[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Chris

In defence of the standing charge: there is a network of pipes, pumps, high voltage lines and substations that requires maintenance so it’s available for your use regardless of how much gas or electricity you actually consume. Your supplier has to pay a transmission charge to the local network operator for the privilege of having you as a customer attached to their network. It isn’t all about the actual quantity of gas or electricity you consume, although the suppliers have done more than their fair share towards muddying the waters here, with various tariffs that more or less decouple the actual transmission cost from their standing charge.

Your point is a fair one. I need to look into the accounts to see whether or not the income from standing charge is matched by fixed cost expenditure.

You could say that the standing charge is akin to National Insurance in the sense that it is a "tax" that goes into the company pot as distinct from hypothecation.