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Andy65
OFGEM produce tables of the capped prices by location and by fuel type and by payment method. Electricity also has similar figures for economy 7/10 users.
The tables are in annual amounts and based upon zero usage (so in effect the standing charge) and then for an average usage figure (3,100 kWh for electricity and 12,000 kWh for gas). Suppliers tend to charge the maximum they can for the standing charge, which then means its possible to work out the unit prices (take the annual average usage figure, subtract the standing charge element, and then divide the result by 3,100 for electricity or 12,000 for gas.
The trouble is that suppliers don't have to charge the maximum for the standing charge (i think 2 don't) and then they can charge more per unit while still keeping within the maximum charge per annum for these mythical average users. It is extremely complicated, and makes it difficult for the end consumer and anybody trying to explain it to others. Hence the MSM media use national averages and don't bother to highlight that very few users will actually be average.
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Maggiemay
How the changes will affect us as individual households depends on how much total energy you use and the relative amount of each fuel you use. Gas is cheaper than electricity by a big margin so use that in preference to electricity when you can. But using less is the simple way forward to reduce costs, and it may well involve going back in time to our youth when waking up to a cold bedroom with frozen condensation on the window was the norm. Be rigorous with energy use boil only the water you actually need, and make sure you have LED lamps in all the rooms you use frequently - they used to save a lot of money before the rates went up, now its colossal.
