are far away. However we have seen the suffering in our local community, especially by those who have had to keep their homes cold or have had to eat cold food because they can’t afford to pay for heat.
Although gas prices are reducing a little, it will not be long before the same struggles will re-appear this coming winter. And it could be worse with food price inflation and if this winter turns out to be colder than last.
There is an injustice in the way we price energy in Britain. This injustice is the Standing Charge. From 1 July the electricity price cap is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge, and the gas price cap is £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge.
A low user of energy, often those making choices about heating or eating, are disproportionately affected by the standing charge. Consider a user who switches everything off. They will still have an annual electricity bill of 0.53*365 + VAT = £193.45 + VAT = £203.12 and a gas bill of 0.29*365 + VAT = £105.85 + VAT = £111.14. Giving a total energy bill of £314.26 for absolutely no usage whatsoever. And to make matters worse, some of the poorest are on pre-payment meters where the cap is higher (the figure above was the Ofgem cap for direct debit customers).
Ofgem themselves acknowledge that the standing charge is in effect “economic rent”. To quote them: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur” as the dual fuel “cost-reflective level is … approx. £60 p.a.” and go on to recommend that “most costs … should be recovered through the unit rate rather than the standing charge”.
I would go further. Most low users of energy live in properties where the connection costs are lower. If we simplified the price structure of energy we could see small increases in bills for large users (who would then have a greater incentive to save energy) and the very poorest would have a better chance to heat that meal, have a cup of tea or heat the single room when the outside temperature goes below zero.
Removing the standing charge would be a significant step towards ending fuel poverty in the UK.
Yours sincerely
Write to Ofgem
Dear <Ofgem>,
Gas and Electricity Standing Charges
It is summer and it feels like costly winter fuel bills are far away. However we have seen the suffering in our local community, especially by those who have had to keep their homes cold or have had to eat cold food because they can’t afford to pay for heat.
Although gas prices are reducing a little, it will not be long before the same struggles will re-appear this coming winter. And it could be worse with food price inflation and if this winter turns out to be colder than last.
There is an injustice in the way we price energy in Britain. This injustice is the Standing Charge. From 1 July the electricity price cap is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge, and the gas price cap is £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge.
A low user of energy, often those making choices about heating or eating, are disproportionately affected by the standing charge. Consider a user who switches everything off. They will still have an annual electricity bill of 0.53*365 + VAT = £193.45 + VAT = £203.12 and a gas bill of 0.29*365 + VAT = £105.85 + VAT = £111.14. Giving a total energy bill of £314.26 for absolutely no usage whatsoever. And to make matters worse, some of the poorest are on pre-payment meters where the cap is higher (the figure above was your July cap for direct debit customers).
Your economists have written that the standing charge is in effect “economic rent”. To quote them: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur” as the dual fuel “cost-reflective level is … approx. £60 p.a.” and go on to recommend that “most costs … should be recovered through the unit rate rather than the standing charge”.
I would go further. Most low users of energy live in properties where the connection or infrastructure fixed costs are lower. If we simplified the price structure of energy we could see small increases in bills for large users (who would then have a greater incentive to save energy) and the very poorest would have a better chance to heat that meal, have a cup of tea or heat the single room when the outside temperature goes below zero.
Removing the standing charge would be a significant step towards ending fuel poverty in the UK.
Yours sincerely
Write to your energy supplier
Dear <Energy Supplier>,
Gas and Electricity Standing Charges
It is summer and it feels like costly winter fuel bills are far away. However we have seen the suffering in our local community, especially by those who have had to keep their homes cold or have had to eat cold food because they can’t afford to pay for heat.
Although gas prices are reducing a little, it will not be long before the same struggles will re-appear this coming winter. And it could be worse with food price inflation and if this winter turns out to be colder than last.
There is an injustice in the way we price energy in Britain. This injustice is the Standing Charge. From 1 July the electricity price cap is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge, and the gas price cap is £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge.
A low user of energy, often those making choices about heating or eating, are disproportionately affected by the standing charge. Consider a user who switches everything off. They will still have an annual electricity bill of 0.53*365 + VAT = £193.45 + VAT = £203.12 and a gas bill of 0.29*365 + VAT = £105.85 + VAT = £111.14. Giving a total energy bill of £314.26 for absolutely no usage whatsoever. And to make matters worse, some of the poorest are on pre-payment meters where the cap is higher (the figure above was the Ofgem cap for direct debit customers).
Ofgem themselves acknowledge that the standing charge is in effect “economic rent”. To quote them: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur” as the dual fuel “cost-reflective level is … approx. £60 p.a.” and go on to recommend that “most costs … should be recovered through the unit rate rather than the standing charge”.
