On 18/04/2022 17:39, Andy Burns wrote:
> Richard wrote:
>
>> Switch, these people seem to have no standing charge tariffs:
>> https://utilita.co.uk/help/our-tariffs
>
> But make sure you turn off that heater, or they'll nab back the
> equivalent of a standing charge by two *very* expensive units per day.

Well, they have to make a profit some way.
I only bothered searching because I wondered if the OP had, which he
obviously hadn't.

Very difficult to be a tight git and be comfortable these days.

On 18/04/2022 17:33, That Jockstrap rod speed wrote:

> won't fix that.
FYPFY

On Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:31:14 +1000, Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:

> On 18/04/2022 15:20, Mike Halmarack wrote:
>> On Mon, 18 Apr 2022 15:15:48 +0100, Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On 18/04/2022 14:32, Mike Halmarack wrote:
>>>> On Mon, 18 Apr 2022 14:28:30 +0100, Chris Hogg <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, 18 Apr 2022 14:10:34 +0100, Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 18/04/2022 12:22, Mike Halmarack wrote:
>>>>>>> I was hoping to have my electric meter turned off at
>>>>>>> reasonable cost
>>>>>>> while I was away from my flat for 6 months.
>>>>>>> Previously I've left my electric towel rail on and a small electric
>>>>>>> heater but the new higher standing charge is way too daunting
>>>>>>> considering the low usage in an empty flat.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> First I saw this link:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/electricity/disconnect
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Which showed a possible option as Item 4:
>>>>>>> ---------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>> 4. Disconnect an electricity meter
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Typically customers need this when:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Moving out of a property and they don't’ want to be charged
>>>>>>> for an
>>>>>>> electricity bill
>>>>>>> Renovating a property and want their electricity meter
>>>>>>> removed
>>>>>>> temporarily or permanently
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The company you pay your electricity bills legally own the meter so
>>>>>>> only they can work on the electricity meter and remove it for you.
>>>>>>> Find out your electricity supplier and your MPAN
>>>>>>> ----------------------------------
>>>>>>> I mentioned this on the MSE forum and was given this link as being
>>>>>>> relevant
>>>>>>> https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/electricity/disconnect/time-and-cost
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I remember reading a few years a go that the cost for this
>>>>>>> procedure
>>>>>>> was about 250 quid but this link page shows charges running into
>>>>>>> thousands, though I'm not sure the context covers my particular
>>>>>>> requirement.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "No standing charge tariffs" seem to have disappeared from the
>>>>>>> possible options too.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't u/s your Subject. The only energy saved by removing the
>>>>>> meter
>>>>>> (over and above turning off the supply at the Consumer Unit) is the
>>>>>> energy the meter itself consumes. Even with a Smart Meter that's
>>>>>> tiny
>>>>>> - about a kWh a year.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> And don't confuse de-energisation and disconnection. If you are
>>>>>> really
>>>>>> just interested in energy saving all you need is the former - which
>>>>>> can
>>>>>> be done by just taking the main fuse out of the incomer.
>>>>>
>>>>> My thoughts were on similar lines - just throw the mains isolator
>>>>> switch, except that when I went to look at mine, there wasn't one!
>>>>> Must have been taken out when the smart meter was fitted. But I see
>>>>> upthread Theo says there's a 100A isolator inside the smart meter
>>>>> which I assume can do the same job if MH can get it to work. Failing
>>>>> that, just throw the isolator(s) in the CU? Or even just go round the
>>>>> house unplugging or switching off everything.
>>>>
>>>> It would be great if this prevented the standing charge from being
>>>> applied.
>>>
>>> So less "Profit superSedes energy saving" and more "why do they make it
>>> so hard for me to avoid the standing charge".
>> If they made it easier and less expensive for me to have my meter
>> disconnected, my flat would be using even less energy than when having
>> a towel rail and a small heater running.
>
> Why you need to leave them - or anything - on while you are away?

To stop the pipes freezing in winter.

On 18 Apr 2022 at 17:39:43 BST, "Andy Burns" <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

> Richard wrote:
>
>> Switch, these people seem to have no standing charge tariffs:
>> https://utilita.co.uk/help/our-tariffs
>
> But make sure you turn off that heater, or they'll nab back the equivalent of a
> standing charge by two *very* expensive units per day.

Indeed. From a quick look at the Smart Energy Credit tariff that'll only work
for households that use tiny amounts of energy - 1 kWh/day in the case of
electricity.

For the OP though, not a bad fall-back on first sight.

