Other charges in the bill

Bills may also be high because they include items other than the cost of fuel and standing charges. Typically, utility bills comprise two parts: a standing charge for the service to be available to you and a variable charge for the usage of the fuel. A supplier may also include charges for disconnection or reconnection, and for replacing meters. Check to see if these have been lawfully charged by reading Chapter 3 on supply and charges for connecting supply, and Chapter 8 on disconnection for arrears.

Other variables and drivers for a high bill, unrelated to your consumption, include:

•supplier increasing the cost of its energy because of wholesale energy market and network price increases;
•supplier regulated investments;
•structure maintenance and improvements;
•energy efficiency infrastructure development;
•low-carbon energy technology investment and climate change reforms;
•government schemes and targets to tackle pollution and reduce emissions;
•changes in government policies to protect consumers from rising costs;
•supplier failure-related costs;
•obligated costs for support for vulnerable households.