I would go further. Most low users of energy live in properties where the connection costs are lower. If we simplified the price structure of energy, we could see small increases in bills for large users (who would then have a greater incentive to save energy) and the very poorest would have a better chance to heat that meal, have a cup of tea or heat the single room when the outside temperature goes below zero.
Removing the standing charge would be a small but significant step towards ending fuel poverty in the UK.
Yours sincerely
B. I value most data, evidence and logic
Write to your representative. In the UK you may find this site very useful for finding your MP, how to contact them and how they would like to be addressed.
Dear <MP>,
Appeal to support removal of the Standing Charge to help people in fuel poverty
With the cost of living crisis seemingly constant in our headlines this last winter and stories of great hardship here at home, it seems rather strange that few people are talking or proposing to end one of the most pernicious injustices in energy: the Standing Charge.
The Standing Charge is like an energy Poll Tax. It is not questioned because it is not such an issue for the average user (and has the effect of subsidising the wealthy). But the poorest who can’t afford to even warm up their food are not average users. According to Ofgem, from 1 July the electricity price cap is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge, and the gas price cap is £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge (for people paying by direct debit).
Consider a vulnerable person who switches everything off. They will still have an annual electricity bill of 0.53*365 + VAT = £193.45 + VAT = £203.12 and a gas bill of 0.29*365 + VAT = £105.85 + VAT = £111.14. Giving a total energy bill of £314.26 for absolutely no usage whatsoever. The cap for people on pre-payment meters is worse.
Ofgem themselves acknowledge that the standing charge is in effect “economic rent”. To quote them: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur” as the dual fuel “cost-reflective level is … approx. £60 p.a.” and go on to recommend that “most costs … should be recovered through the unit rate rather than the standing charge”.
For reasons of social justice, I would recommend that the standing charge be scrapped. The unit rate would need to be raised very slightly accordingly. For the average user this would make no difference. For large users of energy, their bills would go up. Now we see how it is in the economic interests of the wealthy to keep the standing charge in place. They are literally getting the poor of the UK to subsidise their energy bills!
Removing the standing charge would be a significant step towards ending fuel poverty in the UK.
Yours sincerely
Write to Ofgem
Dear <Ofgem>,
Appeal to support removal of the Standing Charge to help people in fuel poverty
With the cost of living crisis seemingly constant in our headlines this last winter and stories of great hardship here at home, it seems rather strange that few people are talking or proposing to end one of the most pernicious injustices in energy: the Standing Charge.
The Standing Charge is like an energy Poll Tax. It is not questioned because it is not such an issue for the average user (and has the effect of subsidising the wealthy). But the poorest who can’t afford to even warm up their food are not average users. Let’s take the price cap from 1 July: the electricity price cap is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge, and the gas price cap is £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge (for people paying by direct debit). For someone who decides to switch everything off, they will still have an annual electricity bill of 0.53*365 + VAT = £193.45 + VAT = £203.12 and a gas bill of 0.29*365 + VAT = £105.85 + VAT = £111.14. Giving a total energy bill of £314.26 for absolutely no usage whatsoever. As you know, for people on pre-payment meters it is worse.
Your own economists in one of your own reports available on your website describe the standing charge as “economic rent”. To quote them: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur”. They calculate that the dual fuel “cost-reflective level is … approx. £60 p.a.” and go on to recommend that “most costs … should be recovered through the unit rate rather than the standing charge”.
For reasons of social justice, I would recommend that the standing charge be scrapped. The unit rate would need to be raised very slightly accordingly. For the average user this would make no difference. For large users of energy, their bills would go up. Now we see how it is in the economic interests of the wealthy to keep the standing charge in place. They are literally getting the poor of the UK to subsidise their energy bills!
Removing the standing charge would be a significant step towards ending fuel poverty in the UK.
Yours sincerely
Write to your energy supplier
Dear <Energy Supplier>,
Appeal to support removal of the Standing Charge to help people in fuel poverty
With the cost of living crisis seemingly constant in our headlines this last winter and stories of great hardship here at home, it seems rather strange that few people are talking or proposing to end one of the most pernicious injustices in energy: the Standing Charge.
The Standing Charge is like an energy Poll Tax. It is not questioned because it is not such an issue for the average user (and has the effect of subsidising the wealthy). But the poorest who can’t afford to even warm up their food are not average users. As you know, the Ofgem price cap from 1 July is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge for electricity, and £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge for gas for people paying by direct debit.