--
Cheers, Rob

Some dick cowering behind
Richard <smithski@btinternet.com.invalid> spewed
the usual dick shit that always pours from the back of it.

On 18 Apr 2022 at 14:10:34 BST, Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:

> On 18/04/2022 12:22, Mike Halmarack wrote:
>> I was hoping to have my electric meter turned off at reasonable cost
>> while I was away from my flat for 6 months.
>> Previously I've left my electric towel rail on and a small electric
>> heater but the new higher standing charge is way too daunting
>> considering the low usage in an empty flat.
>>
>> First I saw this link:
>>
>> https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/electricity/disconnect
>>
>> Which showed a possible option as Item 4:
>> ---------------------------------------------------
>> 4. Disconnect an electricity meter
>>
>> Typically customers need this when:
>>
>> Moving out of a property and they don't’ want to be charged for an
>> electricity bill
>> Renovating a property and want their electricity meter removed
>> temporarily or permanently
>>
>> The company you pay your electricity bills legally own the meter so
>> only they can work on the electricity meter and remove it for you.
>> Find out your electricity supplier and your MPAN
>> ----------------------------------
>> I mentioned this on the MSE forum and was given this link as being
>> relevant
>> https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/electricity/disconnect/time-and-cost
>>
>> I remember reading a few years a go that the cost for this procedure
>> was about 250 quid but this link page shows charges running into
>> thousands, though I'm not sure the context covers my particular
>> requirement.
>>
>> "No standing charge tariffs" seem to have disappeared from the
>> possible options too.
>
> I don't u/s your Subject. The only energy saved by removing the meter
> (over and above turning off the supply at the Consumer Unit) is the
> energy the meter itself consumes. Even with a Smart Meter that's tiny
> - about a kWh a year.
>
> And don't confuse de-energisation and disconnection. If you are really
> just interested in energy saving all you need is the former - which can
> be done by just taking the main fuse out of the incomer.

Or turn off the main breaker.

--
Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it, and Hell where they already have it.

Ronald Reagan

On 18/04/2022 17:55, Rod Speed sometimes wears his Jockstrap

>
> To stop the pipes freezing in winter.

On 18/04/2022 14:32, Mike Halmarack wrote:
>
>> My thoughts were on similar lines - just throw the mains isolator
>> switch, except that when I went to look at mine, there wasn't one!
>> Must have been taken out when the smart meter was fitted. But I see
>> upthread Theo says there's a 100A isolator inside the smart meter
>> which I assume can do the same job if MH can get it to work. Failing
>> that, just throw the isolator(s) in the CU? Or even just go round the
>> house unplugging or switching off everything.
> It would be great if this prevented the standing charge from being
> applied.
I was surprised that my water company (South East Water) actually
offered to cease the standing charge, when I told them (in passing) no
water was likely to be used for 3-4 months.
They simply stopped charging it, (and I indeed didn't use any water for
that period).

They even came and changed the meter during that period (because the cut
off valve on it wasn't operating properly)

On 18/04/2022 15:54, Mike Halmarack wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Apr 2022 15:33:38 +0100, Andrew
> <Andrew97d-junk@mybtinternet.com> wrote:
>

>> If you have a meter, then you have a supply that you *can* use
>> at any time, and therefore you have to pay the standing charge.
>> The *only* way to avoid a standing charge is to cease being
>> a customer and have the meter removed - permanently.
>
> I'm sure that's not true.
>

I know that it is true because I had the same argument with
BG having stopped using gas in 2003. The meter has to be
removed and you then cease to be a customer.

Thanks for all the good advice on this.
I'm going to go for a Utilita option with no standing charge as
suggested by Richard. It seems to fit the bill for me.

https://utilita.co.uk/help/our-tariffs

I'm an averagely generous chap but I prefer to decide who my cash is
going to be distributed to where possible.
The last on my list is the profiteers salting it away in offshore
accounts while their poorest customers freeze and starve.
--

Mike

On 19/04/2022 14:47, Mike Halmarack wrote:
> Thanks for all the good advice on this.
> I'm going to go for a Utilita option with no standing charge as
> suggested by Richard. It seems to fit the bill for me.
>
> https://utilita.co.uk/help/our-tariffs
>
> I'm an averagely generous chap but I prefer to decide who my cash is
> going to be distributed to where possible.
> The last on my list is the profiteers salting it away in offshore
> accounts while their poorest customers freeze and starve.

