Every electricity bill includes a standing charge—a fixed daily fee you pay regardless of how much electricity you use. This guide explains what it covers, how much it costs, and whether you can avoid it.
What Is a Standing Charge?
The standing charge is a fixed daily fee that covers the costs of maintaining your connection to the electricity grid. You pay it whether you use any electricity or not.
Think of it like a phone line rental—you pay to be connected, then pay separately for what you use.
The standing charge covers:
- Meter maintenance and reading
- Connection to the distribution network
- Billing and customer service costs
- Network infrastructure maintenance
How Much Is the Standing Charge?
Standing charges vary by supplier and whether you're an urban or rural customer.
Current Standing Charges (Urban)
| Supplier | Daily Standing Charge | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Yuno Energy | €0.52 | €190 |
| Flogas | €0.54 | €197 |
| SSE Airtricity | €0.56 | €204 |
| Bord Gáis Energy | €0.58 | €212 |
| Energia | €0.60 | €219 |
| Electric Ireland | €0.62 | €226 |
| Pinergy | €0.65 | €237 |
Rates are approximate and change periodically. Includes VAT.
Urban vs Rural Standing Charges
Rural customers pay higher standing charges than urban customers. This reflects the additional cost of maintaining electricity infrastructure in less densely populated areas.
The difference is typically €20-€40 per year.
| Customer Type | Typical Daily Rate | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Urban | €0.50-€0.65 | €182-€237 |
| Rural | €0.55-€0.75 | €201-€274 |
Your bill should indicate whether you're on an urban or rural tariff. If unsure, check with your supplier.
Standing Charge on Your Bill
On a typical bill, the standing charge appears as:
Standing charge: 61 days × €0.58 = €35.38
This is calculated separately from your unit charges (what you pay for electricity used).
Example Bill Breakdown
For a bi-monthly bill:
| Component | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Units used | 700 kWh × €0.32 | €224.00 |
| Standing charge | 61 days × €0.58 | €35.38 |
| PSO Levy | €3.18 | |
| Subtotal | €262.56 | |
| VAT @ 9% | €23.63 | |
| Total | €286.19 |
In this example, the standing charge represents about 12% of the total bill.
Can You Avoid Standing Charges?
No. Standing charges are a standard component of all residential electricity tariffs in Ireland. All suppliers charge them, and you cannot opt out.
Even if you use zero electricity in a month, you'll still owe the standing charge.
Why Standing Charges Exist
Electricity suppliers face fixed costs regardless of your usage:
- Maintaining your meter
- Your share of network maintenance
- Billing system costs
- Customer service availability
The standing charge recovers these costs separately from usage-based charges.
Without standing charges, very low users would pay almost nothing while still benefiting from network connection—shifting costs unfairly to higher users.
Standing Charges for Low-Usage Properties
Standing charges particularly affect properties with low electricity usage:
Holiday Homes
A holiday home might use only 500 kWh per year (€160 in unit charges) but still pay full standing charges (€200+). The standing charge could exceed the cost of electricity used.
Empty Properties
Even with the electricity disconnected at the consumer unit, you pay standing charges while connected to the grid. The only way to avoid them entirely is to have the meter removed—which incurs reconnection costs later.
Second Homes
Consider whether maintaining grid connection is worthwhile. If annual usage is very low, the standing charge dominates your bill.
How Standing Charges Affect Comparisons
When comparing suppliers, don't focus only on unit rates. A supplier with lower unit rates but higher standing charges might cost you more overall.
Example Comparison
| Supplier | Unit Rate | Standing Charge | 4,200 kWh Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier A | €0.30/kWh | €0.70/day | €1,260 + €256 = €1,516 |
| Supplier B | €0.32/kWh | €0.52/day | €1,344 + €190 = €1,534 |
Despite a higher unit rate, Supplier B is only €18/year more expensive—and would be cheaper for lower-usage households.
Always compare total annual cost, not just unit rates.
Standing Charges for Gas
Gas bills also include standing charges, working the same way as electricity:
| Supplier | Daily Rate (Gas) | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bord Gáis Energy | ~€0.20 | ~€73 |
| Electric Ireland | ~€0.21 | ~€77 |
| SSE Airtricity | ~€0.22 | ~€80 |
Gas standing charges are generally lower than electricity standing charges.
Standing Charges and Dual Fuel
If you have dual fuel (electricity and gas from the same supplier), you'll pay separate standing charges for each:
| Component | Daily Rate | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity standing charge | €0.58 | €212 |
| Gas standing charge | €0.20 | €73 |
| Total standing charges | €0.78 | €285 |
Some suppliers offer small discounts on standing charges for dual fuel customers, but these are typically modest.
Comparing Standing Charges
Use our comparison tool to see total costs including standing charges. Here's what to look for:
Best for Low Users (under 3,000 kWh)
Prioritise suppliers with lower standing charges, even if unit rates are slightly higher. Standing charges form a larger percentage of your bill.
Best for Average Users (3,000-5,000 kWh)
Balance is key. Both standing charges and unit rates matter roughly equally.
Best for High Users (over 5,000 kWh)
Prioritise lower unit rates. Standing charges become proportionally less significant as usage increases.
Common Questions
Why do rural customers pay more?
Rural electricity infrastructure costs more to maintain per customer. Longer distribution lines, more isolated transformers, and greater travel for meter readers all add costs. Higher rural standing charges reflect this reality.
Can I negotiate standing charges?
No. Standing charges are fixed by the supplier and not negotiable. They're regulated and must be clearly disclosed.
Do standing charges include VAT?
Usually yes—figures quoted to residential customers typically include 9% VAT. Business figures may be quoted ex-VAT.
Are standing charges increasing?
Standing charges have generally risen over time, tracking increased network maintenance costs. However, they're also subject to regulatory oversight.
What's the difference between standing charges and network charges?
Network charges are what suppliers pay to ESB Networks for using the grid. Standing charges are what you pay to your supplier. They're related but not identical—suppliers set their own standing charges, which must cover network costs plus their own fixed costs.
Do smart meters change standing charges?
Having a smart meter doesn't change your standing charge. The charge covers connection to the grid, which is the same regardless of meter type.
Summary
Standing charges are unavoidable fixed costs on every electricity bill. They typically range from €180-€275 per year depending on your supplier and location.
Key points:
- Standing charges cover connection and network costs
- All suppliers charge them—you cannot opt out
- Rural customers pay more than urban customers
- Low-usage properties are most affected proportionally
- Always compare total annual cost, not just unit rates
When switching suppliers, use comparison tools that show total costs including standing charges to find the genuinely cheapest option for your usage level.
Last updated: January 2026
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