Consider a vulnerable person who switches everything off. They will still have an annual electricity bill of 0.53*365 + VAT = £193.45 + VAT = £203.12 and a gas bill of 0.29*365 + VAT = £105.85 + VAT = £111.14. Giving a total energy bill of £314.26 for absolutely no usage whatsoever. The cap for people on pre-payment meters is worse.
Ofgem themselves acknowledge that the standing charge is in effect “economic rent”. To quote them: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur” as the dual fuel “cost-reflective level is … approx. £60 p.a.” and go on to recommend that “most costs … should be recovered through the unit rate rather than the standing charge”.
For reasons of social justice, I would recommend that the standing charge be scrapped. The unit rate would need to be raised very slightly accordingly. For the average user this would make no difference. For large users of energy, their bills would go up. Now we see how it is in the economic interests of the wealthy to keep the standing charge in place. They are literally getting the poor of the UK to subsidise their energy bills!
Removing the standing charge would be a significant step towards ending fuel poverty in the UK.
A small number of energy companies in the past have successfully created zero standing charge products. There is precedent for a fairer pricing structure. Please help by working with Ofgem to make your products fair and simple.
Yours sincerely
C. I value most relationships and feelings
Write to your representative. In the UK you may find this site very useful for finding your MP, how to contact them and how they would like to be addressed.
Dear <MP>,
Looking after the poorest in society has been one of the great successes of the UK last century with the introduction of the Welfare State. Now that hand of friendship is struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Imagine being in fuel poverty where turning on the heating comes with fear. How would it feel if you had very little money and had to choose between a hot meal and a room that is only slightly warmer than outside? To hear of stories where food from the food bank is eaten cold because it is too expensive to heat it up brings tears to my eyes. How can we neglect our sisters and brothers in distress?
We can build a better relationship with the most vulnerable in society by removing the Gas and Electricity Standing Charges. There is no reason why energy needs to be priced in this way. Even Ofgem’s own economists understand that this is deeply unfair: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur”. Yet we do nothing.
It is time to be sensitive to the needs of the poorest here at home. Removal of the standing charge will be a small but significant moment for our society. Even when energy prices are high, the poorest will not be charged an energy Poll Tax before they’ve even switched on a light or made a cup of tea.
Please help by raising the issue in Parliament and asking for a simplified, fairer pricing structure where we all pay for the energy we use with no fixed charging element. It is time to scrap the standing charge. It is time for social justice with energy.
Yours sincerely
Write to Ofgem
Dear <Ofgem>,
Looking after the poorest in society has been one of the great successes of the UK last century with the introduction of the Welfare State. Now that hand of friendship is struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Imagine being in fuel poverty where turning on the heating comes with fear. How would it feel if you had very little money and had to choose between a hot meal and a room that is only slightly warmer than outside? To hear of stories where food from the food bank is eaten cold because it is too expensive to heat it up brings tears to my eyes. How can we neglect our sisters and brothers in distress?
We can build a better relationship with the most vulnerable in society by removing the Gas and Electricity Standing Charges. There is no reason why energy needs to be priced in this way. You’re your own economists understand that this is deeply unfair: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur”. Yet we do nothing.
It is time to be sensitive to the needs of the poorest here at home. Removal of the standing charge will be a small but significant moment for our society. Even when energy prices are high, the poorest will not be charged an energy Poll Tax before they’ve even switched on a light or made a cup of tea.
Please help by working with government and energy companies to create a simplified, fairer pricing structure where we all pay for the energy we use with no fixed charging element. It is time to scrap the standing charge. It is time for social justice with energy.
Yours sincerely
Write to your energy supplier
Dear <Energy Supplier>,
Looking after the poorest in society has been one of the great successes of the UK last century with the introduction of the Welfare State. Now that hand of friendship is struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Imagine being in fuel poverty where turning on the heating comes with fear. How would it feel if you had very little money and had to choose between a hot meal and a room that is only slightly warmer than outside? To hear of stories where food from the food bank is eaten cold because it is too expensive to heat it up brings tears to my eyes. How can we neglect our sisters and brothers in distress?
We can build a better relationship with the most vulnerable in society by removing the Gas and Electricity Standing Charges. There is no reason why energy needs to be priced in this way. Even Ofgem’s own economists understand that this is deeply unfair: “[t]he standing charges levied by energy firms are substantially greater than the related costs they incur”. Yet we do nothing.
It is time to be sensitive to the needs of the poorest here at home. Removal of the standing charge will be a small but significant moment for our society. Even when energy prices are high, the poorest will not be charged an energy Poll Tax before they’ve even switched on a light or made a cup of tea.