So the millions of British pensioners who do not have generous public
service pensions and rely on annuities, private pensions (mostly limited
to 3% maximum inflation protection) or drawdown using dividends are
'profiteering' from the dividends paid out by Shell, BP, BG, etc
are they ?.

If you are absent for 6 months where are you ?, and where are you
spending UK taxpayers money (pays your pension) during those
6 months ?.

On Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:47:43 +0100, Mike Halmarack wrote:

> Thanks for all the good advice on this.
> I'm going to go for a Utilita option with no standing charge as
> suggested by Richard. It seems to fit the bill for me.
>
> https://utilita.co.uk/help/our-tariffs
>
> I'm an averagely generous chap but I prefer to decide who my cash is
> going to be distributed to where possible.
> The last on my list is the profiteers salting it away in offshore
> accounts while their poorest customers freeze and starve.

I looked at Utilita and dropped the figures into the spreadsheet. As the
sheet has standing charge on it I just put the difference between 1st. kWh
and the rest as the standing charge; same for gas but for 2kWh.
Works out just over £100 less over the year on the same usages as with
Octopus.
Worth another look when my fix ends.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On 19/04/2022 16:28, Andrew wrote:
> On 19/04/2022 14:47, Mike Halmarack wrote:
>> Thanks for all the good advice on this.
>> I'm going to go for a Utilita option with no standing charge as
>> suggested by Richard. It seems to fit the bill for me.
>>
>> https://utilita.co.uk/help/our-tariffs
>>
>> I'm an averagely generous chap but I prefer to decide who my cash is
>> going to be distributed to where possible.
>> The last on my list is the profiteers salting it away in offshore
>> accounts while their poorest customers freeze and starve.
>
> So the millions of British pensioners who do not have generous public
> service pensions and rely on annuities, private pensions (mostly limited
> to 3% maximum inflation protection) or drawdown using dividends are
> 'profiteering' from the dividends paid out by Shell, BP, BG, etc
> are they ?.
>
> If you are absent for 6 months where are you ?, and where are you
> spending UK taxpayers money (pays your pension) during those
> 6 months ?.

He could be shacked up in a local brothel. Either way, it's none of my
business.
YMMV

On Tue, 19 Apr 2022 16:28:42 +0100, Andrew
<Andrew97d-junk@mybtinternet.com> wrote:

>On 19/04/2022 14:47, Mike Halmarack wrote:
>> Thanks for all the good advice on this.
>> I'm going to go for a Utilita option with no standing charge as
>> suggested by Richard. It seems to fit the bill for me.
>>
>> https://utilita.co.uk/help/our-tariffs
>>
>> I'm an averagely generous chap but I prefer to decide who my cash is
>> going to be distributed to where possible.
>> The last on my list is the profiteers salting it away in offshore
>> accounts while their poorest customers freeze and starve.
>
>So the millions of British pensioners who do not have generous public
>service pensions and rely on annuities, private pensions (mostly limited
>to 3% maximum inflation protection) or drawdown using dividends are
>'profiteering' from the dividends paid out by Shell, BP, BG, etc
>are they ?.
>
>If you are absent for 6 months where are you ?, and where are you
>spending UK taxpayers money (pays your pension) during those
>6 months ?.

My planned activities and their financing are of course entirely
subject to your approval.
--

Mike

On Tue, 19 Apr 2022 18:59:31 +0100, Richard
<smithski@btinternet.com.invalid> wrote:

>On 19/04/2022 16:28, Andrew wrote:
>> On 19/04/2022 14:47, Mike Halmarack wrote:
>>> Thanks for all the good advice on this.
>>> I'm going to go for a Utilita option with no standing charge as
>>> suggested by Richard. It seems to fit the bill for me.
>>>
>>> https://utilita.co.uk/help/our-tariffs
>>>
>>> I'm an averagely generous chap but I prefer to decide who my cash is
>>> going to be distributed to where possible.
>>> The last on my list is the profiteers salting it away in offshore
>>> accounts while their poorest customers freeze and starve.
>>
>> So the millions of British pensioners who do not have generous public
>> service pensions and rely on annuities, private pensions (mostly limited
>> to 3% maximum inflation protection) or drawdown using dividends are
>> 'profiteering' from the dividends paid out by Shell, BP, BG, etc
>> are they ?.
>>
>> If you are absent for 6 months where are you ?, and where are you
>> spending UK taxpayers money (pays your pension) during those
>> 6 months ?.
>
>He could be shacked up in a local brothel. Either way, it's none of my
>business.
>YMMV

Product placement?
--

Mike