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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Levi Winchester

Martin Lewis reveals exact amount you will pay even if you don’t use any energy

Martin Lewis revealed the exact amount all households will pay even if they don’t use any energy this winter.

The MoneySavingExpert explained how everyone has to pay a standing charge on their energy bill.

The standing charge is a fixed daily amount you have to pay for energy, no matter how much you use - it covers the cost of being connected to the grid.

Speaking on ITV Good Morning Britain this morning, Martin broke down how much this charge per year is climbing to from October.

Are you worried about rising energy bills? Let us know by emailing: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

Martin Lewis has explained how standing charges work (mirror.co.uk)

“The standing charge means you pay a daily amount for gas and a daily amount for electricity, even if you don’t use it,” he said.

“From October, if you have a gas and electricity meter on direct debit, you’re paying £273 a year even if you use no energy, which is a moral hazard...

“Even if you try to cut your energy costs, the lower you go down, the less of an impact using less energy has for you.”

At the moment, the average daily standing charge for gas is 27.22p and this is rising to 28.49p in October.

The average daily standing charge for electricity is 45.34p, rising to 46.36p.

Ofgem last week confirmed its price cap - which is how much energy companies can charge you per unit rate of gas and electricity - will rise to £3,549 a year on October 1.

This is for those on default tariffs paying by direct debit and marks a rise of £1,578 - or 80% - from its current level of £1,971.

For those paying by prepayment meter - typically vulnerable households or those struggling to pay for their energy - there is a bigger jump from £2,017 to £3,608.

Standard credit customers - so where you pay once you've received your bill - will see their price cap rise from £2,100 to £3,764.

Approximately 24 million households are covered by the energy price cap, including four million on prepayment meters.

The huge rise in the price cap will add more pressure on to families already struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Are you worried about rising energy bills? Let us know by emailing: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

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