Please help by working with Ofgem to create a more simplified, fairer pricing structure where we all pay for the energy we use with no fixed charging element. A small number of energy companies in the past have been able to do this. Now we need to make it the norm. It is time to scrap the standing charge. It is time for social justice with energy.
Yours sincerely
D. I value most hope for the future and good news
Write to your representative. In the UK you may find this site very useful for finding your MP, how to contact them and how they would like to be addressed.
Dear <MP>,
In the UK most of our gas and electricity is sold according to Ofgem rules so that from 1 July the electricity price cap is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge, and the gas price cap is £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge. It can be more for pre-payment meter customers.
Why do we need to price electricity like this? If you switch off all electricity and gas because you can’t afford it, you will still be charged around £300 a year.
It doesn’t need to be like this. Tomorrow can be much better. The solution is simple: scrap the standing charges. It’s easier to understand too. Now you only pay for what you use! A bit like when you buy petrol. They don’t charge you £10 just for turning up at the pump? No, we pay for what we use. And if you stay away from the petrol station, you don’t pay anything.
I hope you share my vision. That you can also see how tomorrow can be better and more just.
Let’s turn this dream into reality
Yours sincerely
Write to Ofgem
Dear <Ofgem>,
As you know, from 1 July the electricity price cap is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge, and the gas price cap is £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge. It can be more for pre-payment meter customers.
Why do we need to price electricity like this? If you switch off all electricity and gas because you can’t afford it, you will still be charged around £300 a year.
It doesn’t need to be like this. Tomorrow can be much better. The solution is simple: scrap the standing charges. It’s easier to understand too. Now you only pay for what you use! A bit like when you buy petrol. They don’t charge you £10 just for turning up at the pump? No, we pay for what we use. And if you stay away from the petrol station, you don’t pay anything.
I hope you share my vision. That you can also see how tomorrow can be better and more just.
Let’s turn this dream into reality
Yours sincerely
Write to your energy supplier
Dear <Energy Supplier>,
As you know, most of our gas and electricity is sold according to Ofgem rules so that from 1 July the electricity price cap is £0.30/kWh plus £0.53/day standing charge, and the gas price cap is £0.08/kWh plus £0.29/day standing charge. It can be more for pre-payment meter customers.
Why do we need to price electricity like this? If you switch off all electricity and gas because you can’t afford it, you will still be charged around £300 a year.
It doesn’t need to be like this. Tomorrow can be much better. The solution is simple: work with Ofgem to scrap the standing charges. It’s easier to understand too. Now you only pay for what you use! A bit like when you buy petrol. They don’t charge you £10 just for turning up at the pump? No, we pay for what we use. And if you stay away from the petrol station, you don’t pay anything.
I hope you share my vision. That you can also see how tomorrow can be better and more just.
Let’s turn this dream into reality
Yours sincerely
E. I value most getting things done quickly
Write to your representative. In the UK you may find this site very useful for finding your MP, how to contact them and how they would like to be addressed.
Dear <MP>,
Scrap the Gas and Electricity Standing Charge
I have no idea why we are procrastinating. Standing charges are pernicious and undeniably penalise the poorest in our society. The solution is simple: scrap the gas and electric standing charges.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that paying £300 or more for a service you don’t use is cruel. We should pay for the energy we use. Simple.
Please get this injustice fixed and quickly. People should only pay for what they use.
Yours sincerely
Write to Ofgem
Dear <Ofgem>,
Scrap the Gas and Electricity Standing Charge
I read one of your reports where your own economists say the standing charge is far too high. It would be much fairer and simpler just to get rid of it altogether. You can and should reclaim all costs through the unit rate. This is fairer and doesn’t penalise the poorest in our society. Prioritise a fairer energy system: scrap the gas and electric standing charges.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that paying £300 or more for a service you don’t use is cruel. We should pay for the energy we use. Simple.
Please get this injustice fixed and quickly. People should only pay for what they use.
Yours sincerely
Write to your energy supplier
Dear <Energy Supplier>,
Scrap the Gas and Electricity Standing Charge
You must know that standing charges are pernicious and undeniably penalise the poorest in our society. Please take action to end this fuel cruelty. Work with Ofgem to scrap the gas and electric standing charges. A few energy companies have been permitted to have zero standing charges in the past. There’s absolutely no reason you can’t work with them to be one now.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that paying £300 or more for a service you don’t use is cruel. We should pay for the energy we use. Simple.
Please get this injustice fixed and quickly. People should only pay for what they use.
Yours sincerely
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